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Salted Caramel Apple Crumb Bars

Delicious dessert bars combining spiced apples and rich salted caramel, perfect for any occasion.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 12 pieces
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the apple filling
  • 5 cups peeled and diced apples (I used Granny Smith) Fresh apples provide the best flavor.
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Prevents apples from browning.
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour Helps to thicken the filling.
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground all-spice
For the crumb crust
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces Cold butter helps create a flaky texture.
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup Salted Caramel Sauce Can use store bought.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and prepare a 9x13-inch baking pan by spraying it with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, place the diced apples and sprinkle them with fresh lemon juice. Mix gently to coat.
  3. In another bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup flour, cornstarch, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 tsp salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and all-spice. Pour over the apples and combine.
Dough Preparation
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together 3 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp cinnamon.
  2. Cut the cold unsalted butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. In a small bowl, mix the beaten egg and vanilla extract, then stir into the flour and butter mixture until crumbly.
Assembly and Baking
  1. Pat half of the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the bottom crust.
  2. Spread the apple mixture over the crust, drizzle with salted caramel sauce, then crumble the remaining dough over the top.
  3. Bake for about 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Let cool completely before cutting.

Notes

These bars can be enjoyed warm or cold and pair beautifully with vanilla ice cream. Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.