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Cozy Caramel Apple Crumble Bars: Best Fall Dessert

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These caramel apple crumble bars are a happy accident that turned into a beloved fall dessert. With a buttery crust, jammy apple filling, and crunchy oat topping, they’re the ultimate cozy treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 4 cups peeled and diced apples (about 4 medium apples)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ cup store-bought or homemade caramel sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving about 2 inches of overhang on the long sides.
  2. Make the crust and crumble mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, 2 cups rolled oats, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon baking powder. Add the 1 cup of cold, cubed butter. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse sand with some pea-sized butter pieces.
  3. Press the crust: Firmly press about half of the oat mixture (roughly 3 cups) into the bottom of the prepared pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup or a glass to press it down evenly. Pop the pan and the remaining crumble mixture into the fridge while you prepare the apples.
  4. Prepare the apple filling: In a separate bowl, toss the 4 cups of diced apples with ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg. Mix until every apple piece is coated. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
  5. Assemble the bars: Spread the apple mixture evenly over the chilled crust. Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture over the top, covering the apples completely. Don’t press it down.
  6. Bake: Place the pan on the middle rack and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly around the edges. If the top is browning too quickly (after about 30 minutes), tent the pan loosely with foil.
  7. Cool completely: Let the bars cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 2 hours. For clean slices, refrigerate for another hour after cooling.
  8. Drizzle with caramel: Once cooled, drizzle the caramel sauce over the top using a spoon or a squeeze bottle. Let the caramel set for about 10 minutes before slicing.
  9. Slice and serve: Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment overhang. Use a sharp knife to cut into 12-16 squares. Wipe the knife clean between cuts for the neatest edges.

Notes

Keep everything cold for a flaky crust. Don’t skip the parchment paper. Use a mix of tart and sweet apples. Let the bars cool completely before cutting. These bars taste even better the next day.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://sparklechew.com/cozy-caramel-apple-crumble-bars-best-fall-dessert/