If you’re looking for an autumnal dessert that captures the heart-warming essence of apple pie without the fuss, you’re in for a treat. Imagine sinking your teeth into a bar that perfectly marries the classic comfort of baked apples with the sophisticated richness of salted caramel. We’re delighted to share our foolproof Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars Recipe, a wonderfully straightforward bake that promises to become a seasonal favourite.

These bars truly celebrate the best of the season. They start with a tender shortbread base that simply melts in your mouth, followed by a layer of soft, cinnamon-infused apples and a generous crumble topping for that essential crunch. The crowning glory is a glorious drizzle of homemade salted caramel, which unites all the elements in perfect harmony. Say goodbye to complicated pastry; these bars offer all the flavour with none of the hassle. Let’s head to the kitchen!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Simpler Than a Traditional Pie: We adore a classic apple pie, but these bars eliminate the need for rolling out tricky pastry. The press-in base and crumble topping are crafted from the same mixture, which streamlines the process beautifully.
• A Symphony of Flavours: The blend of tangy apples, warming cinnamon, luscious caramel, and a touch of sea salt creates a taste sensation that is both comforting and wonderfully complex. It’s a flavour profile that feels special yet approachable.
• Ideal for Sharing: Once cut into neat squares, these bars are perfect for taking to gatherings, parties, or simply sharing with loved ones. They travel well and hold their shape, making them a brilliant make-ahead option.
• A Delightful Mix of Textures: Every mouthful is a joy, offering a contrast between the soft, melt-in-the-mouth base, the tender apple filling, and the satisfyingly crunchy streusel on top.

Ingredients

• plain flour
• light brown sugar
• baking powder
• ground cinnamon
• unsalted butter
• large egg
• vanilla extract
• rolled oats
• baking apples
• granulated sugar
• lemon juice
• ground nutmeg
• soft light brown sugar
• double cream
• flaky sea salt

To make this recipe as clear as possible, we have organised the ingredients into three distinct parts: one for the crust and streusel, one for the apple layer, and one for the salted caramel drizzle. This approach helps keep the baking process smooth and straightforward.

• For the Crust & Streusel:
• 375g plain flour
• 200g light brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 225g unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 75g rolled oats (not instant)
• For the Apple Filling:
• 4 medium baking apples (like Bramley or Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and chopped
• 50g granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• For the Salted Caramel Drizzle:
• 150g soft light brown sugar
• 120ml double cream
• 60g unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt

Step-by-Step Instructions: Creating Your Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Are you ready to bake the most incredible Fall apple bars you’ve ever tried? We have outlined the method in clear, easy-to-follow stages. Simply follow our guide, and you’ll soon have a tray of golden-brown deliciousness.

Step 1: Prepare the Crust and Streusel Topping

One of the best things about this recipe is that the base and the crunchy topping are made from the same mix. It’s a wonderful shortcut!

1. Begin by preheating your oven to 180°C (160°C Fan / Gas Mark 4). Prepare a 9×13-inch baking tray by greasing it and lining it with baking parchment, ensuring some paper hangs over the sides for easy removal later.
2. In a spacious bowl, combine the plain flour, light brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, whisking them together thoroughly.
3. Incorporate the cold, cubed butter into the flour mixture. Use your fingertips, a pastry cutter, or a food processor set to pulse to work the butter in until you have a texture like coarse breadcrumbs, with some pea-sized lumps of butter still visible.
4. Whisk the egg and vanilla extract together in a separate small bowl. Add this to the flour and butter mixture, and gently combine until it just comes together. Take care not to overwork the dough.
5. Remove roughly one-third of this mixture (about 250-300g) and transfer it to another bowl. Mix in the rolled oats to create your streusel topping, then set it aside.
6. Firmly press the remaining two-thirds of the mixture into the base of your prepared tray to create an even crust. Bake this for 15 minutes, or until it turns a light golden colour.

Step 2: Craft the Perfect Apple Filling

While the crust is in the oven, we can get on with making our delicious apple filling. Our goal is to get the apples lovely and fragrant with warming spices.

1. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the chopped apples with the granulated sugar, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gently stir to ensure all the apple pieces are evenly coated.
2. Allowing the apple mixture to sit while the crust bakes gives the fruit time to release its natural juices and soak up all those wonderful spicy flavours.

Step 3: Assemble Your Apple Crumble Bars

It’s now time to unite all the delicious elements. Proper layering is the secret to creating these irresistible bars.

