If you are looking for a dessert that perfectly balances sweet and salty flavors with a comforting, chewy texture, the Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars Recipe is going to become your new favorite go-to treat. This delightful bar combines tender, cinnamon-spiced apples with buttery shortbread and a crisp oatmeal topping, all tied together with luscious salted caramel. Imagine biting into a warm, golden bar where every layer melts into the next—a pure slice of fall nostalgia that’s just as wonderful any time of year.

Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient in this recipe plays an essential role, coming together with simple pantry staples and fresh apples to create sensational flavor and texture. From the smooth, buttery crust to the spice-kissed apples, every element contributes to a rich and inviting dessert experience.

Salted butter: Using room temperature salted butter enhances flavor and helps achieve the perfect crumbly crust and topping.
Flour: Provides the structure for both the shortbread base and the crisp oat topping.
Brown sugar: Adds deep, caramel-like sweetness and moisture.
Salt: A critical accent that balances sweetness and brings out all the flavors.
Apples: Fresh, peeled, and thinly sliced, these create the juicy, tender filling that is the heart of the bars.
Caramel sauce: Whether store-bought or homemade, it provides the luscious, sticky richness that defines this dessert.
Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and aromatic spice to the apple filling and topping.
Oatmeal: Creates a crunchy, rustic texture in the crumb topping that perfectly contrasts the soft apples.

How to Make Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars Recipe

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Start by setting your oven to 350°F (175°C). Preparing your baking pan with parchment paper ensures your bars will lift right out without sticking, making cleanup a breeze and your bars perfectly shaped.

Step 2: Prepare the Shortbread Crust

In a mixing bowl, cream together the salted butter, flour, brown sugar, and salt until you get a crumbly texture. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan. Bake for 12 minutes until lightly golden; this forms a sturdy but tender base for your apples and makes the bars hold together deliciously without being too dense.

Step 3: Prepare the Apple Filling

While the crust cools just a bit, peel, core, and thinly slice about 4 to 5 apples. In a separate bowl, whisk caramel sauce with salt, cinnamon, brown sugar, and flour to create a glossy, spiced coating. Toss the sliced apples gently in this mixture, ensuring every piece is well covered. Spread the apples evenly over the baked crust and press down ever so slightly to pack the layers nicely.

Step 4: Make the Oatmeal Crumb Topping

Combine salted butter, brown sugar, flour, oatmeal, and cinnamon in a bowl, mixing until the crumbly topping forms. This mixture lends a wonderfully crunchy, textured contrast to the soft apples underneath. Sprinkle it evenly over the apple layer and press gently to create a cohesive top that will bake to golden perfection.

Step 5: Bake the Bars

Place the assembled bars in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. You’ll want to watch for the topping to become golden brown and the apples to feel tender when pierced. The aroma of caramel and cinnamon filling your kitchen at this step is simply irresistible.

Step 6: Cool and Finish

Once out of the oven, let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing. This cooling step helps the layers set and the bars cut neatly into squares. For an extra indulgent touch, drizzle more caramel sauce over the top and sprinkle a pinch of salt. Serve warm or at room temperature—each bite melts in your mouth with buttery richness and fruity sweetness.

How to Serve Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars Recipe

Garnishes

For that extra wow factor, consider drizzling additional caramel sauce right before serving, and maybe a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt to bring out all the flavors. A dusting of powdered sugar also looks charming and adds a subtle sweetness.

Side Dishes

These bars pair beautifully with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream, enhancing the warm spiced apples and buttery topping. For a lighter option, a simple cup of hot chai tea or spiced coffee complements the dessert’s autumn vibes perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

Serve your Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars Recipe on rustic wooden boards for a farmhouse feel or arrange on pretty dessert plates lined with parchment paper for casual gatherings. Wrapping individual squares with twine makes for charming hostess gifts or party favors that anyone would love to receive.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or keep them refrigerated for up to 5 days. Bringing them back to room temperature before serving helps restore their soft, tender texture.

