Salted Caramel Apple Crumb Bars
Published on October 26, 2022
Quick Summary
Salted Caramel Apple Crumb Bars- apple pie bars with a thick buttery crust, a layer of spiced apples, a layer of salted caramel sauce, and a sweet crumb topping. The perfect fall dessert!
Are you ready for the most amazing fall dessert?
Salted Caramel Apple Crumb Bars are one of my favorite treats to make when apples are in season. The bars have a thick buttery crust, a layer of crisp, perfectly spiced apples, a layer of salted caramel sauce, AND a crumb topping.
So basically caramel apples and apple pie combine to create one DELICIOUS dessert!
The bars are made in a 9×13-inch pan, making them perfect for all of your fall parties and potlucks. I love making them for dinner parties, Halloween, and even Thanksgiving. Everyone loves a good apple dessert!
Apple Filling
For the apple filling, you will need the following ingredients.
- Apples– I like to use Granny Smith apples, but Honeycrisp are also good. You will need 5 cups of diced apples.
- Lemon juice– to prevent the apples from browning and to brighten up the filling.
- Flour– use all-purpose flour
- Cornstarch– for thickening the filling.
- Sugar– use granulated (white) sugar.
- Salt
- Spices– cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground-all spice.
Crust and Topping
I love this recipe because the crust and topping are easy to make. You mix everything together and half of the mixture is the crust and the other half is the crumb topping.
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Cinnamon– I add just a hint of cinnamon to the dough to make it extra special.
- Butter– make sure your butter is COLD!
- Egg– to bind everything together.
- Vanilla extract– vanilla adds the best flavor!
Salted Caramel Sauce
Apples and caramel are a match made in heaven. After you put spread the spiced apples over the crust, you drizzle salted caramel sauce over the top! YUM!
I like to use my homemade salted caramel sauce, it is the BEST! Of course, you can use store bought caramel sauce. I like Trader Joe’s.
How to Make Salted Caramel Apple Crumb Bars
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside. You can also line the pan with parchment paper to make the bars easier to lift out of the pan.
- For the apple filling– place the diced apples in a large bowl and sprinkle with lemon juice. Mix gently. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, cornstarch, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground all-spice. Pour over the apples and carefully combine. Set aside.
- For the dough-in a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or by using your hands, until butter is mixed in, but you still have small chunks of butter.
- Mix the egg and vanilla together. Add into the flour and butter mixture and combine. The dough will be crumbly. Pat half of the dough into the prepared pan.
- Spread the apple mixture evenly over the bottom crust. Drizzle the salted caramel sauce over the apple filling.
- Crumble the remaining dough over the apple caramel layer and pat gently.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into squares.
Serving and Storing
We like to cut the bars into squares and serve warm with vanilla ice cream and an extra drizzle of salted caramel sauce. Dessert heaven!
The bars will stay fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can freeze the bars for up to 3 months. Make sure the bars are completely cooled and then place in a freezer container or freezer bag in a single layer. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
More Apple Desserts
- Apple Cobbler
- Cinnamon Apple Crumble
- Apple Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Apple Galette
- Apple Slab Pie with Crumb Topping
- Apple Hand Pies
Salted Caramel Apple Crumb Bars
Ingredients
For the Filling:
- 5 cups peeled and diced apples (I used Granny Smith)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground all-spice
- 3/4 cup Salted Caramel Sauce (can use store bought)
For the Crust & Topping:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Serving:
- Vanilla ice cream and extra salted caramel sauce, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- For the apple filling- place the diced apples in a large bowl and sprinkle with lemon juice. Mix gently. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, cornstarch, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground all-spice. Pour over the apples and carefully combine. Set aside.
- For the dough-in a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or by using your hands, until butter is mixed in, but you still have small chunks of butter. Mix the egg and vanilla together. Add into the flour and butter mixture and combine. The dough will be crumbly. Pat half of the dough into the prepared pan.
- Spread the apple mixture evenly over the bottom crust. Drizzle the salted caramel sauce over the apple filling. Crumble the remaining dough over the apple caramel layer and pat gently.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into squares. You can serve the bars with vanilla ice cream and extra salted caramel sauce, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag @twopeasandpod and hashtag it with #twopeasandtheirpod
Terrificc! Those looks so irresistible.
Cheers,
Rosa
I’m a total pumpkin fan! Love how delicious these look 🙂
Awesome bars!! I’m drooling!
They look awesome – love all the layers and flavors going on!
Perfect fall dessert!
Yum, the perfect dessert for autumn.
Apples and caramel are such a wonderful combination!
I’d really love one of these for breakfast. Surely that’s okay. And maybe another for snack 😉 Don’t tell.
These look AMAZING!
