Go Back
Easy salted caramel apple bars, a delicious and irresistible fall dessert, are pictured in this featured image.

Salty Caramel Apple Bars

These Salty Caramel Apple Bars are the perfect fall dessert, combining a buttery oat crust with a sweet and tart apple filling, topped with a rich and decadent salted caramel. Easy to make and perfect for sharing, these bars capture the essence of autumn flavors in every bite.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 42 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 7 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 6 medium apples such as Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, plus more for sprinkling

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Large bowl
  • Medium bowl
  • Whisk
  • Pastry blender or fingertips
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Medium saucepan
  • Wooden spoon or spatula
  • Oven
  • Cooling rack
  • Knife

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease and line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and cinnamon.
  3. Add the cold butter cubes to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender (or your fingertips), cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  4. Press about two-thirds of the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Press firmly and evenly to create a solid base.
  5. In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Toss everything together until the apples are evenly coated.
  6. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crust.
  7. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture evenly over the apple filling.
  8. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with just a few moist crumbs.
  9. While the bars are baking, prepare the salted caramel. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  10. Stir in the granulated sugar and heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
  11. Continue to cook, without stirring, until the caramel is a deep golden brown color, about 5-7 minutes. Watch it carefully, as it can burn easily.
  12. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
  13. Pour the salted caramel evenly over the baked apple bars. Sprinkle with additional sea salt.
  14. Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting and serving.
  15. Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Cut into squares and serve.

Notes

For the best results, use cold butter when making the crust. This ensures a flaky and tender texture. Don't overmix the crust to avoid a tough result. A mix of sweet and tart apples provides the most balanced flavor. Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The bars can also be frozen for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.