These Caramel Apple Pie Bars are just as delicious as apple pie. They're made in layers of delicious buttery crust, sweet tart apple pie filling, and a sweet streusel crumble topping. They’re easy to make and perfect for a fall dessert!
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- They are sweet, tasty, and a great way to use up apples after you go apple picking with your family.
- They’re easy to make and full of sweet fall flavors.
- Plus, they’re much easier to make than a traditional apple pie!
Fall is in the air and that can only mean one thing - it's time for pumpkin spice lattes, cozy fires, and of course, apple pie! These caramel apple pie bars are a delicious way to enjoy the flavors of fall. The crust is made from scratch, and the filling is composed of sweet apples and then topped with a crumble topping and gooey caramel. Yum!
🛒 Ingredients
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Note: The full list of this Caramel Apple Pie Bars recipe ingredients with their amounts and options are listed in the recipe card below.
Crust:
- unsalted butter melted (115g)
- granulated sugar (50g)
- pure vanilla extract
- kosher salt
- all-purpose flour (125g) If not weighing the flour with a scale, use the *spoon and leveled method. (see notes)
Apple Pie Filling:
- large apples ** see type recommended in notes thinly sliced (¼-inch thick)
- all-purpose flour (15 ⅔g)
- granulated sugar (25g)
- ground cinnamon (2⅔g)
- ground nutmeg (⅓g)
Streusel topping:
- old-fashioned oats (40g)
- brown sugar - packed light or dark brown (70g)
- ground cinnamon (⅔g)
- all-purpose flour (31g) if not weighing the amount, use the *spoon and leveled method (see notes)
- unsalted butter cold and cubed
🗒 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt. Add the flour and stir until everything is combined.
- Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- In a medium bow, using a whisk, mix together the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour together. With a pastry blender, two forks, or even your hands, cut in the chilled butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
- Bake for 15 minutes and then remove from the oven and place on a wire rack.
- In a large bowl, mix together the sliced apples, flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together until all of the apple slices are evenly coated. Layer the apple slices evenly and tightly on top of the warm bottom crust. Press them down so that they all fit in the pan.
- Sprinkle the apple pie layer with the crumbly streusel and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the streusel is golden brown.
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool at room temperature for at least 20 minutes. After 20 minutes chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or even overnight.
- Using the parchment overhang, lift the apple pie bars out of the pan and cut them into your desired size. We like cutting them into 16 smaller bars. You may also cut them into 12 larger bars. After cutting them, drizzle some salted caramel sauce on top of each bar.
🔪 Equipment
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You’ll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- Mixing bowls
- Dry measuring cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Digital Kitchen Scale makes measuring easier
- Baking dish 8X8-inch
- Parchment paper
🤔 FAQs
These are the questions we are most frequently asked about making Caramel Apple Pie Bar Recipe.
No, these caramel apple pie bars do not need to be refrigerated. You can store them at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
It is not necessary to bake the apples before putting them in the pie, but some people prefer to do so.
Some of the best apples for making apple pie are Granny Smith apples. Other good options include: Honey crisp, Golden Delicious, Rome, Jonathan Apples, Braeburn, and Northern Spy.
There are a few different ways you can prepare the apples for this recipe. You can slice them, dice them, or even shred them. I prefer to slice the apples because it gives the pie bars a more rustic look. If you shred the apples, the pie will be more uniform in appearance.
👩🏻🍳 Tips
- Make sure to leave some parchment paper overhang so that you have extra room to easily remove the bars.
- It's important that you measure the flour correctly for this recipe. I recommend using a kitchen scale or using the scoop and level method. Make sure that you do not use your measuring cup as the scoop.
- Slice your apples evenly so that they cook evenly and quickly.
- For best results use a square pan for this easy recipe.
📚 Variations
- If you want a little extra flavor in your pie bars, you can add a teaspoon or two of apple pie spice to the filling.
- You could also use a different kind of sugar in the streusel topping. I like to use brown sugar, but you could also use granulated sugar or turbinado sugar.
