Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars Recipe
Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars Recipe is a sweet and indulgent treat perfect for fall or any dessert craving.
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the apple filling:
- 3 cups peeled and diced apples Granny Smith or Honeycrisp
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
For the salted caramel topping:
- ¾ cup caramel sauce store-bought or homemade
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Optional: chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch
Instructions
Preheat Oven
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Leave overhang for easy lifting.
Make Crust
- Cream softened butter and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla. Gradually add flour and salt.
Press Crust
- Press dough evenly into prepared baking pan. Use fingers or spatula for a smooth layer. Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden.
Prepare Apple Filling
- Toss diced apples with flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Ensure apples are well coated.
Layer Apples
- Remove baked crust from oven. Spread apple mixture evenly over warm crust. Press gently to create an even layer.
Bake Apple Layer
- Return pan to oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes until apples are tender and fragrant. Check with a fork for softness.
Add Salted Caramel
- Remove from oven. Drizzle caramel sauce evenly over baked apple layer. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt. Optional: add nuts for crunch.
Cool Completely
- Allow bars to cool at room temperature for at least 1 hour. Chilling in the fridge helps caramel set for cleaner slices.
Slice Bars
- Lift bars from pan using parchment overhang. Slice into 12 squares using a sharp knife. Clean knife between cuts if needed.
Serve and Enjoy
- Serve bars as dessert or snack. They pair well with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Use tart apples for balanced sweetness; Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Braeburn work best.
- Make homemade caramel for a richer flavor.
- Add chopped nuts to the caramel layer for texture.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle cinnamon sugar on crust before baking.
- Store bars in an airtight container for up to 4 days at room temperature.
- Freeze uncut bars for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before slicing.