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Home » Fall Favorites » Caramel Apple Crumb Bars

Caramel Apple Crumb Bars

November 25, 2019

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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, 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! 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.
Print Pin
4.87 from 15 votes

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.
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
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/3 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
Tried this recipe?Mention @CelebratingSweets or tag #CelebratingSweets!

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Comments

  1. Jillian says

    September 17, 2018 at 10:56 pm

    5 stars
    I will have to make 2 pans of this – one for me and one for my guests!

    Reply
  2. Mary Bostow says

    September 17, 2018 at 11:05 pm

    5 stars
    O God! What a great recipe! I want to try it immediately! Looks very tasty! THANK YOU!

    Reply
  3. Nancy says

    November 7, 2018 at 4:44 pm

    Could this recipe be double for a 9×13 pan?

    Reply
    • Celebrating Sweets says

      November 8, 2018 at 3:04 pm

      Hi, Nancy. I have never tried it, but I would assume it could be doubled. Just make sure your apples are sliced really thin. Your layers will be slightly thicker than mine, so you want to make sure the apples cook through completely. Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Kim says

    November 11, 2018 at 4:42 pm

    5 stars
    This is AMAZING! I added chopped peacans to the topping. I will definitely make this one again!

    Reply
    • Celebrating Sweets says

      November 12, 2018 at 3:02 pm

      Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  5. Jeri Jarvis says

    November 19, 2018 at 9:56 pm

    4 stars
    I made this for my gluten free daughter’s school class. There is a child with a tree nut allergy as well so I could not sub almond flour. I used a rice blend (krusteaz) and it came out pretty good. I’d say add more butter if you sub, it was slightly dry. But great with ice cream.

    Reply
    • Celebrating Sweets says

      November 20, 2018 at 8:58 am

      Thanks for sharing your changes. I’m glad it turned out. Happy holidays!

      Reply
  6. Teri says

    September 21, 2019 at 2:14 pm

    5 stars
    I made these apple bars for my fall Bunco gathering and everyone enjoyed them so much!

    Reply
    • Celebrating Sweets says

      September 22, 2019 at 2:12 pm

      Great! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂

      Reply
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About

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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