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Home » Fall Favorites » Caramel Apple Crumb Bars

Caramel Apple Crumb Bars

Published: Nov 25, 2019 · Modified: Sep 13, 2021 by Allison · 41 Comments

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These delicious Caramel Apple Bars feature a brown sugar crumble, cinnamon apples and a generous drizzle of salted caramel sauce. You’ll love this easy fall dessert.

Stack of three Caramel Apple Bars.

Crumb-topping lovers unite! These bars are for you. And by “you” I also mean me because I just can’t get enough buttery-crumbly goodness in my life. It is no secret that I LOVE crumb toppings. Whether it’s an Apple Crisp, Peach Crisp, Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp, Cranberry Crumb Bars or Stuffed Apples, I will never turn down a dessert featuring a crumb topping.

These Caramel Apple Bars are similar to an Apple Crisp; however, they’re heavier on the “crisp” and lighter on the apples. Prefer more fruit? Try my Apple Crisp or Apple Crumble! Want all that crumbly, caramely deliciousness in bar-form? Read on…

Apple Crumb Bars topped with salted caramel.

How To Make Caramel Apple Bars

  1. Start by making the crust/topping (they are made with the same mixture). Combine butter and brown sugar. Add oats, flour, baking soda, and salt, mixing until crumbly.
  2. Reserve 1-½ cups for the topping, and press the remaining mixture into the bottom of a 9×9 baking pan.
  3. Combine thinly sliced apples with melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Add the apples to the crust.
  4. Sprinkle the reserved topping over the apples.
  5. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.
  6. Allow the bars to cool slightly, then drizzle with salted caramel sauce.

How to make Caramel Apple Bars.

Now comes the tough part… You have two options: Wait for the bars to cool so you get pretty, neatly sliced squares, or dive in while they’re still warm, gooey and extra sticky (see photo below). Either way, you are going to love every bite.

Oh, and topping these beautiful bars with vanilla ice cream and a generous drizzle of caramel sauce might just be the best decision you’ll ever make.

Apple Crumb Bar on a white plate topped with ice cream and caramel sauce.

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Stack of three Caramel Apple Bars.

Caramel Apple Crumb Bars

These delicious Caramel Apple Bars feature a brown sugar crumble, cinnamon apples and a generous drizzle of salted caramel sauce. You'll love this easy fall dessert.
4.87 from 15 votes
Print Pin
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 9 -12
Calories: 226kcal
Author: Allison - Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

Crumb crust and topping:

  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 ⅓ cups all purpose flour
  • ¾ cup old fashioned oats
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ⅓ cup good quality caramel sauce, plus more for serving (see note)

Apple filling:

  • 3 generous cups peeled, thinly sliced Granny Smith apples (about 2-3 apples)
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9x9 square baking pan.
  • In a large bowl, using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until creamy and combined. Add flour, oats, salt, and baking soda and beat until combined and crumbly, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Reserve 1 ½ cups for the topping. Press the remaining crumble mixture into the bottom of the greased 9x9 pan, pressing it into an even layer.
  • In a separate bowl, combine all ingredients for apple filling. Toss until well combined. Dump the apple mixture on top of the crust and spread it out evenly. Crumble the reserved topping over the apples, pressing some of it together to form clumps.
  • Bake for 35-45 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender (insert a sharp knife to check). Place on a wire rack to cool slightly. Drizzle with ⅓ cup caramel sauce. Serve warm, room temperature or chilled. Note: The bars will cut more neatly if chilled. Optional: top with ice cream and additional caramel sauce.

Video

Notes

Use good quality, fairly thick caramel sauce. I used Trader Joe's Fleur de Sel Caramel sauce. Homemade salted caramel sauce would be great, too. If you can't find salted caramel sauce, you can use regular caramel sauce. Just lightly sprinkle the top of the bars with a little sea salt to add some balance to all the sweetness.

Nutrition

Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 320IU | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.

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Comments

  1. Lili @ Travelling oven

    October 31, 2016 at 1:08 pm

    Oh wow, these bars look absolutely amazing!!! I’m craving them badly now, yum!! 😀

    Reply
  2. Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons

    November 02, 2016 at 10:29 am

    These look SO good. I love the caramel!

    Reply
  3. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom

    November 03, 2016 at 5:21 pm

    Love these! Can’t wait to try.

    Reply
  4. Jeanette

    November 05, 2016 at 2:02 am

    4 stars
    Really like this. Look so delicious!

    Reply
  5. Shauna F

    November 19, 2016 at 7:23 am

    How long do these last? If you are making ahead of time, should you wait to put the caramel sauce on top til right before serving? These look amazing! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Celebrating Sweets

      November 19, 2016 at 11:49 am

      Hi, Shauna. Yes, I would suggest waiting to put the caramel on until you’re ready to serve (or even a couple hours before). These are best within 1 day of baking, store them in the fridge and bring to room temp (if desired) before serving. I am making them the day before Thanksgiving. Enjoy! Happy holidays!

      Reply
      • Shauna F

        November 20, 2016 at 10:24 am

        Thank you! I will plan to do the same!

  6. Janette

    May 30, 2017 at 3:48 pm

    I don’t think I’m going to be able to wait until the Fall to make these;-) They look way to good! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Celebrating Sweets

      May 30, 2017 at 8:04 pm

      They are one of my favorites! Enjoy!

      Reply
  7. Kayla Smith

    March 31, 2018 at 10:22 am

    Hello! I was wondering if you think taking a short cut by using pre made apple pie filling would work in these bars? I need something super quick to make and these look amazing, but I’m short on time! Thanks for the reply!

    Reply
    • Celebrating Sweets

      March 31, 2018 at 11:07 am

      Hi! Yes, that should work. Try not to overfill it too much, as the crust on these bars is a little less sturdy than a traditional pie crust. Enjoy!

      Reply
      • Kayla Smith

        April 02, 2018 at 5:14 pm

        5 stars
        Update!! I used pre made pie filling and it turned out delicious! But I totally overfilled and they could not be cut into bars. We just scooped it out on a plate and topped with more caramel. Yummy, but definitely doesn’t fit into the “bar” category.

  8. Tisha

    September 17, 2018 at 7:00 pm

    5 stars
    These definitely look like the perfect fall dessert! So Yummy!!!

    Reply
  9. Colleen

    September 17, 2018 at 8:33 pm

    5 stars
    These look amazing! I would definitely dive in while they are still warm and gooey! So good.

    Reply
  10. Natalie

    September 17, 2018 at 10:22 pm

    5 stars
    I love crumb bars and these look particularly delicious with the caramel apples. Perfect for Fall!

    Reply
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aboutHi, I'm Allison! I'm a busy wife and mom with a passion for cooking and baking. This is where you'll find my favorite homemade recipes, designed to help you make every day delicious! Read more....

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