Caramel Apple Streusel Bars
These sublime Caramel Apple Streusel Bars have the same delicious flavors as apple pie, but with half the effort! Add these beauties to your baking list ASAP!
When autumn arrives and the apple dessert cravings hit, these Apple Pie Bars drizzled with Caramel will make you swoon.
Why You Must
- These are a perfect fall treat, celebrating both caramel and apple desserts!
- If you love apple pie, these are an easier way to enjoy the marvelous tastes of sweet baked apples on a simple crust.
- Plus, who doesn’t adore a crumb topping???
I’ve mentioned my weakness when it comes to caramel desserts, and the same goes for apple treats. Pies, crisps, and even apple bars tempt my sweet tooth more than any chocolate dessert. Going through and making each of these 25 All-American Apple Desserts would be my idea of heaven!
Expert Tips
I love patting a shortbread crust into a baking pan versus rolling out a pie crust. If you’re craving pie, but don’t want to deal with rolling out a pie crust, these caramel apple streusel bars will fit the bill. Easy as pie, I say!
- After mixing up the crust dough, pat it into your prepared pan. PRO-Tip: Using the bottom of a measuring cup is a great way to make sure the crust is level and evenly distributed.
- After the crust is baked, then line up four rows of apple slices that had been tossed with sugar, a bit of flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg, overlapping slightly.
- Use “pie” apples which are apples that are best for baking. Granny Smith apples are always a safe choice, but I like to use two different varieties of apples for more depth of flavor.
- Crumble the streusel topping made with oats over the top before baking. I like pinching bits of the streusel between my fingers making it a little chunkier.
- PRO-Tip: Bake these apple pie bars until the apples are tender. Take a sharp knife and poke the tip into a few apple slices to check to see if they’re fully cooked. The knife
should slide in easily. - Before serving these delicious Caramel Apple Streusel Bars, drizzle each of these apple streusel bars with caramel sauce–jarred or homemade are equally acceptable.
- Check out my post on How to Cut the Perfect Bar Cookies for my slicing tips!
How to Make Apple Crisp Bars
- Preheat the oven and prepare your baking pan.
- Make the crust and press evenly onto the bottom of the pan. Bake as directed.
- Mix together the apple topping while the crust bakes.
- In another bowl, make the crumb topping.
- Evenly layer the apples on the baked crust. Sprinkle with the crumble.
- Bake until the streusel is lightly browned and apples are tender.
- Cool, then chill to make slicing easier. Serve with caramel sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, and Honey Crisp are all readily available baking apples. I prefer using two varieties for the best depth of flavor.
Other baking apples include: Northern Spy (my favorite for pies!), Pink Lady, Braeburn, Mutsu, Winesap, and Jonagold.
They are safe at room temperature for a day or two, but to prevent the moist bars from spoiling, store in the refrigerator. They’ll keep well for up to 5 days. Just bring to room temperature before serving.
Yes, they freeze well for up to a month. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature or warm in the oven at 300° for 10-15 minutes.
It’s a little tricky and best to use a candy thermometer to make sure it comes to the proper temperature. It’s a matter of melting and caramelizing granulated sugar, then adding butter, cream and vanilla.
But since I started making Microwave Caramel Sauce, I rarely use the old-fashioned technique. It may take a trial run to find out how long it will take in your specific microwave, but it takes less than 10 minutes to measure out and cook this easy version.
You May Also Like:
- Dutch Apple Pie from Brown Eyed Baker
- Classic Apple Pie
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
- Chocolate Caramel Streusel Bars
- Slow Cooker Apple Monkey Bread
- Traditional Apple Cobbler
- More Bar Cookie Recipes
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Caramel Apple Streusel Bars Recipe
The delectable taste of apple pie in bar form! Adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup flour
For the filling:
- 2 large baking/pie apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced, about 1/4 inch thick
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- A few grates of fresh nutmeg (a pinch of ground nutmeg may be substituted)
For the topping:
- 1/2 cup) old-fashioned oats
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup cold butter, cut into small cubes
- Homemade or jarred caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300º. Line an 8 x 8 baking pan with non-stick foil (or line with foil and spray with non-stick baking spray). Set aside.
- Stir the melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt together in a medium bowl. Add the flour and stir until everything is combined. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
- While crust is baking, combine the sliced apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and gently toss to combine. Set aside.
- In another bowl mix the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour together.
- Cut in the chilled butter with a pastry blender or your hands, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
- Remove the crust from the oven, and increase the oven temperature to 350º. Evenly layer the apples on top of the warm crust (I made 4 rows of overlapping apple slices).
- Crumble to the streusel topping over the apples.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes or until the streusel is lightly browned and apples are tender.
