Description
Indulge in these heavenly Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars, an ultimate dessert combining tender apples, buttery crumble, and rich caramel with a hint of sea salt. Perfect for fall, these bars offer a delightful balance of sweet and tart flavors with a crunchy topping, making them ideal for dessert or a sweet snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Crumble
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Apple Filling
- 2 large apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Topping and Garnish
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal of the bars.
- Make the Crust: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, light brown sugar, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Stir in the melted unsalted butter until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Press about two-thirds of this crumb mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan to create the crust base.
- Prepare Apple Filling: In a separate bowl, toss the peeled, cored, and diced apples with granulated sugar, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and nutmeg until the pieces are well coated.
- Assemble the Bars: Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crust. Drizzle the caramel sauce evenly over the apples, then sprinkle with chopped pecans if using. Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the top and lightly press it down to adhere.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is tender and bubbly.
- Add Salt and Cool: Remove the bars from the oven and immediately sprinkle with flaky sea salt to enhance the caramel flavor. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting out using the parchment overhang.
- Serve: Cut into 16 bars. Serve at room temperature or warmed, optionally with vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert treat.
Notes
- For extra gooey bars, warm the caramel sauce slightly before drizzling over the apples.
- Use tart apple varieties like Granny Smith to balance sweetness and add bright flavor.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Bars taste delicious warm, especially when served with vanilla ice cream.
