Description
These Salted Caramel Apple Bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, a warm cinnamon-apple filling, and a rich homemade caramel drizzle. They’re soft, chewy, and bursting with cozy fall flavor—perfect for Thanksgiving, holidays, or any time you crave an irresistible apple dessert!
Ingredients
Scale
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- Shortbread Crust:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
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- Apple Filling:
- 3 cups peeled and diced apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Salted Caramel Sauce:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt (plus more for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Make the crust: In a bowl, mix melted butter, sugar, flour, and salt until a soft dough forms. Press evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake the crust for 15 minutes or until lightly golden.
- Prepare the apple filling: In a large bowl, combine apples with lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch. Toss until coated.
- Spread the apple mixture evenly over the partially baked crust.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, until apples are tender.
- Make the salted caramel: In a saucepan, heat sugar over medium heat until melted and amber-colored. Add butter and stir until smooth.
- Slowly pour in heavy cream, whisking constantly. Remove from heat and stir in sea salt.
- Drizzle warm caramel sauce over cooled apple bars.
- Chill for 20–30 minutes, slice, and enjoy!
Notes
For extra flavor, use a mix of tart and sweet apples. Bars slice best when chilled. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze (undrizzled) for up to 2 months. Drizzle additional caramel before serving for an irresistible finish!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: salted caramel apple bars, apple dessert, fall desserts, caramel apple bars, apple squares, Thanksgiving desserts