- Let cool at room temperature for about a half-hour, then chill for 2 hours. Before serving, remove bars from the pan using the foil and cut into 16 bars. Drizzle with caramel before serving.
Notes
Granny Smith apples are a good baking apple that's easy to find all year long.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 185Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 127mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 2g
Thatskinnychickcanbake.com occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although thatskinnychickcanbake.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe. Also, many recipes on thatskinnychickcanbake.com recommend toppings, which may or may not be listed as optional and nutritional information for these added toppings is not listed. Other factors may change the nutritional information such as when the salt amount is listed “to taste,” it is not calculated into the recipe as the amount will vary. Also, different online calculators can provide different results. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information obtained is accurate.
43 Comments on “Caramel Apple Streusel Bars”
Love these, Liz. What a great fall dessert!
While apple pie is always a hit when taking a dessert for a Thanksgiving meal with family or friends, your bars would be much easier to transport. The look terrific.
Now I am in trouble :-/ because I am a huge fan of anything streusel, but I am on a diet :-((
Ooo these bars look fabulous: so rich and luscious! I’m now craving the same dessert perhaps with dulce de leche in place of caramel.
These look great, perfect for a big meal, you can have one or four! And you know how much I love caramel!
A perfect fall dessert! My boys love it when desserts have an oat topping:@)
Did you really get 16 bars from an 8×8″ pan, or did you use a 9×13?
Just trying to estimate how many to make for our family, thanks!
Hi, Kelsey, I cut them into 16 2-inch x 2-inch squares…so they’re small, but rich. You could bake up a double batch in a 9 x 13 if you want. Just make sure the middle looks done before you pull them out of the oven. Hope that helps!
This recipe is perfect for the season! I love the caramel apple combination!
I think I could get away with just about anything if I made these for my hubby! He is a total apple dessert freak and all that gooey caramel on top – amazing!
These bars are my idea of heaven!
Apple pie in bar form is so genius! These are going to be a perfect dessert for fall!
These bars look scrumptious! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!
Yum! Apple’s and caramel were meant to be together! Wish I had some with my coffee this morning. #merrymonday
Look great going to be these a try.
I like to make Cherry Cheese Pie.
My word, Liz, could these lush bars be any more scrumptious? I’m glad two of my pals visited for lunch, and more glad you’ve shared the recipe. Pinning this gem!
I love to make simple comforting apple pies during the Christmas season!
These bars look absolutely divine, love the caramel sauce!
Lizzy,
All the apple pie flavor without a crust can’t be beat. I would love these bars.
Annamaria
I”m such a sucker for caramel too! My bill is the apple freak, so together these would warm our hearts! I’d love to join a cookie/bar round up someday too! Lots of great stuff going on!
xo
These bars are my absolute favourite, I am apple crazy 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I love baking cookies! These bars look so yummy – classic, delicious flavors!
Liz, just like everything you bake, these apple streusel bars are perfection!! you are so sweet to bake these for your friend, Christiane! Next time, feel free to ship me some too 😛 Happy holidays!!!
What an amazing haul you’re giving away here. It all looks great, but not as great as your apple streusel bars!
This would be the hubby’s first pick for dessert on Christmas.
I may love chocolate, but there would always be room on my plate for these. Yum!
That caramel looks dreamy! 🙂
I love baking sugar cookies
Wow Liz, a delicious apple recipe AND a giveaway! Good luck to all your readers. xo
If that’s what heaven looks like, I want to go.
Liz, the oats topping is super duper awesome! I really need a bite of these beauties.
Oh wow! that looks extremely delicious and I don’t even like apple cakes much. Yummy!
Sharing on twitter, thanks!
These bars look absolutely FANTASTIC !!!
Apple streusel bars would be my family’s favorite ever
Happy Holiday-season Liz
Yum! Apple and caramel…you already sold me on these…love all the layers!
Hope you are having a great week Liz 🙂
Whooo and whoaaa for that drippy awesomeness in this bar! I could pick the streusel right off with my fingers, it’s my favorite part of bar cookies 😉
Gingerbread. ANYTHING gingerbread and, of course, a traditional steamed pudding. Which reminds me… These bars look FANTASTIC, Liz!!
I am really enjoying this bar and streusel crossover with apples. Topped with caramel it is the perfect finishing touch. Really great recipe.
A perfect treat, I love fruit desserts over chocolate ones any day! They must be good if Bill had one 😀
I know these bars would be a hit in our home…especially with the caramel. 🙂
Anything with apple and caramel would be a huge hit on this side of the 49th Parallel! Apples and caramel together is a match made in heaven and throw in oatmeal? A beautiful bar and very tasty too! You have such a skill at cutting squares perfectly.
I am a sucker for caramel and apple treats too. These streusel bars look absolutely mouthwatering! And if Bill had one, I know they would not last long at our house either 🙂
No doubt my sons would like these:@)