Description
These Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars offer a delightful twist on a classic dessert, perfect for beginners. They feature a buttery shortbread crust, a spiced apple filling, a crunchy oat streusel topping, and a drizzle of decadent salted caramel.
Ingredients
- Shortbread Crust:
- 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- Apple Filling:
- 2 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced (1/4 inch thick)
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Streusel:
- 1/2 cup (43g) old-fashioned whole rolled oats
- 1/3 cup (70g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup (31g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- homemade salted caramel or store-bought caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F (149°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang.
- Make crust: Mix melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Stir in flour until combined. Press into pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Make filling: Toss apple slices with flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Make streusel: Whisk oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Cut in cold butter until crumbly.
- Increase oven temperature to 350°F (177°C).
- Layer apples evenly over the warm crust.
- Sprinkle streusel over the apples.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes until streusel is golden brown.
- Cool bars at room temperature for 20 minutes, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Lift bars from pan using parchment overhang. Cut into desired size bars.
- Drizzle with salted caramel sauce before serving.
Notes
- These bars can be enjoyed warm, at room temperature, or cold.
- The recipe suggests cutting into 16 smaller bars or 12 larger bars.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American