Description
Delight in these Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars, a perfect fall treat that combines tender cinnamon-spiced apples with a buttery crumble topping and luscious salted caramel drizzle. Ready in just 45 minutes, these bars are perfect for cozy gatherings or an indulgent snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Crumble
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Apple Filling
- 3 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples (about 3 medium)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Topping
- 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy removal.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir well until fully incorporated.
- Add Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the butter mixture and stir until the mixture becomes crumbly. Reserve about one-third of this mixture for the topping.
- Form Crust: Press about two-thirds of the crumbly mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the crust layer.
- Prepare Apples: In a separate bowl, toss the peeled and thinly sliced apples with ground cinnamon and nutmeg until the apples are evenly coated with the spices.
- Assemble Filling: Spread the spiced apple mixture evenly over the crust in the pan.
- Add Caramel: Drizzle the salted caramel sauce evenly over the apple layer to add a rich, sweet contrast.
- Top Crumble: Sprinkle the reserved crumbly flour mixture over the caramel and apples to create the crumble topping.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping turns golden brown and the apples are tender.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to set before cutting them into bars for serving.
Notes
- Use firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best flavor and texture.
- Ensure the caramel sauce is salted to balance the sweetness of the apples and sugar.
- Let the bars cool completely to avoid them falling apart when cutting.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
- For extra crunch, consider adding chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the crumble topping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approx. 1/12 of the recipe)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
Keywords: salted caramel, apple crumble, fall dessert, apple bars, caramel apple, crumble bars, quick dessert
