Description
Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars bursting with autumn flavors, quick and easy to make for a comforting crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 medium Granny Smith apples (about 2 pounds/900g), peeled, cored and thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream
- 1½ teaspoons flaky sea salt (plus more for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pan Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal. This step is crucial as the caramel gets quite sticky, and you’ll want to be able to lift the entire slab of apple caramel crumble bars out effortlessly.
- Step 2: Make the Crust and Crumble Mixture In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the cold cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to work it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. Stir in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until the mixture is crumbly but holds together when pressed. This texture is your secret to achieving that perfect shortbread-like base and crumbly topping.
- Step 3: Form the Base Layer Press about two-thirds of the crumble mixture firmly into the bottom of your prepared pan to create an even layer. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to really compact it, which helps prevent a soggy bottom. Bake for 15-18 minutes until the edges just begin to turn golden. While it bakes, prepare your filling.
- Step 4: Prepare the Apple Filling Toss the sliced apples with lemon juice in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, mix together sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Sprinkle this mixture over the apples and toss until every slice is evenly coated. The flour will help thicken the apple juices as they bake, preventing your Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars Fall Treat from becoming too wet.
- Step 5: Make the Salted Caramel In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat sugar over medium heat until it begins to melt around the edges. Gently swirl the pan occasionally (don’t stir!) until all the sugar has melted and turned a deep amber color. Carefully add the butter (it will bubble vigorously) and whisk until combined. Remove from heat, count to three, then slowly pour in the heavy cream while whisking constantly. Stir in the sea salt and let cool slightly.
- Step 6: Assemble the Bars When the crust is done pre-baking, arrange the apple slices in an even layer over the hot crust. Drizzle about ⅔ of the warm caramel sauce over the apples. Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture evenly over the top. Some larger clumps will create nice crunchy bites in the finished bars.
- Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection Return the pan to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling at the edges. You’ll know they’re done when your kitchen is filled with an irresistible aroma that combines buttery pastry, cinnamon apples, and rich caramel.
- Step 8: Finish with Flair Once out of the oven, drizzle the remaining caramel sauce over the hot bars and sprinkle with a little extra flaky sea salt. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting out using the parchment overhang and cutting into squares.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg