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Caramel Apple Crumble Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 392 reviews

Delightfully sweet and comforting, these Caramel Apple Crumble Bars combine tender, cinnamon-spiced apples with a buttery oat crumble topping. Perfect for fall or any time you crave a classic apple dessert in a handy bar form, this recipe offers a delicious mix of textures and flavors with a slightly caramelized apple filling nestled in a flaky, crumbly crust.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup rolled oats
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes

Apple Filling

  • 6 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup apple cider or apple juice
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon cold water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Crumble Topping

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup rolled oats
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper for easier cleanup.
  2. Make the Crust Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups flour, ½ cup rolled oats, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, and ½ teaspoon salt until combined.
  3. Cut in Butter for Crust: Add cold cubed butter to the flour mixture and use a pastry blender or fingers to cut it in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Be careful not to overmix.
  4. Press Crust into Pan: Take about two-thirds of the crust mixture and press it firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form an even base.
  5. Cook Apple Filling: In a large skillet over medium heat, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, apple cider, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Cook while stirring occasionally for 10-15 minutes, until the apples soften and start to caramelize slightly.
  6. Make Cornstarch Slurry: In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and cold water to make a slurry.
  7. Thicken Apple Filling: Stir the cornstarch slurry into the apple mixture and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
  8. Assemble Filling: Pour the thickened apple filling evenly over the pressed crust in the baking pan.
  9. Prepare Crumble Topping: In a medium bowl, combine ½ cup flour, ½ cup rolled oats, ½ cup brown sugar, pecans (if using), and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter cubes until the mixture is crumbly but not overworked.
  10. Add Crumble Topping: Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apple filling layer.
  11. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
  12. Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares to serve.

Notes

  • Using tart apples like Granny Smith helps balance the sweetness.
  • For easier release, line the baking pan with parchment paper.
  • Chilling the butter before cutting it in ensures a crumbly texture.
  • Optional nuts add a nice crunch, but can be omitted for nut-free versions.
  • Ensure apples are thinly sliced for even cooking and caramelization.

Keywords: caramel apple bars, apple crumble bars, fall desserts, apple dessert bars, easy apple recipe

Find it online: https://thehungrymason.com/caramel-apple-crumble-bars-recipe/