- If you want a little bit of a crunch in your bars, you could add some chopped nuts to the streusel topping. I like to use pecans or walnuts, but you could also use almonds, hazelnuts
- Add ½ cup of raisins or dried cranberries to the apple mixture.
🥫 Storage
Store these bars in an airtight container for up to three days. You can also freeze the bars for up to three months in a freezer-safe container.
To thaw, allow the bars to come to room temperature on the counter.
If you like to serve these bars warm, heat them in the microwave on 50% power for 30 seconds to one minute. Or in the oven at 350 degrees f for 8 to 10 minutes.
📗 Related Recipes
- If you love a sweet twist on apple pie, then you are going to want to try this Caramel Apple Pie Ice Cream! You don't even need an ice cream maker to make this tasty dessert.
- There is no better way to start off a fall morning than with a warm Apple Oatmeal Muffin. These muffins are easy to make, comforting, and can be made ahead for busy school mornings.
- Are you looking for a fresh and tasty fall side dish? This Arugula Salad is jam-packed with delicious fall flavors, but it's also healthy and delicious.
🍽 Serve with
- If you love to start off your meal with easy appetizers that don't require a lot of effort in the kitchen these Stuffed Cucumber Bites are just the appetizer for you.
- This Chili Con Carne is a hearty and comforting meal that just screams fall recipe if you ask me.
- There is no better side dish to serve with a fall soup or chili than crunchy bread like this Dutch Oven Bread recipe.
📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
Every fall we take a family trip to a local apple orchard to pick farm-fresh apples. If you are like my family and love apple picking season, then you will want to make this recipe with your freshly picked apples. If you love apple pie but don't especially have time for the fussy crust and filling, this apple pie bars recipe is for you.
Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!
What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.
📝 Recipe Card
There's no need for a fork and knife when it comes to these caramel apple pie bars. Made with a buttery shortbread crust, layers of roasted apples, and topped with a crumble crust and a delicious caramel sauce, they're perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth. Plus, they're easy to make also!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
📖 Recipe
The BEST Caramel Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
For the crust:
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted (115g)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (50g)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (125g) If not weighing the flour with a scale, use the *spoon and leveled method. (see notes)
For the Apple Pie Filling:
- 2 large apples ** see type recommended in notes thinly sliced (¼-inch thick)
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour (15 ⅔g)
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar (25g)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (2⅔g)
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg (⅓g)
For the streusel topping:
- ½ cup old-fashioned oats (40g)
- ⅓ cup brown sugar - packed light or dark brown (70g)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (⅔g)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour (31g) if not weighing the amount, use the *spoon and leveled method (see notes)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter cold and cubed
Caramel topping
- Use your favorite recipe or purchase from store
Equipment Needed
- Digital Kitchen Scale makes measuring easier
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300℉(149℃). Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper leaving enough overhang on all sides. Set aside.
Make the pie crust bottom:
- In a mixing bowl, mix together the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt.Add the flour and stir until everything is combined.
- Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes and then remove from the oven and place on cooling rack. TIME TIP: While the crust bakes, assemble the filling and the streusel.
Make the Apple Pie Filling:
- In a large bowl, mix together the sliced apples, flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together until all of the apple slices are evenly coated. Set aside.
Make the streusel topping:
- In a medium bow, using a whisk, mix together the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour together.
- With a pastry blender, two forks, or even your hands, cut in the chilled butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
Make the apple pie bars:
- Turn the oven up toe 350℉ (177℃).
- Layer the apple slices evenly and tightly on top of the warm bottom crust. Press them down so that they all fit in the pan.
- Sprinkle the apple pie layer with the crumbly streusel and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the streusel is golden brown.
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool at room temperature for at least 20 minutes.After 20 minutes chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or even overnight.
- Using the parchment overhang, lift the apple pie bars out of the pan and cut them into your desired size. We like cutting them into 16 smaller bars. You may also but them into 12 larger bars.
- After cutting them, drizzle some salted caramel sauce on top of each bar.
- These delicious apple pie bars can be enjoyed warm, at room temperature, or even cold.
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