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Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars Recipe

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4.3 from 24 reviews

These Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars combine a buttery shortbread crust, a spiced apple filling, and a crunchy oat streusel topping, all drizzled with luscious salted caramel sauce for the perfect fall dessert that’s easy to make and utterly delicious.

Ingredients

Shortbread Crust

  • 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)

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

Streusel Topping

  • 1/2 cup (43g) old-fashioned whole rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup (70g) packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup (31g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
  • 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Additional

  • Homemade salted caramel or store-bought caramel sauce for drizzling

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Shortbread Crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a mixing bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until well mixed. Gradually add the all-purpose flour and stir until the dough comes together. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of a lined 8x8-inch baking pan to form the crust.
  2. Bake the Crust: Place the crust in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until it is lightly golden. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly.
  3. Make the Apple Filling: In a separate bowl, toss the peeled and thinly sliced apples with flour, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until the apples are well coated. Spread this apple mixture evenly over the baked shortbread crust.
  4. Prepare the Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, combine old-fashioned oats, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and all-purpose flour. Cut in the cold cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the apple filling.
  5. Bake the Bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 40 to 45 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the streusel topping is golden brown and crispy.
  6. Cool and Drizzle: Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, drizzle generously with homemade salted caramel or store-bought caramel sauce before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • You can use Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples for a balance of tartness and sweetness.
  • Make sure the butter for the streusel is cold to achieve a crumbly topping.
  • Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • For extra flavor, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt over the caramel drizzle.
  • These bars can be served warm or at room temperature, optionally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Find it online: https://recipethrive.com/salted-caramel-apple-pie-bars-recipe/