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Easy Salted Caramel Apple Bars with Oat Crumble

Salted Caramel Apple Bars - featured image
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These Easy Salted Caramel Apple Bars with Oat Crumble feature a hidden ribbon of salted caramel in the middle, making every bite gooey and delicious. They’re quick to assemble, use simple ingredients, and are perfect for family desserts or any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (150g) rolled oats
  • 1 ¼ cups (155g) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (165g) packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 4 medium apples (about 600g), peeled, cored, and sliced ¼-inch thick
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons (16g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 20 soft caramels (about 200g), unwrapped
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two opposite sides. Lightly grease the parchment.
  2. Make the oat crumble: In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, 1 ¼ cups flour, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir in melted butter until mixture resembles wet sand with clumps. Set aside ¾ cup for topping. Press remaining crumble firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
  3. Prepare the apples: In a medium bowl, toss apple slices with granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and vanilla extract until evenly coated.
  4. Make the salted caramel: In a small saucepan, melt caramels with heavy cream over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in flaky sea salt. Let cool for 2 minutes.
  5. Assemble the bars: Spread apple mixture evenly over the crust. Drizzle salted caramel over the apples. Sprinkle reserved ¾ cup oat crumble on top.
  6. Bake on the middle rack for 35-40 minutes, until top is golden brown and edges are bubbly. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes.
  7. Use parchment overhang to lift bars onto a cutting board. Cut into 16 squares with a sharp knife, wiping clean between slices. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Let bars cool completely before cutting to allow caramel to set. For extra flavor, toast oats for 5 minutes before mixing crumble. Use a mix of sweet and tart apples (e.g., Honeycrisp and Granny Smith) for best texture and flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple bars, salted caramel, oat crumble, fall dessert, easy dessert, apple dessert, caramel apple bars

Find it online: https://cooksyla.com/easy-salted-caramel-apple-bars-with-oat-crumble/