Description
Caramel Apple Bars are soft, chewy dessert bars layered with cinnamon-spiced apples, rich caramel, and a buttery oat crumble. They’re perfect for fall, offering the flavors of a caramel apple in an easy-to-serve bar form.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cups apples, peeled, cored, and diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (for apples)
- 30 soft caramels or 1 cup thick caramel sauce
- 2 tbsp heavy cream or milk (if melting caramels)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, salt, and 1 tsp cinnamon.
- Stir in melted butter and vanilla extract until crumbly and well mixed.
- Press 2/3 of the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.
- In another bowl, toss diced apples with lemon juice and 1/2 tsp cinnamon.
- Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crust layer.
- If using soft caramels, melt them with cream in the microwave or on the stovetop until smooth. If using caramel sauce, warm slightly.
- Drizzle the caramel evenly over the apples.
- Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the top.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the topping is golden and apples are tender.
- Let the bars cool completely, at least 1 hour, before cutting into squares.
Notes
- Use firm apples like Granny Smith for best texture.
- Chill the bars before cutting for clean slices.
- Can be made ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer.
- Optional: Sprinkle sea salt on caramel layer for a salted caramel twist.
- Great served warm with ice cream or chilled as a grab-and-go treat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 105mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
