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Addicting Caramel Apple Crisp Bars Recipe

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4.1 from 13 reviews

These Addicting Caramel Apple Crisp Bars combine a buttery, crumbly crust with thinly sliced apples and a luscious homemade caramel sauce, creating a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors. Baked to golden perfection and topped with crunchy turbinado sugar, these bars offer a delightful autumn-inspired dessert that’s easy to make and perfect for sharing.

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

Filling Ingredients

  • 4 small apples
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup cream or half and half
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

Topping

  • Turbinado sugar (for sprinkling)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and light brown sugar with an electric mixer until creamy and well combined. Add the cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and flour to the mixture. Stir until the mixture becomes crumbly. Reserve one cup of this crumbly mixture for topping.
  2. Form and bake the crust: Press the remaining crumbly mixture firmly into a parchment-lined 9×13-inch baking sheet, spreading it evenly to form the crust layer. Bake this crust in the preheated oven for 12 minutes to set.
  3. Prepare the apples: Meanwhile, quarter the apples and remove their cores and seeds. Using a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife, slice the apple quarters as thinly as possible to achieve paper-thin slices, which will help them cook evenly in the bars.
  4. Make the caramel sauce: In a saucepan, melt 1/4 cup of butter over medium heat. Stir in both the brown sugar and granulated sugar. When the sugars have incorporated and the mixture just begins to bubble, slowly add the cream (or half and half), stirring continuously. Cook until a creamy, smooth sauce forms that coats the back of a spoon.
  5. Assemble the bars: Once the crust is partially baked, remove it from the oven and layer the thinly sliced apples evenly over the crust. Pour the warm caramel sauce evenly over the apples. Sprinkle the reserved crumbly crust mixture evenly on top, then finish with a generous sprinkle of turbinado sugar for added sparkle and crunch.
  6. Bake the bars: Return the assembled bars to the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the topping is golden and the apples are tender.
  7. Cool and serve: Remove the bars from the oven. Using the edges of the parchment paper, lift the bars out of the pan and place them on a cooling rack. Allow the bars to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting into 12 servings. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  • Using a mandoline slicer helps achieve uniformly thin apple slices that cook evenly and create a tender texture in the bars.
  • Turbinado sugar adds a delightful crunchy texture and sparkle to the topping but can be omitted or substituted with raw sugar.
  • For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking flour blend.
  • These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.

Find it online: https://cookedbysarah.com/addicting-caramel-apple-crisp-bars-recipe/