These salted caramel apple pie bars are a chewy oat bar with a caramel apple pie filling and an oat crumb topping. They're sweet, gooey and loaded with warm spices, salty caramel and tart apples.
Salted caramel apple pie bars are just what you need for apple season. I've taken my favorite oatmeal carmelita toffee bars and switched out the chocolate for sliced apples and it's such a winning combo!
If you love apple desserts you should also try my baked apple cider donuts, my puff pastry apple galette, or my apple crumble tart.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: These bars can be made in a mixer, or by hand, and are so simple to make.
- Caramel & Apples: The perfect pairing of flavors, and extra delicious with the sweet oat base.
- Perfect for Parties: I love serving bars for parties and events because you can prep them ahead and cut into whatever size you need for people to be able to grab.
Ingredient Notes
Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Apples: I love using a mix of tart and sweet. Ideally use any apples you have that are firm.
- Lemon: The squeeze of lemon helps balance the flavors and also helps the apples from browning.
- Butter: I always use salted butter, but unsalted works too.
- Oats: You will use old-fashioned oats, not quick oats.
- Caramel: I have made this recipe using jarred caramel sauce pictured below, and also using peters caramel and melting with heavy cream.
Step by Step Instructions
- Step 1: Peel and slice apples into very thin pieces. In a small bowl add apple slices, lemon juice, flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Set aside.
- Step 2: In a large mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter, brown sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.
- Step 3: Add salt, baking soda, flour and oats, mixing until combined.
- Step 4: Press half the dough onto the bottom of the 8x8 pan. Bake for 8 minutes.
- Step 5: While bars bake, melt caramel and cream together in the microwave, if using caramel sauce you don't need to add cream. Cook in 30 second increments, stirring in between until mixed and melted.
- Step 6: Top the baked, warm bottom layer of the bars with apple slices, followed by warm caramel sauce.
- Step 7: Place dollops of remaining dough on top, don’t worry about it spreading evenly over the top.
- Step 8: Bake an additional 28-33 minutes, or until the edges are a golden brown and the caramel is bubbling. Remove from oven and sprinkle with flaked salt.
Expert Baking Tips
- Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some extra caramel drizzled on top.
- I have doubled this recipe many times and baked it in a 9x13 pan instead. If doing so, add 2-3 minutes to each part of the baking.
- I have given both cups and grams as measurements. Grams will be more precise, especially when measuring flour. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, no problem! Just lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup to insure its not packed in there. Light and fluffy is the key.
FAQ
You can place the whole pan of bars in a 300 degree oven for 8-10 minutes to rewarm.
No, I just add the cream if I am melting caramel candies or bits and need it to easily soften and melt.
No, that is totally a personal preference.
Storing & Freezing
Salted caramel apple pie bars can be stored in an airtight container or ziplock bag at room temperature or in the fridge for 2-3 days while remaining fresh. I generally like to make these bars the night before I am serving them so that they have time to set up before I cut and serve.
These bars freeze great. You can prep the whole pan, cover and freeze if you want to make a full batch ahead of time. You can also place leftover bars in an airtight container or ziplock bag and freeze squares for a quick afternoon treat.
Other Popular Recipes to Try
For more yummy treats follow me on instagram @thesaltedsweets. And be sure to tag me and comment if you make them and love them as much as I do!
Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 1 lb (453.59 g) thinly sliced apples about 2 large apples
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) cinnamon
- ⅕ teaspoon (0.2 teaspoon) nutmeg
- pinch of salt
Oat Bottom/Topping
- ¾ cup (170.25 g) salted butter
- ¾ cup (165 g) brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¾ teaspoon (0.75 teaspoon) salt
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) cinnamon
- 1 cup (140 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (105 g) old fashioned oats
- 3 ounces (85.05 g) caramel kraft bits, homemade or from the jar
- 1 tablespoons heavy whipping cream Use this if melting caramels vs. jarred
- flaked sea salt for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 8x8 pan with cooking spray, and line with parchment.
- Peel and slice apples into very thin pieces. In a small bowl add apple slices, lemon juice, flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter, brown sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.
- Add salt, baking soda, flour and oats, mixing until combined.
- Press half the dough onto the bottom of the 8x8 pan. Bake for 8 minutes.
- While bars bake, melt caramel and cream together in the microwave, if using caramel sauce you don't need to add cream. Cook in 30 second increments, stirring in between until mixed and melted.
- Top the baked, warm bottom layer of the bars with apple slices, followed by warm caramel sauce.
- Place dollops of remaining dough on top, don’t worry about it spreading evenly over the top.
- Bake an additional 28-33 minutes, or until the edges are a golden brown and the caramel is bubbling. Remove from oven and sprinkle with flaked salt.
- Allow to cool completely. Serve room temperature, or cold from the fridge with an extra drizzle of caramel sauce.
I’m so happy I’ve achieved the level of trust with your recipes that told me I should go straight to a double batch, otherwise these would already be gone! Right up there with every other recipe you’ve added caramel to that I can’t resist!
I made these tonight and they were INCREDIBLE. But not a surprise. All your recipes are five stars! Thanks for all the great recipes.
These are SOOO good! Made them for a party without trying first because I know Brooke’s recipes always turn out amazing-and everyone loved them! The apples were perfectly cooked in the middle and they were just delicious!
Can this be made with GF flour?
Yes! It works great!
We loved these bars! Quicker alternative to an apple crumb pie. Next time I'll double recipe. Recommend weighing the apples. It did seem like too many apple slices for the pan; however, they baked down as recipe shows. Did have to bake much longer than recipe called for. We will be making this recipe many more times!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed them!
If I use jarred caramel sauce, do I still need to heat it?
Not if it's runny. You just want to be able to drizzle.
If I don't have a stand mixer to cream the butter. Can I use a hand mixer?
Yes! that works great!!
These are amazing. They need to be part of everyone’s Thanksgiving spread. The bottom layer becomes a bit crunchy and the other flavors are delicious. A big hit in our family.
Have you used oat flour or almond flour?
I haven't. I would probably suggest a 1:1 gluten free flour if you need them to be GF.
Hi! Do you use a specific type of apple for this recipe?
I love using a mix of tart and sweet, so usually granny smith and honey crisp or envy are my go to. But honestly whatever type of apples you love will be great!
Absolutely delicious! This was just a delightful way to use apples. The taste and texture are so good. This was an easy recipe as well. I will put this on repeat.
if I am doubling the recipe, do I need 2 bags of caramel bits?