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Caramel Apple Crumb Bars

Delicious dessert bars featuring a buttery crumb crust, sweet apple filling, and a rich caramel drizzle, perfect for any occasion.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Crust
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 10 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Apple Filling
  • 3-4 cups peeled, thinly sliced apples (about 3-4 apples)
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Topping
  • 1/3 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup good quality caramel sauce , plus more for serving

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper and lightly grease it.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Add chilled butter and vanilla extract, and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. Refrigerate the crust mixture for about 30 minutes.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine sliced apples, 1 tablespoon of flour, 2 tablespoons of sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Toss to coat the apple slices.
Assembly and Baking
  1. Remove 2 cups of crumb mixture from the refrigerator. Press it into the prepared baking dish for the bottom crust.
  2. Layer the apple mixture evenly over the crust.
  3. Mix the remaining crumb mixture with oats and sprinkle it over the apples.
  4. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
Cooling and Serving
  1. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares.
  2. Drizzle caramel sauce over the bars before serving.

Notes

Use firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for best flavor. Adding chopped nuts to the topping can enhance the texture.