Oh my gosh, you are going to *swoon* over these! When the air starts getting crisp, you know I have to pull out all my best fall baking secrets, and these Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars are seriously the peak of coziness. Forget messy pies—these bars give you everything you love: a buttery shortbread base, perfectly spiced apples, and that glorious, chewy crumble topping, all laced with salted caramel.

It took me about three attempts to get the ratio between the base and the topping just right—I kept making the base too thick! Now, though? It’s perfect every time. You get that incredible contrast of crumbly oats against the soft, warm fruit. Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll be making these bars all season long!

Why You Will Love These Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

Honestly, why wouldn’t you love these? They just hit every single craving I have when autumn rolls around. They are packed with flavor but so fast to throw together. Here’s what makes them my absolute go-to batch treat:

The ultimate textural party: buttery shortbread meeting sharp spiced apples.
Super simple assembly! No fancy rolling or chilling required.
That sprinkle of salty caramel cuts the sweetness perfectly.
They travel like a dream and hold their shape when cut. Click here for more easy bar recipes!

See? It’s everything good about apple pie, but in a neat little square!

Ingredients for Perfect Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

Okay, ingredients. This is where we beat the heat, literally. The secret to that sandy, perfect shortbread base? It’s all about keeping the butter frigid. Seriously, work fast! I’ve broken down what you need so you can organize your mise en place before you even turn the oven on. You’ll need ingredients for three main parts, but don’t stress; most of the dry stuff is shared!

For the Shortbread Base and Crumble Topping

This is the oatmeal component that holds everything together. Remember, the butter *must* be cold and cubed so it creates those perfect flaky pockets instead of melting right into the sugar.

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats, the regular kind, please!
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar (that dark, sweet stuff!)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

For the Spiced Apple Filling

I’m a firm believer that you need a tart apple here—Granny Smith or Honeycrisp are my favorites because they hold up to the baking time without turning into mush. Those tart apples balance the sweetness of the caramel later on perfectly.

3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced into small pieces
1 tablespoon lemon juice (keeps them from browning, too!)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Salted Caramel Drizzle

This is our star flavor, right? I usually buy a good jar of pre-made salted caramel sauce because, honestly, some days I just don’t have the energy for simmering cream! But if you’re out, just simmer 1/2 cup heavy cream with 1/2 cup granulated sugar until it thickens up nicely—it takes a bit of stirring!

1/4 cup pre-made salted caramel sauce (plus extra for drizzling!)

Step-by-Step Instructions for Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

Putting these together is genuinely quick, especially once you have your ingredients prepped. Don’t panic about the layers; it’s basically mix, press, fill, and sprinkle. Remember the goal here is that crunchy, buttery base that doesn’t get totally soaked by the apples. We achieve that with a quick initial bake—a trick I learned the hard way years ago!

Follow these steps exactly, and you’ll have the best Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars imaginable. If you need a refresher on basic mixing techniques, check out my general guide on making amazing easy bars.

Preparing the Base and First Bake

First things first: get that oven heating up to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). You need to line your 8×8 pan with parchment paper, making sure you leave an overhang on two sides—this is how we lift the whole thing out later like a beautiful, sticky brick!

In a bowl, mix up your dry base stuff: flour, oats, brown sugar, and salt. Then, using your fingers or a pastry blender, work in the cold butter until it just looks like coarse, damp crumbs. Press about two-thirds of that crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of your lined pan for the base. Pop that base into the oven and bake it for exactly 15 minutes. It needs a head start!

Assembling the Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars Layers

While that base is baking, toss your diced apples with the lemon juice, granulated sugar, and cinnamon in a totally different bowl. They need to be coated well!

When the 15 minutes are up, pull that base out—it should look set. Spread the spiced apples evenly over that warm base. Now for the flavor bomb: drizzle half of your salted caramel sauce right over those apples. Finally, take the remaining one-third of your oat mixture and crumble it right on top of the caramel and fruit layer.

Final Bake and Cooling Process

Back into the oven it goes! Bake these bars for another 25 to 30 minutes. You’ll know they are done when that top crumble looks golden brown and smells heavenly.

This next part is crucial for clean squares: you must let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. I mean it, completely cool! Once they are totally solid, drizzle the rest of that glorious salted caramel sauce across the top. Then, lift the whole thing out using those parchment paper handles and slice it into 16 perfect squares.

Tips for Making the Best Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

I’ve learned a few things the hard way making these over the years, and now I want to save you the trouble! These bars have multiple textures going on, so paying attention to a couple of details makes them absolutely professional quality, not just home baked.

You absolutely must use very cold butter for the base and crumble. If it gets soft, you’ll end up with a dense, greasy shortbread instead of that lovely crumbly texture. Work quickly, or honestly, just pop your cubed butter in the freezer for five minutes before you start mixing the dry ingredients!

Speaking of apples, don’t skimp on using a tart variety like Granny Smith. The cinnamon and caramel are sweet, so you need that bite from the fruit to keep things interesting. Also, to prevent a soggy bottom—which is the arch-nemesis of all crumble bars—giving that base that initial 15-minute pre-bake is non-negotiable. It sets up just enough so the apple juices don’t completely dissolve it. Amazing results are just a few tips away!

For more tips on getting perfect fruit toppings, check out my notes on making homemade apple crumble, which shares some of my secrets on spice ratios!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

We covered the core list, but let’s talk quick fixes and swaps because sometimes we are missing that one specific item! The most important thing to maintain here is that **cold butter** for the topping; if you absolutely must substitute it, maybe use cold coconut oil, but watch how you mix it because the texture changes fast.

The caramel situation is easier. Like I mentioned, if you skip the store-bought sauce, just simmering cream and sugar works well, though it creates more of a toffee drizzle than a distinct salty caramel. And please, stick to Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples. They are sturdy and give you that necessary tartness against all that sweet goodness. Those apples are key to the whole recipe working!

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

These bars are almost better the next day when the caramel has really melded into the crumble, which is great because you almost never eat them all in one sitting!

Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. They usually stay perfectly fresh for about three days. Don’t put them in the fridge, though; the cold tends to make the shortbread base hard instead of tender,

If you want that warm, gooey feeling, just pop a square in the microwave for about 10 or 15 seconds. That little bit of heat softens the apples and makes the caramel drizzle wonderfully gooey again. Perfect for enjoying with coffee!

Serving Suggestions for Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

While these bars are ridiculously good on their own—seriously, just grab one straight from the cooling rack—sometimes you just need a little something extra, right? That rich, spiced apple flavor begs for a cold, creamy contrast.

My favorite way to serve these is slightly warmed, topped with a scoop of high-quality vanilla bean ice cream. The ice cream melts right into the salted caramel drizzle, creating this amazing sauce you can’t replicate!

If you’re eating them for a mid-afternoon treat instead of dessert, a strong, dark-roast black coffee is the perfect partner. The bitterness cuts through the sweetness beautifully. For more fun dessert ideas, you might want to check out these fun dessert in a cup ideas!

Frequently Asked Questions About Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

I get so many questions once people start baking these babies, so I figured I’d put the most common ones right here to save us all some time! Baking should be fun, not confusing, especially when dealing with layer bars like these easy bars.

Can I make these Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars ahead of time?

You totally can! In fact, I recommend making them one day ahead. The flavors—that cinnamon spice, the saltiness of the caramel, the buttery base—all get to marry overnight, and they become even more delicious. Store them covered at room temperature, and they’re ready to go!

What is the best way to cut the bars cleanly?

This is the absolute number one source of frustration if you rush it! You *must* let the bars cool completely in the pan. I mean, wait until they are totally room temperature, or even chill them in the fridge for 30 minutes before cutting. Use a very sharp, long knife, and wipe the blade clean between each cut. That keeps your slices looking picture-perfect!

Can I freeze the apple crumble bars?

Yes, these freeze surprisingly well! Once they are completely cooled and cut, lay them in a single layer on a baking sheet to flash-freeze them for an hour. Then, stack them with parchment paper between the layers and tuck them into a freezer-safe container. They should last up about three months, just thaw them out on the counter before serving.

Nutritional Estimate for Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

Now, look, I’m a home baker, not a dietitian! So treat these numbers as a rough guide. I’m always guessing a little bit about portion size and whether the apples absorbed all the sugar, you know how it is. But based on standard calculations for the ingredients we used, here are the estimated numbers if you cut the batch into 16 squares.

It’s a dessert, so we know there’s sugar and fat involved, but seeing the protein content from the oats is always a nice little bonus, right?

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 250
Fat: 13g (That’s the butter doing its job!)
Saturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 30mg
Carbohydrates: 32g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 3g
Sodium: 150mg
Sugar: 20g

Remember, these estimates don’t account for any homemade caramel you might whip up, and I always use slightly more butter than the recipe calls for because, well, life! But this gives you a decent idea of what you’re enjoying when you sneak one of these phenomenal bars.

Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

Author: ferecipe.com
Total Time: 65 min
Yield: 16 bars 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Simple bars with a shortbread base, spiced apple filling, and a salted caramel crumble topping.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup pre-made salted caramel sauce

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, and salt for the base. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Press two-thirds of the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the base. Bake for 15 minutes.
While the base bakes, prepare the apple filling. In a separate bowl, toss the diced apples with lemon juice, granulated sugar, and cinnamon.
Remove the base from the oven. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the warm base. Drizzle half of the salted caramel sauce over the apples.
Crumble the remaining one-third of the oat mixture over the apples.
Bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cool, drizzle the remaining salted caramel sauce over the top.
Lift the bars out using the parchment paper overhang and cut into squares.

Notes

You can use Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples for the best texture.
If you do not have pre-made caramel, you can make a quick version by simmering 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until thickened.

Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 45 min
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 250
Sugar: 20g
Sodium: 150mg
Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 32g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 30mg

Keywords: apple crumble bars, salted caramel, oat bars, shortbread, spiced apple, dessert bars