Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Alright, let’s make a big, rich, detailed recipe for Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars – The Ultimate Fall Dessert, complete with introduction, history, benefits, step-by-step methods, nutrition, and even a little love for dessert fans at the end.


Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars – The Ultimate Fall Dessert

Introduction

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars are like a warm autumn hug in dessert form. They combine the buttery flakiness of a shortbread crust, the sweet-tart juiciness of baked apples, a crumbly streusel topping, and a drizzle of golden salted caramel sauce. Imagine the taste of classic apple pie but in portable, sliceable bars—perfect for parties, picnics, or cozy evenings by the fire.

This dessert is a celebration of fall flavors, yet so irresistible you might make it year-round. It’s indulgent but balanced—the caramel’s sweetness enhanced by a pinch of salt, the apples’ brightness cutting through the buttery richness.


Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

For the Apple Filling

  • 4 large apples (Granny Smith for tartness or Honeycrisp for sweetness), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 tsp lemon juice

For the Streusel Topping

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

For the Salted Caramel Sauce

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp sea salt

Instructions & Methods

Step 1 – Prepare the Crust

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the sides for easy removal.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 12–15 minutes until slightly golden. Set aside.

Step 2 – Prepare the Apple Filling

  1. In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice.
  2. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the baked crust.

Step 3 – Make the Streusel Topping

  1. In another bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
  2. Pour in the melted butter and mix until crumbly.
  3. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the apple layer.

Step 4 – Bake the Bars

  1. Bake for 35–40 minutes or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.
  2. Cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before adding caramel.

Step 5 – Prepare the Salted Caramel Sauce

  1. In a heavy saucepan, heat sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly until it melts into a deep amber liquid.
  2. Carefully add butter and stir until melted.
  3. Slowly drizzle in heavy cream (it will bubble vigorously), whisking constantly.
  4. Stir in sea salt, then remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Step 6 – Assemble & Serve

  1. Drizzle the salted caramel generously over the cooled bars.
  2. Lift the bars out using the parchment overhang and cut into squares or rectangles.

History

The concept of combining apples and caramel dates back to the early 20th century when caramel apples became popular fair treats in the U.S. Apple pie, a staple of American baking since colonial times, inspired bakers to adapt its flavors into more portable desserts. The Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bar is a modern twist, popularized in the 2010s, blending the nostalgia of apple pie with the trendy salted caramel craze.


Benefits

  • Comfort Food Factor – Brings the warmth of home baking.
  • Portion Control – Easier to serve than traditional pie.
  • Flavor Balance – Sweet, salty, tart, and buttery all in one bite.
  • Versatility – Works well for picnics, parties, or lunchbox treats.

Formation

The dessert forms in layers:

  1. Buttery shortbread crust for structure.
  2. Apple cinnamon filling for flavor.
  3. Crunchy streusel for texture.
  4. Glossy salted caramel for decadence.

Nutrition (Per Bar, Approx. 16 servings)

  • Calories: 290
  • Fat: 14g
  • Carbohydrates: 40g
  • Sugars: 25g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Fiber: 2g

Conclusion

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars are more than a dessert—they’re a seasonal mood. Whether you serve them with vanilla ice cream at Thanksgiving or enjoy them as an afternoon snack with tea, they deliver pure comfort in every bite.


For the Lovers ❤️

If you love:

  • The buttery crumb of shortbread
  • The cinnamon-spiced comfort of apple pie
  • The sweet-salty magic of caramel
    …then these bars will be your autumn obsession.

If you want, I can also give you a quick professional bakery-style variation so they taste like they came from a high-end patisserie. Would you like me to prepare that?

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