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Best Easy Caramel Apple Crumble Bars Recipe

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These caramel apple crumble bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, tender spiced apples, a crunchy oat topping, and gooey caramel in every layer. They’re forgiving, flexible, and taste like you spent hours in the kitchen when really, the hardest part is waiting for them to cool.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups apples, peeled, cored, and diced (about 4 medium apples, mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup soft caramel candies (like Kraft caramels, unwrapped)
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on two sides.
  2. Make the shortbread crust: In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add the cold cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to work it into the flour until the mixture looks like coarse sand with some pea-sized butter pieces. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes, until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Set aside to cool slightly.
  3. Prepare the apple filling: In a medium bowl, toss the diced apples with 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Make sure every piece is coated. Let this sit while you make the topping.
  4. Make the crumble topping: In another bowl, combine 1 cup oats, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Pour in the melted butter and stir until everything is moistened and clumpy. Set aside.
  5. Melt the caramel: In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the unwrapped caramels and heavy cream. Stir constantly until smooth and fully melted, about 5 minutes. Alternatively, microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring each time.
  6. Assemble the bars: Spread the apple mixture evenly over the pre-baked crust. Drizzle about half of the melted caramel over the apples. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over everything, pressing down gently.
  7. Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges. Let the bars cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before drizzling the remaining caramel on top.
  8. Cool completely: Let them cool for at least 2 hours at room temperature, or pop them in the fridge for 45 minutes. Once set, lift the bars out using the parchment paper and cut into squares.

Notes

Don’t skip the lemon juice—it balances the sweetness. Keep butter cold for the crust. Watch the caramel closely to avoid burning. Use a sharp knife to cut bars. Let them cool completely before cutting to prevent them from falling apart.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://lumalunch.com/best-easy-caramel-apple-crumble-bars-recipe/