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Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars Recipe

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These Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars combine a tender buttery crust with a cinnamon-spiced apple filling, topped with a crunchy oat streusel and finished with a luscious drizzle of salted caramel sauce. Perfect for dessert or a sweet snack, these bars are easy to prepare and bake to golden perfection, offering a delightful balance of sweet and salty flavors in every bite.

  • Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)

Apple Filling

  • 2 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced (1/4 inch thick)
  • 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Streusel Topping

  • 1/2 cup (43g) old-fashioned whole rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup (70g) packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup (31g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
  • 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Finishing

  • Homemade salted caramel or store-bought caramel sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 300°F (149°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring that you leave an overhang on all sides to easily lift out the bars later. Set aside.
  2. Make the Crust: In a medium bowl, stir together the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla bean paste, and salt until combined. Add the flour and mix until a dough forms. Press this mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven.
  3. Prepare Apple Filling: While the crust bakes, combine the thinly sliced apples, flour, granulated sugar, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Toss until the apples are evenly coated with the mixture. Set aside.
  4. Make Streusel Topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Cut the cold cubed butter into the mixture using a pastry blender, two forks, or your hands until the texture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
  5. Adjust Oven Temperature: Increase the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C) for the next baking step.
  6. Assemble Bars: Spread the apple filling evenly on top of the warm baked crust. Press down firmly to fit the apples into the pan as the slices will appear generous. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the apples.
  7. Bake: Bake the bars for 30-35 minutes or until the streusel is golden brown and the apple filling is tender.
  8. Cool and Chill: Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool at room temperature for at least 20 minutes. Then chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight to set.
  9. Slice and Serve: Using the parchment paper overhangs, lift the bars out of the pan. Cut into 12 to 16 bars depending on your preferred size. Drizzle with salted caramel sauce before serving. Enjoy warm, room temperature, or cold.

Notes

  • Peeling and slicing the apples thinly helps ensure they cook evenly and soften properly in the filling.
  • Use tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for a nice balance against the sweetness of the caramel and streusel.
  • Cold cubed butter for the streusel helps create the crumbly texture after baking.
  • The bars can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • For easier slicing, chill the bars completely before cutting.
  • Homemade salted caramel sauce adds an extra special touch, but store-bought works well for convenience.
  • Author: Olivia
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://iamstarved.com/salted-caramel-apple-pie-bars-recipe/