Easy Caramel Apple Bars
Indulge in these delicious Caramel Apple Bars, featuring a buttery shortbread crust, sweet sliced apples, and a crunchy oatmeal crumble topping. This easy recipe uses basic kitchen ingredients, making it perfect for fall gatherings and cozy desserts. Enjoy the warm flavors of autumn with every bite!
When fall comes rolling in, the flavors of autumn are always on my mind.
Apples are one of the first things I want to start baking with and these caramel apple bars are the epitome of all things that makes this season so special.
They are made with simple ingredients and can be enjoyed as a sweet ending to a lovely meal or for a tea time treat. Either way, they will be gobbled up in no time!
Caramel Apple Bars in 4 Easy Steps
- Shortbread crust- Bake this buttery crust while you make your apple pie filling. It is so simple and gives these bars the perfect, flaky crust to pair with the sweet toppings.
- Caramel Apple Filling- While the crust bakes, slice apples and mix with the caramel topping.
- Oatmeal Crumble- This is your traditional oatmeal crumble that uses simple ingredients. I like to make it come together with my hands, but you can use a pastry cutter or fork.
- Layer and Bake- Once the crust is done with it’s initial bake, about 10 minutes, layer the apples on top and finish the dessert with the oatmeal crumble. Bake and drizzle with extra caramel topping.
Ingredients for Caramel Apple Pie Bars
- Butter
- Flour
- Brown Sugar
- Salt
- Apples
- Caramel Topping
- Cinnamon
- Oatmeal
My Favorite Kitchen Things
Caramel Apple Bar Recipe
Caramel Apple Bars
Indulge in these delicious Caramel Apple Bars, featuring a buttery shortbread crust, sweet sliced apples, and a crunchy oatmeal crumble topping. This easy recipe uses basic kitchen ingredients, making it perfect for fall gatherings and cozy desserts. Enjoy the warm flavors of autumn with every bite!
Equipment
- 1 8 x 8 baking dish
Ingredients
Crust
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- 1¼ cups all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
Caramel Apple Filling
- 4-5 cups peeled and sliced apples, sweet and sliced thin
- ¼ cup jarred caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons flour
Oatmeal Crumble Topping
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup old fashioned oats
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray an 8×8 baking dish.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add your crust ingredients and mix until combined. Press into the bottom of the prepared baking dish and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until puffy and lightly golden.
- While the crust bakes, peel and slice your apples thinly. Add to a large mixing bowl.
- In a small bowl, add the caramel topping, cinnamon, brown sugar, and flour. Mix and add to the apples. Stir until the apples are coated.
- Once the crust is done, layer the apples on top of the crust.
- In a small mixing bowl, add your topping ingredients and combine with your hands or pastry knife. Sprinkle on top of the apples and press down a bit.
- Bake on 350°F for 30-40 minutes or until the topping is golden and the apples are soft. Cool, slice, and enjoy! Drizzle with extra caramel topping, if you wish.
Notes
Walnuts are also a great addition to these bars. Chop them small and sprinkle them on top of the oatmeal topping.
Serve alone or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