Freezing

These bars freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store in a zip-top freezer bag. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge then bring to room temperature or warm slightly before serving to revive that fresh-baked feel.

Reheating

If you like your bars warm, a quick zap in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds or a few minutes in a low oven (300°F/150°C) will do the trick. The caramel gets wonderfully gooey again and the crust softens just enough for a cozy, comforting bite.

FAQs

Can I use different types of apples for this recipe?

Absolutely! While tart apples like Granny Smith work best for holding shape and balancing sweetness, feel free to mix in sweeter varieties like Fuji or Honeycrisp for a more complex flavor profile.

Is homemade caramel better for these bars?

Homemade caramel adds a personal touch and the best flavor control, but store-bought caramel sauce works perfectly fine and saves time without sacrificing the delicious salty-sweet dimension these bars are known for.

Can I make these bars gluten-free?

Yes, by substituting gluten-free flour blends and certified gluten-free oats, you can adapt the recipe easily while keeping the same wonderful taste and texture.

How do I make sure the crust doesn’t get soggy?

Baking the crust before adding the apple filling is key—it creates a sturdy base that resists sogginess. Also, ensuring your apples are well-coated with the caramel mixture and not overly juicy helps maintain the crust’s firmness.

Can I double this recipe for a larger batch?

Definitely! Simply double all ingredients and bake in a larger pan (like 9×13 inches), but keep an eye on the baking time as it may need a few extra minutes to cook through evenly.

Final Thoughts

I truly hope you give this Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars Recipe a try—it’s one of those desserts that feels like a warm hug on a plate. Whether you’re making it for a cozy family night or a festive gathering, the rich caramel, tender apples, and crumbly topping will impress everyone and leave you reaching for seconds. Dive in and enjoy every sweet, salty, buttery bite!

Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars Recipe

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4 from 33 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 1 hour 2 minutes
Yield: 16 servings 1x

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Description

These Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars combine a buttery shortbread crust with tender cinnamon-spiced apples coated in caramel sauce and a crunchy oatmeal crumb topping. Baked to golden perfection, they offer a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tart flavors, making a delicious dessert or snack that pairs wonderfully with vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients

Scale

Shortbread Crust

1/2 cup salted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Apple Filling

4 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples (about 4–5 medium apples)
1/4 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Oatmeal Crumb Topping

6 tablespoons salted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oatmeal (old-fashioned rolled oats)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Optional

Additional caramel sauce for drizzling
Extra salt for sprinkling

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Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8 or 9×9 inch square baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Prepare the Shortbread Crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the room temperature salted butter, flour, brown sugar, and salt. Mix until the mixture becomes crumbly. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust. Bake for 12 minutes until lightly golden, then remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
Prepare the Apple Filling: Core, peel, and thinly slice the apples to yield about 4 cups. In a small bowl, mix together the caramel sauce, salt, ground cinnamon, brown sugar, and flour until smooth. Pour this caramel mixture over the sliced apples and toss gently to coat all apple pieces evenly. Then, spoon the coated apples evenly over the pre-baked shortbread crust and gently press down to create an even layer.
Make the Oatmeal Crumb Topping: In a separate medium bowl, combine the room temperature salted butter, brown sugar, flour, oatmeal, and cinnamon. Mix these ingredients until crumbly. Sprinkle this crumb topping evenly over the apple layer, pressing down gently to help it adhere.
Bake the Bars: Place the assembled pan back into the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the crumb topping turns golden brown.
Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to set before cutting into 16 squares. For an extra touch, drizzle additional caramel sauce over the bars and sprinkle a little salt if desired. These bars can be served as is or accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful treat.

Notes

Ensure apples are thinly sliced for even cooking and tender texture.
Use salted butter as the salt measurement is adjusted accordingly; if using unsalted butter, adjust salt amounts in the recipe.
Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
These bars can be made ahead and reheated briefly before serving.
For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 47 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American