Description
These caramel apple crumble bars combine tender spiced apples, a rich buttery crumble topping, and luscious caramel drizzle for a perfect fall dessert that’s easy to make and share.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (315g)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar (150g)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, cold and cubed (340g)
- 4 cups peeled and chopped apples (about 3 medium apples, preferably tart varieties like Granny Smith or Braeburn)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (15ml)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup caramel sauce (240ml), store-bought or homemade
- Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (60g)
Instructions
- Peel, core, and chop apples into ½-inch chunks. Toss with lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Add cold cubed butter and cut into the mixture using a pastry cutter or fingers until coarse crumbs form with some pea-sized pieces.
- Reserve 1 ½ cups of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of a lined 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Spread the spiced apple filling evenly over the crust. Drizzle half of the caramel sauce over the apples.
- Sprinkle the reserved crumble topping over the apples and caramel. If using nuts, sprinkle them on top now.
- Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 40-45 minutes until the topping is golden brown and apples are bubbling.
- Optional: While bars are still warm, drizzle remaining caramel sauce over the top.
- Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing into 12 squares.
Notes
Use cold unsalted butter for the best crumbly texture. Press the crust firmly to prevent crumbling. Let bars cool completely before slicing to help them hold together. Store at room temperature up to 2 days or refrigerate up to 5 days. Reheat gently before serving. Optional nuts add crunch but can be omitted for nut-free version. Tart apples like Granny Smith are preferred for balance against the caramel sweetness.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1/12th of rec
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 3
Keywords: caramel apple crumble bars, fall dessert, apple bars, crumble topping, caramel drizzle, easy dessert, portable dessert, homemade fall dessert