Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars Recipe

Craving a dessert that combines the warm flavors of apple pie with the irresistible sweetness of salted caramel? These Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars are the perfect combination of tender, cinnamon-spiced apples, buttery shortbread crust, and a decadent salted caramel drizzle. This recipe captures all the best flavors of a classic apple pie but in bar form—perfect for sharing at parties, holiday gatherings, or as a special fall treat. Read on for the full recipe, step-by-step instructions, and tips to make your Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars absolutely perfect.

What are Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars?

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars are a delicious dessert that layers a buttery shortbread crust, a sweet and spiced apple filling, and a crumbly streusel topping, all drizzled with rich salted caramel. Imagine the flavors of apple pie condensed into portable, bite-sized bars. The salted caramel drizzle adds a perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness, making these bars irresistible. Whether served warm or at room temperature, these bars capture the essence of fall in every bite.

Ingredients List for Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

For the Shortbread Crust:

1. 1 cup unsalted butter, melted – The base of the shortbread crust, giving it richness and flavor.
2. ½ cup granulated sugar – Adds sweetness to the crust.
3. 2 teaspoon vanilla extract – Enhances the buttery flavor of the shortbread.
4. ¼ teaspoon salt – Balances the sweetness in the crust.
5. 2 cups all-purpose flour – The structure for the crust, providing a light and crisp texture.

For the Apple Filling:

1. 4 large apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji), peeled and diced – The stars of the recipe, providing sweet and tart flavor.
2. 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour – Thickens the apple filling as it bakes.
3. ¼ cup granulated sugar – Adds sweetness to the apple filling.
4. ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed – Deepens the flavor of the apple filling.
5. 1 tablespoon lemon juice – Prevents the apples from browning and adds a bright, tart contrast.
6. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon – The classic spice that defines fall desserts.
7. ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg – Adds warmth and depth to the apple flavor.
8. ¼ teaspoon ground cloves – Complements the cinnamon and enhances the warm spice flavors.

For the Crumb Topping:

1. ¾ cup all-purpose flour – Adds structure to the crumb topping.
2. ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats – Provides a chewy texture and hearty flavor.
3. ½ cup light brown sugar, packed – Adds sweetness and caramel-like flavor.
4. ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon – A touch more spice to carry through the apple pie flavors.
5. ¼ teaspoon salt – Balances the sweetness.
6. ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed – Creates a crumbly, buttery topping that melts into the apples.

For the Salted Caramel Sauce:

1. ½ cup granulated sugar – The base for caramel, which melts into a rich sauce.
2. 2 tablespoon water – Helps dissolve the sugar during cooking.
3. 4 tablespoon unsalted butter – Adds richness and smoothness to the caramel.
4. ¼ cup heavy cream – Gives the caramel sauce a luscious, creamy texture.
5. ½ teaspoon sea salt – Adds the perfect salty contrast to the sweet caramel.

Substitutions and Variations

• Gluten-Free Option: Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for both the crust and the crumb topping, and make sure your oats are gluten-free.
• Vegan/Dairy-Free Version: Replace butter with vegan butter or coconut oil, and use coconut cream in place of the heavy cream for the caramel sauce.
• Nutty Crumb Topping: Add ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts to the crumb topping for extra crunch and flavor.
• Apple Variations: Use a mix of tart Granny Smith and sweeter apples like Gala or Fuji for a more complex apple flavor.
• Caramel Sauce Shortcuts: Feel free to use store-bought salted caramel sauce if you're short on time.

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Shortbread Crust

1. Preheat your oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
2. Mix the crust ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth. Gradually stir in the flour until combined and a soft dough forms.
3. Press into the pan: Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, making sure to cover the entire bottom in an even layer. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the apple filling.

Step 2: Prepare the Apple Filling

1. Toss the apples: In a large mixing bowl, combine the peeled and diced apples, flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Toss to coat the apples evenly with the sugars and spices.
2. Layer the apples on the crust: Spread the apple mixture evenly over the pre-baked shortbread crust, making sure to distribute the apples in an even layer.

