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Irresistible Salted Caramel Apple Bars for Fall Recipe

Irresistible Salted Caramel Apple Bars for Fall Recipe
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★★★★★

5 from 19 reviews

These Irresistible Salted Caramel Apple Bars combine tart, fresh apples with a buttery crumble and a luscious salted caramel sauce, making them the perfect fall dessert. With layers of spiced apples, rich caramel, and a crisp, crumbly topping, these bars are ideal for cozy gatherings or a sweet treat any time of the season.

Ingredients

Scale

Salted Caramel Sauce

  • 1/2 cup salted butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

Apple Filling

  • 2 cups fresh sliced apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon granulated sugar for tossing apples

Crust and Crumble Topping

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup cold salted butter, cubed

Instructions

  1. Make the salted caramel sauce: In a medium saucepan, melt 1/2 cup of salted butter over medium heat. Gradually add 1 cup granulated sugar and whisk continuously until the mixture turns a golden amber color. Carefully pour in 1/2 cup of heavy cream and stir until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon sea salt, then simmer the sauce gently until it thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. Prepare the apples: Peel, core, and slice 2 cups of fresh apples. Toss the slices with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and optionally 1 tablespoon granulated sugar to enhance sweetness. Set the apple mixture aside while you prepare the crust.
  3. Make the crust and crumble topping: In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add 1/2 cup cold, cubed salted butter. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture becomes crumbly and resembles coarse sand.
  4. Form the crust: Grease a 9×9-inch baking pan. Press two-thirds of the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan to create an even crust layer.
  5. Assemble the bars: Spread the cinnamon-spiced apple slices evenly over the crust. Drizzle the reserved hot salted caramel sauce generously over the apples. Sprinkle the remaining one-third of the crumble mixture evenly on top of the apples and caramel sauce.
  6. Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the bars for 35-40 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before cutting into bars to ensure clean slices.

Notes

  • For the best flavor, use tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp that hold their shape well during baking.
  • If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the amount of granulated sugar tossed with the apples.
  • Ensure the butter for the crumble topping is very cold to achieve a crisp, crumbly texture.
  • Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing to prevent the filling from oozing out.
  • You can substitute sea salt with kosher salt if unavailable, but avoid table salt as it is too fine and might be too salty.
  • Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Keywords: salted caramel apple bars, fall dessert, apple crumble bars, caramel apple dessert, autumn baked goods

Find it online: https://chefmilacook.com/irresistible-salted-caramel-apple-bars-for-fall-recipe/