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
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
