Our Best Apple Pie Bars with Salted Caramel Sauce are the perfect dessert for FALL! Imagine a soft, buttery crust, filled with tart apples, sugar and spices, plus an oatmeal-crumble topping that is similar to apple crisp, only better! Oh, and don’t forget the salted caramel sauce!
If you are in love with apple pie or apple crisp, you have to make this dessert! As we approach the holidays, this dessert is a great option if you are feeling a little hesitant to commit to making a pie, but want to serve a special dessert at Thanksgiving or Christmas…
Our Best Apple Pie Bars are humble enough to make for a weeknight dessert, and fancy enough to take to special dinner. The Salted Caramel Sauce (recipe below) takes this dessert over the top! Serve the warm caramel sauce over a piece of our Apple Pie Bars with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This dessert is going to be your new favorite holiday treat!
Funny note: When I was trying to decide what name best described this dessert, I searched “apple bar”, and “apple pie bar”, and even “apple dessert bars”. The results took me first to THE Apple Bar (as in, if you need to get an Apple device fixed or schedule a consultation, make an Apple bar appointment)! Wouldn’t that be THE BEST if you showed up to get your phone, laptop or other device problems solved AND they served apple bars as well???
Why I love our Best Apple Pie Bars with Salted Caramel Sauce:
- Sweet and tart apples, with a buttery crust and just the right amount of crumble topping
- Easy to make, and layers can be made ahead (crust, topping, salted caramel) see recipe notes
- One pan serves 16
- Can be made in a 9×13 and served out of the pan, or on a platter
- Can be served and eaten as a bar or on a plate with a fork
How to make our Best Apple Pie Bars:
- Prepare the apple filling, set aside
- Prepare the crumble topping, set aside
- Prepare the crust, press into pan and bake
- When the crust is done, remove from oven, pour apple filling on top
- Spoon the crumble topping over the apples and bake again as directed
- Remove from oven when golden and apples are fork-tender
- Let cool and prepare salted caramel sauce (optional)
- Spoon sauce over each piece and serve
Ingredients to make our Best Apple Pie Bars: (several of the ingredients are used multiple times in layers)
- Granny smith apples
- Sugar, granulated and brown
- Cinnamon, nutmeg
- AP flour
- Vanilla
- Butter
- Oats
- Salt
Easy Salted Caramel Sauce recipe (optional), for the caramel sauce you need these ingredients:
- Sugar
- Butter
- Water
- Heavy cream
- Salt
Do apple bars need to be refrigerated?
Apple Pie Bars are best made and eaten on the same day. They can be frozen, but the texture changes just a bit. The moisture in the apples tends to make the crust a bit soggy after freezing and thawing. It is best to refrigerate any leftovers!
I know if you give this recipe a try you might seriously consider NOT making pie this holiday season because it’s so easy to make and the flavors are practically identical to traditional apple pie! It still seems more like a dessert bar to me, than a pie, either way, I know you’re going to fall in love with this recipe!
I can’t wait to see photos make sure to tag @Abountifulkitchen on Instagram when you share!
Best Apple Pie Bars with Salted Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
Apple Filling:
- 6 medium Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled and sliced
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Crumble Topping:
- ¾ cup oats, Old Fashioned
- ¾ cup flour
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup butter, softened and cubed
Crust:
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and set the rack in middle of the oven. Line a 9×13 pan with a sheet of parchment paper. Set aside.
For Filling:
- Place prepared apples in a medium size bowl. Pour sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg into the bowl. Toss to coat. Set aside.
For Crumble Topping:
- Combine oats, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon into a mixing bowl. Cut the butter into pieces and add to dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter, fork or hands, cut butter into dry ingredients until it forms small crumbles. Set aside.
For Crust:
- Place flour, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt in a medium size bowl. Add melted butter to dry ingredients and mix well to combine. Press dough into a parchment lined pan.
- Bake at 350º for 10 minutes. Remove from oven.
Assemble, cool and serve suggestions:
- Spoon the apple filling on top of the baked crust (no need to let the crust cool). Spread apples into an even layer covering the crust. Do not pat down the apples, they will settle while baking. Sprinkle crumble layer on top of the apple filling, distributing crumble all the way to the corners of the pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apples are fork tender.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before cutting and serving. Serve with salted caramel sauce (optional) and ice cream, or without topping.
Notes
- We like Granny Smith apples best in this recipe.
- The caramel sauce (below) is not necessary, but adds so much to this dessert! The caramel sauce can be drizzled over the top of bars or spooned on individual pieces.
- The recipe calls for allowing the bars to cool completely before serving, which makes it easier to serve if the bars are served as a pick up item. If serving the bars with caramel sauce, they may be served warm using a small spatula.
- For make-ahead up to 3 days for crust and crumble: Make the crumble layer, store in fridge in a covered container. Make the crust layer, bake and let cool, cover let sit on countertop for up to 3 days or freeze and thaw before proceeding. Caramel can be made a week ahead, store covered in fridge. Let come to room temp or heat and stir before using.
- Any leftover bars are best stored, covered in the fridge.
Equipment
- 1 9×13 pan
- parchment paper
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. I’d love to see a photo, tag @abountifulkitchen on Instagram!
Easy Salted Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Combine sugar and water in a medium to large heavy saucepan over medium high heat. Cook until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add butter, and let melt.
- Bring mixture to a boil and continue cooking without stirring. The mixture will turn a golden amber color after about 7-9 minutes. This happens quickly, so do not leave the kitchen! Once the caramel reaches this color, remove from heat.
- Carefully add the whipping cream to the pan. The mixture will bubble up quite a bit. Using a long handle whisk, carefully whisk until smooth. Add vanilla and salt and whisk again. The mixture will thicken as it cools. Store in a glass container, in the fridge for 1-2 weeks covered.
Notes
- Make sure to use a large enough pan to make caramel! Once the cream is added, the mixture grows quite a bit in the pan and will overflow if the pan is too small.
- A small Mason jar or other heat proof glass works well for storage.
Equipment
- 1 heavy 3 quart sauce pan
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. I’d love to see a photo, tag @abountifulkitchen on Instagram!
reyhan
thanks a lot of information goodjobs
Si Foster
Hi Reyhan, thank you for your positive feedback!
Happy baking!
Si
Lisa
Just made this divine dessert. I hope it makes it to the dinner party tonight. We might need to make another! Thank you!!
Si Foster
Lisa, I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe! These really are too good to resist. Thanks for your positive feedback!
XO
Si