Description
Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars are a cozy, fuss-free twist on classic apple pie—featuring a buttery shortbread crust, spiced apple filling, a golden oat crumble, and a final drizzle of salted caramel. Perfect for potlucks, fall gatherings, or holiday tables, these hand-held dessert bars capture all the flavor of apple pie in an easy, shareable format.
Ingredients
Crust
115 g (½ cup / 1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
50 g (¼ cup) granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt
125 g (1 cup) all-purpose flour
Apple Filling
2 large apples (Granny Smith + Pink Lady), peeled & thinly sliced (approx. 300 g / 10 oz)
15 g (2 tbsp) all-purpose flour
25 g (2 tbsp) granulated sugar
1–2 tsp ground cinnamon (to taste)
½ tsp ground ginger (optional)
⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
Crumble Topping
100 g (½ cup, packed) light brown sugar
65 g (½ cup) all-purpose flour
50 g (½ cup) old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick/instant)
85 g (6 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
Finish
175 g (¾ cup) salted caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought, for drizzling)
Instructions
Prepare the crust: Preheat oven to 150°C (300°F). Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper (leave overhang). Mix melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Stir in flour. Press into pan. Bake 15 minutes, then set aside.
Apple filling: Toss apple slices with flour, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg until coated.
Crumble topping: Mix flour and brown sugar in a bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly, then stir in oats.
Assemble & bake: Raise oven to 175°C (350°F). Spread apples evenly over warm crust. Sprinkle crumble on top. Bake 30–35 minutes, until golden and bubbling.
Cool & serve: Cool at least 2 hours. Refrigerate 2 more hours for neat slicing. Drizzle with caramel, cut into bars, and serve.
Notes
Mix apple varieties (tart + sweet) for balanced flavor.
Chill fully before slicing for clean bars.
Add pecans or walnuts to the crumble for crunch.
Warm slightly before serving with vanilla ice cream for an indulgent treat.
If freezing, add caramel drizzle just before serving.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American