1. After the crust has baked for 15 minutes, carefully take the tray out of the oven.
2. Distribute the apple filling evenly over the warm crust, spreading it all the way to the edges.
3. Generously scatter the reserved streusel and oat mixture over the apple layer. With that, you’ve created your very own Streusel apple bars!

Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

This final baking stage is where the transformation truly happens. Your home will soon be filled with the wonderful scent of baked apples and cinnamon.

1. Place the tray back into the oven to bake for an additional 30–35 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the streusel topping is a beautiful golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling at the edges.
2. When baked, take the tray out of the oven and set it on a wire rack to cool down completely. This step is vital! Letting the bars cool fully ensures they hold their shape when you add the caramel and slice them.

Step 5: Drizzle with Luscious Salted Caramel

This final flourish elevates these tasty apple bars into a truly memorable Caramel apple dessert.

1. As the bars are cooling, prepare the salted caramel sauce. In a small saucepan over a medium heat, combine the brown sugar, double cream, and butter.
2. Bring the contents to a gentle boil, stirring continuously. Allow it to bubble away for 2–3 minutes until it has thickened slightly.
3. Take the pan off the heat and mix in the flaky sea salt. Let the caramel cool for 10–15 minutes, during which time it will thicken further.
4. Once the bars have cooled completely, generously drizzle the salted caramel sauce all over the top. A spoon works well, or you can use a piping bag for a neater finish.
5. Let the caramel set for at least 30 minutes. Then, using the parchment paper overhang, lift the bake from the tray and cut it into squares.

Choosing the Best Apples for Your Bars

Selecting the right variety of apple is key to the success of these bars. For baking, we recommend apples that maintain their structure and offer a slight tartness to balance the sweetness of the caramel and sugar. Combining different types can also create a more complex flavour.

• Bramley Apples: A quintessential British cooking apple, Bramleys break down beautifully while retaining a brilliant, sharp flavour that cuts through the richness.
• Granny Smith: A fantastic choice due to its firm flesh and pronounced tartness. It holds its shape wonderfully when baked.
• Honeycrisp or Braeburn: Both of these varieties provide a lovely sweet-tart balance and stay firm after cooking, which gives a pleasant bite to your Apple crumble bars.

For more detailed guidance on the best apples for culinary use, the Royal Horticultural Society offers an excellent guide to cooking apple varieties available in the UK.

FAQ

Conclusion: Your New Favourite Caramel Apple Dessert

And there we have it—a wonderfully simple yet impressive recipe for your new favourite seasonal bake. These bars encapsulate all the cosiness of a classic apple pie but in an easy-to-share format that suits any occasion. The harmony between the buttery base, spiced apples, crumbly topping, and rich salted caramel is truly unforgettable.

They are the perfect sweet treat to follow a hearty main course, such as our Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe or these delicious Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls.

We do hope you’ll give this Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars Recipe a try! When you do, please leave a comment below to let us know how you got on. Happy baking!

Recipe Card

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 50 mins
Serves: 16

Ingredients

• For the Crust & Streusel:
• 375g plain flour
• 200g light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 225g unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 75g rolled oats
• For the Apple Filling:
• 4 medium baking apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
• 50g granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• For the Salted Caramel Drizzle:
• 150g soft light brown sugar
• 120ml double cream
• 60g unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C Fan) and line a 9×13-inch tray with baking parchment.
2. Make Crust & Streusel: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, 200g light brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and ½ tsp cinnamon. Cut in 225g cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Mix in the whisked egg and vanilla.
3. Reserve about 1/3 of the mixture. Press the remaining 2/3 into the base of the prepared tray and bake for 15 minutes. While it bakes, stir the rolled oats into the reserved mixture to create the streusel topping.
4. Prepare Filling: In a separate bowl, toss the chopped apples with granulated sugar, lemon juice, 1 tsp cinnamon, and nutmeg.
5. Assemble and Bake: Spread the apple filling evenly over the warm crust. Sprinkle the streusel mixture over the top. Bake for an additional 30-35 minutes, until golden brown and bubbling.
6. Cool the bars completely in the tray on a wire rack. This is essential for clean slicing.
7. Make Salted Caramel: In a small saucepan, bring 150g brown sugar, double cream, and 60g butter to a boil. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring, until it thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the flaky sea salt. Let it cool for 10-15 minutes.
8. Drizzle the caramel over the completely cooled bars. Let the caramel set for at least 30 minutes before lifting from the tray and slicing into squares.