Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
These Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, a warm spiced apple filling, and a crunchy streusel topping, all drizzled with salted caramel. Perfect for gatherings, these bars combine the flavors of apple pie with an easy-to-make bar format!
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- Shortbread Crust:
- ½ cup 8 Tbsp; 113g unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup 50g granulated sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup 125g all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- Apple Filling:
- 2 large apples peeled and thinly sliced (¼ inch thick)*
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
- Streusel Topping:
- ½ cup 43g old-fashioned whole rolled oats
- ⅓ cup 70g packed light or dark brown sugar
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup 31g all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- ¼ cup 4 Tbsp; 56g unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- Homemade salted caramel or store-bought caramel sauce
Instructions
- Instructions
- Prep the Baking Pan: Preheat oven to 300°F (149°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang.
- Make the Crust: In a medium bowl, mix melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt. Stir in flour until combined. Press evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove.
- Prepare the Apple Filling: Toss apple slices with flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until evenly coated. Set aside.
- Make the Streusel: In a medium bowl, whisk oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender or forks until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Assemble & Bake: Increase oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Layer apples tightly over the warm crust. Top with streusel. Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool & Serve: Let cool at room temperature for 20 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Lift parchment, cut into bars, and drizzle with caramel sauce. Enjoy warm, chilled, or at room temp!
Notes
Notes:
✅ Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
✅ Apple Variety: Mix tart (Granny Smith) and sweet (Pink Lady) apples for a richer flavor.
✅ Larger Batch: Double the recipe for a 9×13-inch pan. Pre-bake crust for 18 minutes; extend bake time to 45–55 minutes.