Apple Pie Bars
These apple pie bars feature a buttery crust topped with homemade apple pie filling and a crunchy oat crumble. Drizzled with salted caramel, they're the perfect fall dessert!
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Crust
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter melted
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Apple Filling
- 2 large apples peeled and thinly sliced (e.g., Granny Smith and Pink Lady)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon adjust to taste
- 0.5 teaspoon ground ginger optional, to taste
- 0.125 teaspoon ground nutmeg or to taste
Crumble Topping
- 0.5 cup light brown sugar packed
- 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
- 0.5 cup old-fashioned whole rolled oats do NOT use quick cook or instant oats
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
For Serving
- 0.75 cup salted caramel sauce homemade or store-bought, for drizzling
Instructions
Crust
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Line the bottom of an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving the edges over the sides for easy removal. Alternatively, use a high-quality nonstick aluminum foil.
- In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir until well combined.
- Fold in the flour and stir until just combined.
- Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the lined baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 300°F (150°C). Set aside.
Apple Filling
- In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, 2 tablespoons of flour, 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, cinnamon, optional ginger, and nutmeg. Stir to coat the apples evenly. Set aside.
Crumble Topping
- In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, 0.5 cup of flour, and rolled oats. Add the softened butter and use a fork to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until a crumbly texture is achieved.
Assembly and Baking
- Increase the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C). Evenly spread the apple filling mixture over the baked crust.
- Evenly sprinkle the crumble topping mixture over the apple filling. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350°F (175°C), or until the crumble is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
Cooling and Serving
- Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack for at least 2 hours. Do not cover while cooling to maintain crispiness.
- Once cooled, drizzle generously with salted caramel sauce. Slice and serve.
Notes
For best results, use a combination of tart and sweet apples. If you prefer a less sweet dessert, reduce the sugar in the filling and topping slightly. These bars are best served at room temperature or slightly warm.