The combination of apples and salted caramel is spot-on Maria! I just made cupcakes with the same flavor combination! I love salted caramel so much. I’m not surprised everyone loved these!
The bars look awesome!
These look heavenly!! Yum!
Oh my, do these crumb bars look delish! My stomach started to growl as soon as I saw them!!!
Anything salted caramel is my fave!!
man, those look so good!
I have a love/hate relationship with making caramel! I seem to alway burn my first batch!
These look amazing Maria.
I agree-salted caramel makes everything great!
Something about salted + caramel + apple that makes my taste buds sing…..great photos!!!
Salted caramel anything is a win – the drizzle on top really makes this bar heavenly!
Ha! We’re totally on the same wavelength… I had vision of apple caramel stuff this weekend too. Haven’t posted yet though 🙂
Crumb is always yummy! These scream fall. Love that you got to bake with your sil
oooh! YUM! Great pictures too!
UM yes please!!! Salted caramel sauce….heaven
Oh, I know these must be SO GOOD!!! I’m with you…I think I could drink a jar of salted caramel sauce straight up. 😉
Oh wow – 8 am and I am drooling. That caramel looks heavenly!
These sound fantastic…the perfect way to welcome fall. And I agree – there’s not substitute for homemade caramel!
These are just about the most perfect dessert ever!! Can’t wait to whip up a batch for myself!!
Salted caramel ROCKS! These bars look amazing!
I am in love with all things salted caramel right now too!!! Guests or not, I think I would have to drink some of that caramel sauce straight from a spoon:-) These look fantastic!!!
Those would be perfect with my morning cappuccino!
Mmmm caramels and apple, is there a better combination for fall? I think not 🙂 These look great Maria!
ohhhh i cannot wait to make these!
Yup, wonderfully addicting bars! Apple season is upon us and this is a gorgeous and tasty apple treat to kick off the cooler weather!
I want one NOW with my coffee!!! caramel and apple just scream fall and it’s even chilly here this morning!
Mmm salted caramel and apples should get married 🙂
You do know how to come up with mouthwatering recipes every time. 😀
High five right back at ya!! Thanks for the shout out, the bars were soooo delish!!!…and I loved baking with you!!
I love salted caramel. It’s so heavenly. In fact it’s sounding pretty darned good right now…
Extra drippy caramel sauce for me please!! These bars look amazing!!
Wow! This just screams “Fall”. I can’t wait to try these!
YUMMY!!! on my to do list!!
I want a SIL who makes salted caramel!! 🙂 These look ridiculously good!!
Wow! These look amazing!
I want this for my birthday instead of cake ! I Love salted caramel 🙂
Freaking out over this! Fall can now begin! Seriously have to try this!
What a way to kick off fall baking! These look beyond amazing. Great reinvention of the caramel apple combo!
The salted caramel sounds so good! I made caramel for the first time this weekend- not as hard as it sounds!
I prefer apple to pumpkin when it comes to fall recipes, so I’m definitely keeping this recipe in mind for the coming months!
I love everything about this! Salted caramel gets me every time.
I can’t stop staring at these! I must make them soon. I was telling a friend the other day that all these fall recipes I keep seeing on pinterest are making me crave a warm, spiced apple dessert and salted caramel ANYTHING is my favorite. So thanks to you and your sister for this recipe. I might even have it with this new salted caramel ice cream I discovered last week and may or may not have eaten a whole pint in two days!!
..another salted caramel fan here! ..on my list to bake! gorgeous blog, btw, love it!
I am so ready for the onslaught of Fall recipes. Best time of the year and these bars are a great way to start out!
These are just wonderful!!!! Perfect fall treat!
these look like heaven!
fabulouss!
Salted.Caramel.APPLE.Bars. This is what a Princess CRAVES! I just have to ensure that I don’t get any poison apples and I’ll be fine! And it’s the perfect season for this too, it’s fall baby!
May all your royal adventures be yummy and sugary sweet,
The Teen Princess of Buttermilk Springs
look delicious!
these look incredible!!
Is it wrong if I eat the whole pan? Oh. My. Gosh!
I’ve made caramel apple bars with caramels in them but never caramel sauce–definitely want to give this idea a go!!
A perfect fall dessert. Yum!
i have seen so many apple crumble bars before, but none of them have ever made me salivate like this! excuse me while i get a napkin 😛
I want! Though its difficult for me to let go of summer, just yet 😉
These look amazing! I will have to try ASAP!
these ARE very special! yum!! the pictures are gorgeous, the recipe is awesome, and now i’m super excited for fall 🙂
I would love to make these bars!! Perfect segway into Fall foods, and that salted caramel sauce looks divine.. seriously, I would do a double batch and then put this sauce on every dessert I ate 🙂
Wow! These bars look incredible, all of mu favourite things rolled into one!
