It’s as if these gooey caramel apple bars know the secret melody to my heart. Every time I am within three feet of my kitchen (ahem, anytime I’m home and not asleep), they sing me a sweet siren love song, and I am left with no option but to sneak another bite. Their allure is unstoppable, and I have neither the will nor the desire to resist. Caramel apple bars are just one of those desserts—the ones you can’t stay away from (like this Vegan Apple Crisp). They’re a dessert you spend your entire dinner dreaming about and justify eating for breakfast (after all, they’re not that different from Apple Coffee Cake). To recap, we have 8×8-inches of:
A thick, buttery (sorry, I don’t know another word to describe the taste), brown sugar, and oatmeal base.Tart, yet sweet, seasonal apples.Gooey caramel goodness (preferably this Apple Cider Caramel Sauce). Followed by more cinnamony, crumby, crispy topping.
They are everything a fall dessert can, should and must be.
How to Make Caramel Apple Bars
The bars are a perfect union between a gooey caramel apple on a stick and classic apple crisp served warm from the oven (or slow cooker in the case of Crock Pot Apple Crisp).
The Ingredients
Apples. The best apples for this recipe are those that are firm and hold their shape well when baked, like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Gala.Caramel Sauce. Regardless of if you use store-bought caramel sauce or homemade, the sweet, gooey caramel factor of these bars will always score a 10/10. Butter. Essential for creating a rich crumbly base and topping that hug the tender apples and warm caramel filling.
Whole Wheat + All Purpose Flour. My way of sneaking a little bonus whole grain nutrition into these bars is with a 50/50 blend of whole wheat flour and everyday all purpose flour.Rolled Oats. Add nice texture and subtle nutty flavor to the bars.Dark Brown Sugar. Contributes a little extra oomph of molasses flavor than light brown sugar.Spices. A blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice round out these bars and give them that iconic fall taste (and heavenly aroma).
The Directions
Storage Tips
To Store. Leftover caramel apple bars may be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container.To Freeze. Caramel apple bars may be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.To Reheat. Enjoy these caramel apple bars chilled from the fridge, at room temperature, or warm. To reheat, warm an individual serving on a microwave-safe plate for 10-20 seconds.
