Cozy Caramel Apple Crumble Bars
These cozy caramel apple crumble bars feature a buttery, flaky crust with tender apple filling and a luscious gooey caramel topping. Perfect for fall gatherings or a comforting homemade dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150g) packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup (170g) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup (70g) brown sugar
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ⅓ cup (80ml) light corn syrup
- 14 oz (396g) sweetened condensed milk
- 4 tbsp (56g) unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
- Make the crumble base: In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add cold cubed butter and work it into the dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces. Save about 1 cup (125g) of this crumble mixture for the topping. Press the rest evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden and firm to the touch.
- Prepare the apple filling: Toss sliced apples with brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Stir gently to coat each slice without breaking them.
- Make the caramel topping: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup, and butter. Stir constantly until thickened and light caramel color, about 7-10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Assemble the bars: Layer the apple filling evenly over the baked base. Drizzle 2/3 of the caramel topping over the apples and spread gently. Sprinkle the reserved crumble topping over everything, leaving small gaps.
- Bake again: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until topping is golden and apples are tender but not mushy. Caramel should bubble slightly around edges.
- Cool completely: Let bars cool on a wire rack for at least an hour before slicing into 12 squares using the parchment paper overhang to lift them out.
Notes
Use cold butter for the crumble to ensure a flaky texture. Slice apples about 1/8 inch thick for tender but not mushy filling. Stir caramel constantly to avoid burning. Let bars cool completely before slicing for cleaner cuts. For gluten-free, replace half the flour with almond flour. Vegan options include dairy-free butter and coconut condensed milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1/12 of recip
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 28
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 2
Keywords: caramel apple bars, apple crumble bars, caramel apple dessert, fall dessert, easy apple bars, homemade caramel bars