Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
Delicious and cozy salted caramel apple pie bars combining spiced apples and a buttery crust, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Apple Filling
- 5 medium apples, sliced between 1/8" and 1/4" thick Use firmer varieties for better texture.
- 1 tbsp lemon juice Adds brightness and prevents browning.
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour Provides structure.
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed Adds moisture and flavor.
- 1 tbsp cinnamon Enhances warmth and spice.
- 3/8 tsp nutmeg Adds a warm, nutty flavor.
- 1/4 tsp allspice Complex spice note.
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves Intense warm flavor.
- pinch salt Balances sweetness.
For the Crust and Topping
- 1.5 cups salted butter, melted Richness and moisture.
- 3 cups all-purpose flour Forms the base structure.
- 2 cups old-fashioned whole rolled oats Adds texture and chew.
- 1.5 cups light brown sugar, packed Moist sweetness.
- 1.5 tsp baking soda Leavening agent.
- 1 tsp cinnamon For warmth.
- 1/2 tsp salt Enhances flavor.
For the Salted Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup granulated sugar Sweetness.
- 6 tbsp salted butter, cubed For caramel richness.
- 1/2 cup heavy cream Adds creaminess.
- 1 tbsp heavy cream Additional for caramel.
- pinch fine sea salt Enhances caramel flavor.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350℉. Prepare a 9×13 inch baking pan by spraying it with nonstick spray and lining the bottom with parchment paper.
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine the sliced apples with the lemon juice, flour, light brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ground cloves, and a pinch of salt. Toss gently until well coated and set aside.
- In a large bowl, melt the salted butter and stir in the flour, rolled oats, light brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt to form the crust and topping mixture. Mix until a crumbly dough forms.
- Reserve about 2 cups of the crust mixture to use as a topping. Press the remaining mixture into the prepared pan to create a solid base layer. Layer the prepared apple mixture over the crust and sprinkle the reserved crust mixture over the apples.
Baking
- Bake in the preheated oven for 38 to 45 minutes, or until the top layer is golden brown. Let cool to firm up.
Making the Caramel Sauce
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the granulated sugar and cubed salted butter. Stir until melted and smooth.
- Gradually stir in the heavy cream and a pinch of fine sea salt, allowing to thicken slightly.
Serving
- Once cooled, slice into squares and drizzle warm salted caramel over the top before serving.
Notes
Allow bars to cool completely for easier slicing. Use fresh spices for the best flavor. Adjust caramel thickness by varying cream amount.