Caramel Apple Pie Bars are a delicious, portable twist on the classic apple pie, offering layers of sweet, spiced apple filling nestled between a buttery, shortbread-like crust and a crumbly topping. The apples are caramelized with cinnamon and sugar, creating a rich, warm filling that’s complemented by the sweet, gooey caramel drizzle on top. These bars are the perfect balance of sweet and tart, with a comforting, dessert-bar format that makes them easy to serve at gatherings. Perfect for fall, they bring all the cozy flavors of apple pie in a convenient, handheld form.
Caramel Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
CRUST
- 1 cup salted butter (very soft)
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
FILLING
- 5 medium Gala or Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and sliced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp apple pie spice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
STREUSEL TOPPING
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup old fashioned or quick cooking oats (not instant)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE (OPTIONAL)
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, warmed
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
CRUST
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour and sugar. Use a hand mixer on low or a large silicone spatula to mix in the softened butter until a soft dough forms. Press evenly onto the bottom of the pan. Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
FILLING
- Meanwhile, In the same bowl, toss together apple slices with lemon juice. Next, coat with flour, granulated sugar, apple pie spice, ground cinnamon and salt until the apples are evenly coated.
STREUSEL TOPPING
- In a separate medium size bowl toss together flour, oats, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and salt with melted butter.
ASSEMBLE AND BAKE
- Remove crust from oven and arrange apple pie filling evenly over the crust. Sprinkle with the streusel topping.
- Place pan back into the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes or until lightly golden brown and the apples are fork tender.
- Cool in the pan on a cooling rack for at least 2 hours or chill in the fridge to speed up the process.
- Cut into squares and serve drizzled with salted caramel sauce, if desired.
SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE (OPTIONAL)
- Add water and sugar to a medium size heavy bottomed saucepan. Combine using a whisk.
- Cook over medium-high heat for about 15 minutes or until it turns amber in color. (Don't stir)
- Turn heat down to medium-low. Warm cream for 20-30 seconds in microwave. It needs to be warm just enough to take the chill off.
- Whisking constantly pour the warm cream into the melted sugar mixture. Allow to simmer over medium-low for 2 minutes or until smooth.
- Turn off the heat. To the saucepan add butter and salt. Stir until butter has melted and salt dissolves, though you may still see tiny flecks.
- Remove from heat and add vanilla, mix well.
- Let stand 5-10 minutes, then serve over ice cream, with fruit or any of your favorite desserts. Makes about 1-1/2 cups.
Notes
Alternate Glaze: You may like to drizzle these bars with a creamy glaze. Mix together powdered sugar with heavy cream and vanilla extract and drizzle over the cooled bars.
Apple Substitutions: You can use pink lady, braeburn, gala or honeycrisp apples in place of granny smith apples.
Apple Pie Spice: If you don’t have apple pie spice on hand, in addition to the cinnamon called for in the recipe add one teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon cardamom and 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger to the pie filling.
Lemon Juice: If you prefer you can toss the apple slices with vanilla extract in place of lemon juice.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!