Description
These Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars combine a buttery crumble crust with tender, cinnamon-spiced apples topped with a drizzle of rich salted caramel. Perfect for fall and easy to bake, they offer a delightful balance of sweet and salty flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
For the crust and crumble:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
For the filling:
- 3 cups peeled and diced apples (about 2 medium)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
For the salted caramel:
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal.
- Make the crust and crumble mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the cold cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture forms coarse crumbs similar to wet sand.
- Form the crust: Press about two-thirds of the crumble mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating a firm base for the bars.
- Prepare the apple filling: In a separate bowl, toss the peeled and diced apples with brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice to evenly coat and enhance flavor while preventing browning.
- Assemble the bars: Spread the apple mixture evenly over the pressed crust, then crumble the remaining crust mixture on top of the apples to create a textured topping.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender and bubbly.
- Cool and add caramel: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the warm bars and sprinkle with sea salt to create the signature salted caramel flavor.
- Final cooling and serving: Let the bars cool completely in the pan to set before slicing into 16 squares and serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg to the apple filling along with the cinnamon.
- Use firm apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith to maintain texture and prevent sogginess.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to keep them fresh.
- Allow bars to cool completely before slicing to ensure clean cuts and prevent crumbling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