Step 3: Make the Crumb Topping

1. Prepare the crumb topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to mix it into the dry ingredients until large crumbs form. The mixture should be crumbly but hold together when squeezed.
2. Sprinkle over the apples: Evenly sprinkle the crumb topping over the apple layer, making sure to cover all the apples.

Step 4: Bake the Bars

1. Bake the bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the crumb topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. The filling should be bubbling slightly around the edges.
2. Cool the bars: Once baked, remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan. This will help them set up and make cutting easier.

Step 5: Make the Salted Caramel Sauce

1. Melt the sugar: In a medium saucepan, heat the sugar and water over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves. Stop stirring and allow the sugar to cook for 5-6 minutes until it turns a deep amber color.
2. Add the butter and cream: Once the sugar is caramelized, carefully add the butter and whisk until melted and combined. Slowly pour in the heavy cream while whisking continuously, being careful as it will bubble up. Let the caramel simmer for 1-2 minutes until thickened.
3. Add the salt: Remove the caramel from the heat and stir in the sea salt. Allow the caramel to cool slightly before drizzling over the cooled apple pie bars.

Step 6: Drizzle and Serve

1. Drizzle the caramel: Once the bars have cooled, drizzle the salted caramel sauce generously over the top of the crumb topping.
2. Cut into squares: Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Cut into squares or rectangles and serve.

How to Cook Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Prepare the shortbread crust: This forms the buttery base for the bars and provides a sturdy foundation for the apple filling.
2. Make the apple filling: Toss fresh apples with sugar, spices, and a little flour to create a sweet, gooey filling that will bake to tender perfection.
3. Prepare the crumb topping: A combination of oats, flour, sugar, and butter, baked to a crisp, golden topping that adds texture to the soft apples.
4. Bake the bars: Baking the layers together allows the flavors to meld and the apples to soften.
5. Drizzle with salted caramel: The final touch—rich, buttery caramel with a hint of salt that ties everything together.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overbaking the shortbread crust: Don’t bake the crust too long before adding the filling. It should be lightly golden, not fully baked, since it will continue baking with the apples.
2. Using warm butter in the crumb topping: Make sure the butter is cold to create a crumbly texture. Warm butter can make the topping too soft.
3. Not cooling the bars completely: Let the bars cool fully before slicing to ensure clean, neat cuts and a set filling.
4. Skipping the lemon juice in the filling: Lemon juice helps balance the sweetness of the apples and caramel while preventing the apples from browning.

Serving and Presentation Tips

• How to Serve Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars: These bars are delicious served slightly warm or at room temperature. For an extra treat, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
• Presentation Ideas for Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars: Drizzle a little extra caramel on each plate before serving the bars. Garnish with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, a dusting of cinnamon, or a few apple slices for a decorative touch.

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars Recipe Tips

• Make-Ahead Tip: These bars can be made a day in advance. Prepare and bake them as directed, but wait to drizzle the caramel until just before serving.
• Storage: Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate them for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months.
• Freezing Tip: Freeze the bars before adding the caramel sauce. When ready to serve, thaw them in the fridge and then drizzle with fresh caramel sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I use store-bought caramel sauce?
A: Yes! If you're short on time, store-bought salted caramel sauce works perfectly fine. Just make sure to warm it slightly before drizzling over the bars.

Q: What type of apples are best for this recipe?
A: Granny Smith apples are a great choice for their tartness, which balances the sweetness of the caramel. However, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala apples also work well, depending on your preference.

Q: Can I make these bars gluten-free?
A: Absolutely! Simply substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, and ensure your oats are certified gluten-free.

Q: How do I prevent the caramel sauce from hardening?
A: To keep the caramel sauce from hardening too much, don’t overcook it. Once it reaches the right amber color and consistency, remove it from the heat and stir in the cream and butter right away.

Conclusion

There you have it—rich, buttery Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars that bring together the best flavors of fall. With layers of buttery shortbread, sweet and spiced apples, a crisp streusel topping, and a decadent salted caramel drizzle, these bars are the perfect dessert for any autumn gathering. Easy to make and full of flavor, they’re sure to be a hit. Happy baking!

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