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Gooey salted caramel apple bar with layers of buttery crust, apples, and dripping caramel.

Salted Caramel Apple Bars

Buttery Salted Caramel Apple Bars with tender cinnamon-spiced apple filling layered between brown sugar shortbread and drizzled with gooey caramel.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Course: Dessert, Fall Baking
Cuisine: American, Homemade Baking
Calories: 290
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Bars
  • 2 ½ cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter Softened
  • ¾ cup Brown sugar Packed
  • ½ cup Granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 4 medium Apples Peeled and diced
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon juice To prevent browning
  • 1 tablespoon Cornstarch Thickens filling
  • ½ cup Caramel sauce Store-bought or homemade
  • 1 teaspoon Flaky sea salt For topping
Optional Homemade Caramel Sauce
  • 1 cup Granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoon Butter Cubed
  • ½ cup Heavy cream Warmed
  • 1 teaspoon Sea salt To finish

Equipment

  • 9x9 inch baking pan Lined with parchment paper
  • Mixing bowl For dough and filling
  • Saucepan For caramel sauce
  • Whisk For stirring caramel
  • Spatula For spreading layers
  • Knife For slicing apples
  • Measuring cups/spoons For accuracy
  • Cooling rack For setting bars

Method
 

  1. Set oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Cream butter and sugars; add vanilla, salt, and flour.
  3. Press ⅔ of dough into pan; bake 15 minutes.
  4. Mix diced apples with lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch.
  5. Simmer apples 5–7 minutes until thickened.
  6. Spread apple mixture evenly over baked crust.
  7. Crumble remaining dough over apples.
  8. Bake another 30 minutes until golden.
  9. Let cool 1 hour before cutting.
    Gooey salted caramel apple bar with layers of buttery crust, apples, and dripping caramel.
  10. Drizzle caramel and sprinkle flaky sea salt before serving.

Notes

Nutrition facts are estimated and may vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes used