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Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

A delightful twist on a classic dessert, combining tart apples with rich salted caramel, all nestled in a buttery crust and topped with a crunchy streusel.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Crust
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
For the Apple Filling
  • 2 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced (1/4 inch thick)
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the Streusel Topping
  • 1/2 cup old-fashioned whole rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
For Serving
  • to taste Homemade salted caramel or store-bought caramel sauce

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 300°F (149°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, letting it overhang on the sides.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir in the flour until combined. Press the mixture into the prepared baking pan.
  3. Bake the crust for about 15 minutes.
Apple Filling
  1. In a large bowl, combine sliced apples, 2 tablespoons of flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Toss gently to coat the apples evenly.
Streusel Topping
  1. In another medium bowl, whisk together oats, brown sugar, a pinch of cinnamon, and 1/4 cup of flour. Cut in the cold cubed butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Assembly and Baking
  1. Turn the oven up to 350°F (177°C). Layer the apple mixture evenly on top of the baked crust and sprinkle the streusel topping over the apples.
  2. Bake for another 30 to 35 minutes until the streusel is golden brown and the apples are tender.
  3. Remove from oven and let the bars cool for at least 20 minutes. For best results, chill them in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Serving
  1. Lift the bars out using the parchment overhang and cut into 16 smaller pieces or 12 larger bars. Drizzle with salted caramel before serving.

Notes

Choose firm, slightly tart apples like Granny Smith for best results. Let the homemade caramel cool before drizzling to maintain a beautiful presentation.