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Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars
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Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars combine tender baked apples, rich gooey caramel, and a buttery crumb topping for a dessert that perfectly balances sweet, salty, and spiced flavors. Easy to make and irresistibly delicious, these bars are ideal for dessert, snacks, or brunch and hold up well for make-ahead enjoyment.

Ingredients

Scale

Fruit Filling

  • 3–4 firm apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and diced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar or maple syrup

Crumble Base and Topping

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
  • Pinch of sea salt (for topping)

Caramel Layer

  • 1 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)

Optional Spices and Additions

  • Chopped pecans or walnuts (for nutty variation)
  • Ground ginger or cardamom (for additional spice)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the apples: Peel, core, and dice the apples into even pieces. Toss them with lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar or maple syrup to coat evenly. This mixture will soften and caramelize during baking, balancing tartness with sweetness.
  2. Make the crumble base: In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, brown sugar, and chilled cubed butter. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs that hold together but remain crumbly.
  3. Press the base into the pan: Take about two-thirds of the crumble mixture and press it firmly into a parchment-lined baking pan to form a sturdy bottom crust layer.
  4. Add the apple filling and caramel: Spread the spiced apple mixture evenly over the crust. Drizzle or dollop caramel sauce generously over the apples to create a gooey middle layer.
  5. Top with remaining crumble: Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture evenly over the caramel and apples to form a golden crunchy topping.
  6. Bake and cool: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and apples are bubbly. Let the bars cool completely in the pan; chilling helps with easier slicing and deeper flavor melding.

Notes

  • Use tart, firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for best texture and flavor.
  • Keep butter chilled to achieve a flaky, crumbly topping.
  • Add extra caramel for gooier bars by swirling more into the apple layer.
  • Lemon juice prevents apples from browning and adds brightness.
  • Allow bars to cool fully or chill before cutting for cleaner slices and richer taste.
  • Line your pan with parchment paper for easy removal and less mess.
  • Watch for burning crumble topping; cover loosely with foil if it browns too quickly near the end of baking.

Nutrition

Keywords: salted caramel, apple bars, crumble bars, dessert bars, caramel apple dessert, fall dessert, gluten-free dessert

Find it online: https://recipesemilly.com/salted-caramel-apple-crumble-bars/