Sweet and buttery salted caramel apple bars made with cinnamon apples, oat crumble, and rich caramel drizzle. An easy fall dessert perfect for holidays, parties, and cozy baking.

The best Salted Caramel Apple Bars

Soft cinnamon apples layered between buttery oat crumble and finished with rich salted caramel. These bars taste like apple pie and caramel crumble combined — perfect for fall desserts or holiday baking.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Servings: 12 bars

Course: Dessert, Goûter

Cuisine: Américaine

Calories: 320

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• Crust & Crumble
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Apple Filling
• 3 medium apples peeled & diced
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• Salted Caramel
• or use store-bought
• 1 cup caramel sauce
• ½ tsp sea salt

Equipment

• 8×8 inch baking pan (or 9×9 pan)
• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
• Knife and cutting board
• Apple peeler (optional)
• Parchment paper
• Cooling rack

Method

 

1. 1️⃣ Preheat
2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
3. Line an 8×8 or 9×9 baking pan with parchment paper.
4. 2️⃣ Make the Crust & Crumble
5. In a bowl mix:
6. flour
7. oats
8. brown sugar
9. baking soda
10. salt
11. cinnamon
12. Add melted butter + vanilla and mix until crumbly.
13. Press half of the mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan to form the crust.
14. 3️⃣ Prepare Apple Filling
15. In another bowl combine:
16. diced apples
17. sugar
18. lemon juice
19. cinnamon
20. nutmeg
21. cornstarch
22. Mix well.
23. Spread apples evenly over the crust.
24. 4️⃣ Add Crumble
25. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the apples.
26. 5️⃣ Bake
27. Bake for 35–40 minutes until the top is golden brown and apples are soft.
28. Let cool for 15 minutes.
29. 6️⃣ Add Salted Caramel
30. Warm the caramel slightly and stir in ½ tsp sea salt.
31. Drizzle generously over the bars.

Notes

• For best flavor, use firm apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn. They hold their shape well when baked.
• If using store-bought caramel sauce, warm it slightly before drizzling so it spreads evenly.
• Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing for clean squares.
• Add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the crumble for extra crunch.
• For a richer flavor, sprinkle flaky sea salt on top after adding the caramel.
• These bars taste even better the next day after the flavors settle.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.