Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars Fall Treat Recipe
Delight in these Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars, a perfect fall treat combining tender cinnamon-spiced apples, rich salted caramel sauce, and a buttery crumbly crust. These bars are easy to make and ideal for cozy gatherings or a sweet seasonal snack.
- Author: Hannah
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
For the Crust and Crumble Topping
- 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
For the Filling
- 3 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples (about 3 medium)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easier.
- Make the crumbly base: In a large bowl, mix melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Then add the flour and stir until the mixture becomes crumbly and holds together when pressed.
- Press crust into pan: Press about two-thirds of the crumb mixture evenly and firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the base layer.
- Prepare apple filling: In a separate bowl, toss the sliced apples with ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg until the slices are well coated with spices.
- Assemble the bars: Evenly spread the spiced apple mixture over the crust. Drizzle the salted caramel sauce over the apples for a sweet and salty contrast.
- Add crumble topping: Sprinkle the remaining one-third of the crumb mixture evenly over the caramel-drizzled apples to create the crumble topping.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Cool and serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to let the filling set before cutting into squares and serving.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweetness and acidity.
- For softer apples, you can sauté them briefly before assembling.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Reheat briefly before serving to refresh the caramel sauce.
- To make these gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1/12th of recipe)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: salted caramel, apple crumble, fall dessert, autumn treat, cinnamon apple bars, caramel apple bars, crumble bars