I love everything about these, and can’t imagine how good they are with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Okay! These were seriously so scrumditiliumptious! The entire thing just melts in your mouth. I can’t wait to make these again. These are so going in our family favorites!
Yum! Great flavor!! Hubby LOVED them.
However I cooked them like the recipe called for in a 9×13 and I found them to be too crumbly and messy to be called “squares”. Mine turned out more cobbler like. Maybe will try a larger pan next time or put less dough?
These look perfect for fall! I love that you put the homemade caramel in the bars AND on top!! oh and definitely no shame in just drinking the caramel straight from the jar;)
Thanks so much for linking up your yummy treats Maria!!
I featured them in my wrap up!
Um…YUM. They look and sound and taste (imaginarily) amaaazing!!! It’s def. on my list now.
I’m one of those people who’s scared to make my own caramel. I need to just try it, I know. Caramel and apples are such a perfect match!
Made these this weekend. They are amazing. My daughter asked if she could have a jar of this caramel for Christmas. She loved it that much!
So beautiful. Can not wait to try these!
These are total crumb bar perfection!
Made these today and they are so good! You won’t be disappointed if you try them. I used store bought caramel because the last two times I tried to make my own it got burnt. Few changes….I cut back on the sugar that was mixed in with the apples by 1/2 cup and I sprinkled sea salt flakes on top of the bars instead of mixing it in with the caramel.
Found this recipe via Pinterest & had to try it. OMGosh… it doesn’t disappoint. AT. ALL. So yummy. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us. 🙂
Oh, my god. Making these. Today!!!!!!!!!!!!! what beautiful photos. And yes, there is nothing like homemade caramel sauce.
I made these last weekend and they were a hit! The sauce is so delicious I would drink it alone. 🙂
Do you think I could cut the recipe in half and bake in an 8×8 inch pan?
Oh! You have found my weakness!! Caramel!
These look heavenly! Added to my things to bake list and I cannot wait!
Hi there! Do you think I could use potato starch instead of cornstarch? Trying not to buy new ingredients, and I already have potato starch sitting around. Thanks!
I am also wondering if this recipe can be reduced by half and baked in an 8″ x 8″ pan. Thoughts?
I cannot stop eating the caramel sauce! If the bars are as yummy as just the sauce, my waistline is in trouble. Almost done baking in the oven now!
Do you use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream for the caramel sauce?
This is an incredible recipe! I made it for my book group, and everyone loved it.
I just made these and wow, they were so good! I brought them to a potluck and my friends gave rave reviews.
For other people new to caramel making: you can’t underestimate the power of good whisking! My caramel sauce clumped up a bit and I threw it back on the stove to melt it down, even though it was technically at the wrong point in the process since I’d already added the cream. But it was a good troubleshoot since I hadn’t gotten it melted down enough to begin with and it didn’t burn, so it worked out ok!
My son was asking for another type of warm apple dessert. And I found myself on Pinterest, and that led me here.
I’ve already printed this recipe out. We’re moving to a new place in a few weeks, and my son requested that this be the first thing I cook. WE both have total confidence that this will be a great addition to my Fall and Winter favorites.
Thanks in advance!
Enjoy!
These are so, so amazing! I make them at least twice each fall. My first batch of the season is in the oven now 🙂 I realized I didn’t have cream in the fridge tonight for the caramel sauce so I ended up using a jar of caramel that was in my cupboard. I’m sure I’ll miss the homemade stuff, but it still smells delicious.
Hello! About how many apples are needed to make 5 cups?
Thanks 🙂
5 large apples should do the trick! Enjoy!
This is my go-to apple recipe for the fall. You simply cannot go wrong with it. It is a also a bit changeable – I tend to use heaping spoonfuls of the spices and reduce the sugar. Delicious recipe!
Absolutely a winner!
These were amazing! Made exactly as written except for we don’t seem to have canned salted caramel in BC. I used canned dulce de leche – perfect! The only thing for me was that the top didn’t brown in 45 minutes. I ended up broiling it for a minute or two. Maybe next time I’ll just bake it for about an hour? Did others find this too? Otherwise, fantastic recipe.
Whoa,just made half recipe,but a whole recipe for the salted Caramel sauce,as I am making the salted caramel pumpkin pie on Thursday (3rd.year running)
The apple bars look & smell amazing. Will make a full recipe next time.
Can’t wait for dinner to be over so we can dig in!
As always,thank you,
From freezing NH,
Martha
Yay! Enjoy!
Fantastic apple desert. Great for church potluck dessert.
I added chopped walnuts to the dough to satisfy the nut lovers.
Absolutely!