Description
Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars bring sweet autumn comfort right to your kitchen, with buttery crumble layers and tender apple chunks that make afternoons delightful. Warm spices and rich caramel create a delectable dessert perfect for sharing with friends and family during crisp seasonal moments.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups apples
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
Spice Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup salted caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat your oven to a toasty 375°F (190°C). Grab a 9×13 inch pan and line it with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal later.
- Melt 2 sticks (1 cup) of unsalted butter in a large mixing bowl. Stir in 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and ½ teaspoon salt until well combined.
- Add 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour to the butter mixture. Mix until the texture resembles coarse, crumbly breadcrumbs.
- Transfer about two-thirds of this crumbly dough into the prepared pan. Press firmly to create an even, compact base layer that will support your apple filling.
- Peel and slice 3 medium apples into thin pieces. Toss the 3 cups of apple slices with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ensuring each slice gets coated with the warm spices.
- Spread the spiced apple slices evenly across the pressed dough base, creating a luscious fruity layer that will peek through the final topping.
- Drizzle ½ cup of salted caramel sauce generously over the apple layer, letting it weave between the fruit slices.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumbly dough over the caramel and apples, creating a rustic, uneven topping that will turn golden and crisp during baking.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes. Watch for a beautiful golden-brown top and tender, bubbling apples underneath.
- Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan. This resting time helps the layers set and makes cutting easier.
- Using the parchment paper overhang, lift the entire dessert out of the pan and slice into bars for serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients to help the crumble mixture bind together more easily.
- Slice apples uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the bars.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with almond or coconut flour and check caramel sauce ingredients.
- Enhance the flavor by choosing tart baking apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for a balanced sweetness.
- Prep Time: 5-10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 23 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg