Description
Homemade caramel apple bars deliver pure autumn comfort with layers of buttery crust and sweet-tart fruit. Warm spices and rich caramel drizzle create irresistible dessert magic you’ll crave from first delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 large apples, peeled and diced
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups oats
- 1 cup butter, melted
Sweeteners and Spices:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Leavening Agent:
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350°F and coating a 9×13-inch pan with a light grease layer.
- Combine dry ingredients including flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking soda in a spacious mixing bowl.
- Pour melted butter into the dry mixture and blend until a loose, crumbly texture develops.
- Transfer half of the crumbly mixture into the greased pan, pressing firmly to create an even, compact base layer.
- Arrange finely chopped apples across the entire surface of the crust, ensuring consistent coverage.
- Generously drizzle caramel sauce over the apple layer, allowing it to distribute evenly and seep between the fruit pieces.
- Scatter the remaining crumbly mixture over the caramel-coated apples, creating a rustic, textured topping.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, watching for a golden-brown coloration across the surface.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature before slicing into individual servings.
Notes
- Choose crisp, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best balance of sweetness and texture in the bars.
- Toast the oats briefly before mixing to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra depth to the crumbly crust.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with almond flour or a certified gluten-free baking mix, ensuring all ingredients are gluten-free.
- Make the caramel sauce from scratch for a richer, more authentic flavor, or use a high-quality store-bought version to save time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg