Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
These Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars combine the comforting flavors of apple pie with the sweet and salty indulgence of caramel. Featuring a simple press-in crust, a delicious apple filling, and a homemade salted caramel sauce, these bars are perfect for sharing and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
Equipment
- 9x13 inch baking pan
- Large bowl
- Medium bowl
- Pastry blender or fingertips
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk
- Medium saucepan
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Peeler
- Knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup 1 stick
- 3-4 tablespoons ice water
- 6 cups peeled and sliced apples about 6 medium apples
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Make the crust: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add the ice water, mixing until the dough just comes together. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan.
- Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
- Prepare the apple filling: In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and salt. Toss gently to coat.
- Make the salted caramel sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the granulated sugar, stirring constantly, until it is completely melted and amber in color. Carefully add the butter and stir until melted and smooth. Slowly pour in the heavy cream, stirring constantly until the caramel is smooth and glossy. Remove from heat and stir in the sea salt.
- Assemble the bars: Pour the apple filling over the pre-baked crust. Drizzle about half of the salted caramel sauce over the apple filling.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares.
- Drizzle with the remaining salted caramel sauce before serving.
Notes
For a flakier crust, ensure the butter is very cold and avoid overmixing the dough. A mix of apple varieties, like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Gala, adds complexity to the filling. Cool the bars completely before cutting to prevent them from falling apart. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For a nutty flavor, add chopped pecans or walnuts to the crust or sprinkle on top of the apple filling before baking.