Caramel Apple Crumble Bars
Caramel Apple Crumble Bars
Ingredients
For the Shortbread Crust
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
For the Apple Filling
- 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
For the Crumble Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
For the Caramel Drizzle
- 1/4 cup caramel sauce, for drizzling, store-bought or homemade
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
Prepare the crust: In a large bowl, whisk together the 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add the 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter cubes. Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375
- 4
While the crust bakes, prepare the apple filling: In a large bowl, combine the thinly sliced Granny Smith apples, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup light brown sugar, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg. In a small separate bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth, then add it to the apple mixture and toss to coat evenly.
⏱️ 15 min
- 5
Prepare the crumble topping: In a medium bowl, combine the 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, rolled oats, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Add the 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter cubes. Use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until a crumbly mixture forms.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Assemble the bars: Spread the apple filling evenly over the partially baked crust. Sprinkle the crumble topping generously over the apple layer.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork. If the topping browns too quickly, you can loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil.
⏱️ 45 min•🌡️ 375
- 8
Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack before drizzling with caramel sauce. Cooling completely is crucial for clean cuts.
⏱️ 30 min
- 9
Once cooled, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Drizzle generously with caramel sauce. Cut into 8 bars and serve.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Caramel Apple Crumble Bars
Ingredients
For the Shortbread Crust
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
For the Apple Filling
- 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
For the Crumble Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
For the Caramel Drizzle
- 1/4 cup caramel sauce, for drizzling, store-bought or homemade
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
Prepare the crust: In a large bowl, whisk together the 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add the 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter cubes. Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375 - 4
While the crust bakes, prepare the apple filling: In a large bowl, combine the thinly sliced Granny Smith apples, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup light brown sugar, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg. In a small separate bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth, then add it to the apple mixture and toss to coat evenly.
⏱️ 15 min - 5
Prepare the crumble topping: In a medium bowl, combine the 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, rolled oats, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Add the 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter cubes. Use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until a crumbly mixture forms.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Assemble the bars: Spread the apple filling evenly over the partially baked crust. Sprinkle the crumble topping generously over the apple layer.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork. If the topping browns too quickly, you can loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil.
⏱️ 45 min•🌡️ 375 - 8
Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack before drizzling with caramel sauce. Cooling completely is crucial for clean cuts.
⏱️ 30 min - 9
Once cooled, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Drizzle generously with caramel sauce. Cut into 8 bars and serve.
⏱️ 5 min