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Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars Recipe

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4.1 from 11 reviews

Delight in these Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars, combining a buttery shortbread crust, a cinnamon-spiced apple filling, and a crunchy oat streusel topping. Finished with a luscious drizzle of salted caramel and an optional sprinkle of flaky sea salt, these bars are perfect for a comforting dessert or an indulgent snack.

Ingredients

Streusel Topping

  • 1/2 cup (43g) old-fashioned whole rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup (67g) packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup (31g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
  • 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Crust

  • 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup + 1 Tablespoon (133g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)

Apple Filling

  • 2 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced (about 2.5 cups or 315g; 1/4-inch-thick slices)
  • 2 Tablespoons (16g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Finishing Touches

  • Homemade salted caramel or store-bought caramel sauce
  • Optional: flaky sea salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 300°F (149°C). Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal later. Set aside.
  2. Make the Streusel: In a medium bowl, whisk together oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Cut in the cold cubed butter using a pastry blender, fork, or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Refrigerate until needed in step 6.
  3. Prepare the Crust: In a medium bowl, mix melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until combined. Add flour and stir to form a cohesive dough. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan.
  4. Bake the Crust: Bake the crust for 20 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned. Meanwhile, prepare the apple filling.
  5. Make the Apple Filling: In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until the apples are well-coated.
  6. Increase Oven Temperature: Once the crust is baked, remove it from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C).
  7. Assemble the Bars: Spread the apple filling evenly over the warm crust, pressing the apples tightly to fit them all in. Sprinkle the chilled streusel topping evenly over the apples.
  8. Bake the Bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the streusel topping is golden brown and crisp.
  9. Cool the Bars: Remove from the oven and let cool at room temperature for at least 20 minutes. Then transfer to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours to set properly.
  10. Cut and Serve: Using the parchment paper overhang, lift the bars out of the pan onto a cutting board. Cut into 12 squares. Drizzle with salted caramel sauce and sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.
  11. Storage: These bars can be enjoyed warm, cold, or at room temperature. Store them tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

  • Use a sharp knife to slice apples thinly for even cooking.
  • Make sure the butter for the streusel is very cold to achieve a crumbly texture.
  • You can substitute apples with pears for a different twist.
  • For homemade caramel sauce, add a pinch of sea salt to balance the sweetness perfectly.
  • Allow the bars to chill well for clean slicing and better flavor melding.

Find it online: https://simpleplatter.com/salted-caramel-apple-pie-bars-recipe/