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Cozy Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

salted caramel apple crumble bars - featured image
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Tender bars with a buttery crumble topping, cinnamon-spiced apples, and a rich salted caramel drizzle, perfect for cozy gatherings and simple indulgence.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (312 grams) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed (100 grams) brown sugar
  • 1 cup (227 grams) salted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon fine salt
  • 4 cups peeled and diced apples (about 3 medium apples, Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
  • ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • ½ cup salted caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter. Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces (about 3-5 minutes).
  3. Press two-thirds of the crumble mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the base layer. Even it out with the back of a spoon or your fingers. Chill in the fridge while preparing the apple filling.
  4. Peel, core, and dice the apples into roughly ½-inch pieces. In a separate bowl, toss the apples with lemon juice, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg (if using), granulated sugar, and cornstarch until evenly coated.
  5. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the chilled crumble base.
  6. Sprinkle the remaining third of the crumble mixture evenly over the apple layer, keeping it loose and crumbly.
  7. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.
  8. Remove from oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack to allow the filling to set.
  9. Drizzle the salted caramel sauce over the cooled bars just before serving.
  10. Cut into bars using a sharp knife. For cleaner cuts, warm the knife under hot water and dry it before slicing.

Notes

Use cold butter for a flaky, crumbly texture. Chill the base before adding the apple filling to prevent sogginess. Let bars cool completely before cutting for clean slices. If topping isn’t browning enough, broil for 1-2 minutes watching closely. Adjust cornstarch if apples are very juicy. For gluten-free, substitute flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free blend. For dairy-free, use coconut oil or vegan butter. Warm caramel slightly if homemade before drizzling.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crumble bars, salted caramel, fall dessert, easy apple bars, crumble topping, homemade caramel, cozy dessert

Find it online: https://islatable.com/cozy-salted-caramel-apple-crumble-bars-easy-homemade-recipe-to-try-today/