Description

These Salted Caramel Apple Bars are the ultimate cozy fall dessert—gooey, buttery, and packed with cinnamon-spiced apples layered between a soft crumble crust and drizzled with rich salted caramel. Perfect for fall parties, potlucks, or a sweet September treat, they’re easy to make and impossible to resist.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust and Topping:

1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar, packed
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt

Apple Filling:

3 medium apples, peeled and chopped
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp all-purpose flour

Salted Caramel:

1/2 cup salted caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Flaky sea salt, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Prepare crust: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment. Cream butter and sugars until fluffy. Mix in vanilla, then flour and salt until a soft dough forms. Press 2/3 into the pan for crust; reserve the rest for topping.
Make filling: Toss apples with sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and flour. Spread evenly over crust.
Drizzle caramel: Warm caramel slightly and drizzle over apples. Spread evenly.
Add topping: Crumble reserved dough over apples and caramel. Leave some gaps for a rustic look.
Bake: Bake 35–40 minutes, until golden and bubbling. Cool completely before slicing.
Finish: Sprinkle flaky sea salt if desired. Slice into bars and serve warm or chilled.

Notes

Use tart apples like Granny Smith for balance.
Flour in the filling helps absorb juices to avoid sogginess.
Cool completely before slicing for clean bars.
Warm caramel slightly for easier drizzling.
Store in fridge for firmer texture and cleaner cuts.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Dessert, Fall Baking
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 260
Sugar: 18g
Sodium: 150mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 35g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 30mg

Keywords: Salted Caramel Apple Bars, Apple Crumble Bars, Fall Dessert Bars, Caramel Apple Recipes, Apple Bars with Caramel