Rich Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars: A Fall Treat (Print Version)

Discover my recipe for Rich Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars. A perfect fall treat with sweet apples, buttery crumble, and gooey caramel. So comforting!

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 30 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 50 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 80 minutes
Servings: 16 Servings
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Vegetarian

# Ingredients:

→ For the Buttery Crumble Base:

01 - 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup (100g) light brown sugar, packed
04 - 1 cup (90g) old-fashioned rolled oats
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1 cup (226g) cold unsalted butter, cubed

→ For the Sweet Apple Filling:

08 - 6 medium Granny Smith apples (about 2.5 lbs), peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
09 - 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
10 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
12 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
13 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch

→ For the Rich Salted Caramel:

14 - 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
15 - 1/4 cup (60ml) water
16 - 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream, warmed
17 - 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter, cubed
18 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ For Finishing:

19 - 1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, let's get that oven preheated to 375°F (190°C). Then, grab a 9x13 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. Trust me, it makes lifting these beauties out so much easier later. In a big bowl, whisk together your flour, both sugars, oats, cinnamon, and that pinch of salt. Now, add your cold, cubed butter. I like to use my fingers to really work the butter into the dry ingredients until it looks like coarse crumbs, with some pea-sized pieces remaining. This is where the magic happens for that crumbly texture!
02 - Take about two-thirds of that crumble mixture and press it firmly and evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. You want a nice, compact layer here. I usually use the bottom of a measuring cup or my knuckles to get it really flat. This will be the sturdy foundation for our Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars. Pop that into the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, just until it's lightly golden around the edges. It’s going to smell amazing, a little preview of what's to come!
03 - While the base is baking, let's get those apples ready. Peel, core, and slice your Granny Smiths into about 1/4-inch thick pieces. In a large bowl, toss them with the granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Make sure every apple slice is coated; that cornstarch is going to ensure we don't have a watery filling. I sometimes add a little extra cinnamon because, well, why not? This mixture just smells like pure autumn, honestly, it’s my favorite part.
04 - Okay, caramel time! In a medium saucepan, combine your granulated sugar and water over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then stop stirring! Let it simmer, watching carefully, until it turns a beautiful amber color. This usually takes about 8-10 minutes. Don't walk away, seriously, it goes from perfect to burnt in a flash! Once it's amber, remove it from the heat and *carefully* pour in the warm heavy cream and then the butter. It'll bubble up aggressively, so be careful! Stir until smooth, then stir in the fine sea salt.
05 - Once your base is lightly baked, pull it out of the oven. Spread the apple filling evenly over the warm crust. Then, take the remaining one-third of your crumble mixture and sprinkle it generously over the apples. This is where you get to be a little messy, just scattering those delicious crumbs. Now, drizzle about half of your freshly made salted caramel evenly over the top of the crumble. Don't worry if it's not perfect, the messy look is part of its charm!
06 - Pop the pan back into the oven and bake for another 30-35 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the crumble topping is golden brown and bubbly. You'll smell it, trust me! Once it's out, let it cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This is crucial for the bars to set properly. I know, waiting is the hardest part! Once cool, drizzle with the remaining salted caramel and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Then, slice into your perfect Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars!

# Notes:

01 - Always use cold butter for the crumble base; it makes for a flakier, crispier texture, trust me on this!
02 - Let these bars cool completely before slicing. Seriously, I've tried to cut them warm, and they just fall apart. Patience, my friend!
03 - When making the caramel, don't stir once the sugar dissolves. Swirl the pan if you need to, but stirring can cause crystallization. I learned that the hard way, oops!
04 - If your caramel seizes a little, don't panic! Just put it back on low heat and stir gently until it smooths out again. It happens to the best of us.

# Tools You'll Need:

01 - 9x13 inch baking pan
02 - parchment paper
03 - large mixing bowls
04 - whisk
05 - measuring cups and spoons
06 - sharp knife
07 - cutting board
08 - medium saucepan
09 - wire rack

# Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):

Calories: 350 kcal
Total Fat: 18g
Total Carbohydrate: 45g
Protein: 3g

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