Description

These Caramel Apple Crumble Bars combine everything you love about a classic apple pie—sweet caramel, tender spiced apples, and a buttery crumble—in an easy, handheld dessert. Perfect for holidays, cozy fall evenings, or casual gatherings, they deliver the comforting warmth of homemade apple desserts with a gooey caramel twist that’s impossible to resist.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Shortbread Crust:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
½ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt

For the Apple Filling:

3 large apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix), peeled, cored, and diced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons lemon juice

For the Caramel Sauce:

½ cup store-bought or homemade caramel sauce (plus extra for drizzling)

For the Crumble Topping:

¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup rolled oats
½ cup brown sugar, packed
½ teaspoon cinnamon
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
In a bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir in flour and salt until a dough forms. Press evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 12–15 minutes, until lightly golden. Let cool slightly.
For the filling, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook 5–7 minutes until softened. Stir in cornstarch and lemon juice; cook 1 more minute until thickened. Remove from heat.
In a bowl, mix flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the crumble topping. Cut in cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Spread apple filling over the crust. Drizzle ½ cup caramel sauce evenly on top. Sprinkle crumble topping to cover completely.
Bake for 30–35 minutes, until golden and bubbly around the edges.
Let cool in the pan for at least 1–2 hours before slicing. For clean cuts, chill in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving.
Drizzle with extra caramel sauce before serving and enjoy.

Notes

Use a mix of tart and sweet apples for the best flavor balance. Allow bars to cool fully before cutting to help them set properly. Store in the fridge for up to five days or freeze for up to three months. For extra indulgence, serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes