Go Back
Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars | The Best Fall Crumb Dessert
Allison Bryant

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

These Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars are the ultimate fall comfort food, featuring a tender shortbread base, a spiced apple filling, and a crunchy streusel topping. Finished with a decadent drizzle of salted caramel, these bars offer a sophisticated, bakery-quality experience that is perfectly balanced between sweet and savory. Easy to assemble and ideal for gatherings, they are the best way to enjoy classic apple pie flavors in a convenient, handheld format.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Calories: 260
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted (for crust)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1/4 cup salted caramel sauce (alcohol-free)

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
  2. For the base, whisk together 1 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla, and salt. Fold in 2 cups flour until just combined.
  3. Press the shortbread dough firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 10-12 minutes.
  4. In a bowl, toss sliced apples with 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  5. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the pre-baked shortbread base.
  6. For the streusel, combine oats, brown sugar, flour, and cold cubed butter using your fingertips until pea-sized crumbs form.
  7. Scatter the streusel topping over the apples.
  8. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling.
  9. Allow to cool slightly before drizzling with salted caramel sauce.

Notes

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. You can reheat individual bars in a microwave for 15 seconds to soften them before serving. Ensure your salted caramel sauce is alcohol-free to maintain the integrity of the recipe.