Description
Salted caramel apple pie bars bring warmth of autumn into sweet, crumbly squares packed with spiced apple goodness. Rich buttery layers meld classic flavors, promising delightful moments of pure comfort for dessert enthusiasts.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×13-inch baking pan with light greasing.
- Create the foundational shortbread crust by blending melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Gradually incorporate flour until a uniform dough forms. Press the mixture evenly across the pan’s surface. Bake for 15-18 minutes until achieving a delicate golden hue.
- Prepare the apple mixture by combining diced apples with flour, sugars, lemon juice, and aromatic spices. Ensure thorough coating of apple pieces with the seasoned mixture.
- Distribute the spiced apple layer uniformly across the pre-baked crust, creating an even landscape of fruit.
- Craft the crumbly topping by integrating flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Incorporate cold butter using a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Generously scatter the topping over the apple layer.
- Return the pan to the oven, baking for 30-35 minutes until the topping transforms into a golden crown and apples reach tender perfection.
- Construct the salted caramel sauce by carefully heating sugar and water in a saucepan. Allow the mixture to transform into a rich amber color without stirring. Remove from heat and whisk in butter, cream, and sea salt, creating a luxurious drizzling sauce.
- Once the bars have cooled, cascade the warm caramel sauce across the surface, enhancing the dessert with a decadent finish.
Notes
- Swap butter with coconut oil or vegan butter for a dairy-free version that maintains the rich, buttery texture of the original recipe.
- Use gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour to make the bars accessible for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Choose firmer apple varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp to prevent soggy bars and maintain a delightful crunch in every bite.
- Prevent apple browning by tossing diced apples in lemon juice immediately after cutting, which preserves their fresh color and adds a subtle tangy brightness.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 235
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg