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I made this last night for a family party, and it was a hit! Seriously one of the best desserts I have ever made.
Gilliane
Question. 👇
A thick, soft brown sugar crust sandwiching a heaping apple layer that is drizzled with homemade caramel: you down widat?
It’s been way too long since I made dessert. And WHO EVEN SAYS THAT. Not me, normally. And these apple crisp bars are my current vice.
For the majority of my life, I’ve been basically a walking sweet tooth. But the truth of the matter is that something happened to me after going sugar free for a period of time. I just don’t need the after-dinner dessert the same way I used to.
So here’s the miracle of the moment: even though my epic sweet tooth has sort of abandoned me in the last few years, and even though I’m not one to normally choose an apple dessert (just gimme the chocolate already), these bars with their caramely apple layer tucked in by a brown sugar-y crust on both sides absolutely rocked my world in the best possible way.
And then weeeeird things started happening. Like one night, out of nowhere, I found myself eating not one not two but many many of these apple crisp bars, and not only that but they were – wait for it – cold out of the fridge. COLD out of the fridge. It doesn’t even work – where’s the a la mode version with melty ice cream?! This is a fall food crime.
But I’m here to tell you – cold straight out of the fridge. Rules were made to be broken.
These bars are a combination of a few things like my Grandma’s apple pan pie and my Grandma’s apple crisp (hi grandma!) and my favorite caramel chocolate bars and a new pumpkin bars recipe with caramel that I made earlier this year – yes, earlier – judge me, go ahead. Basically it’s a combination of all the good desserts of my life.
This is my jam on so many levels.
Brown sugar crust, paper thin apples, buttery caramel sauce… hop to. 🍎🍏🍎🍏
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Addicting Caramel Apple Crisp Bars
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 large bars or 16–18 smallish bars 1x
Description
These layered bars are so simple! Loaded with homemade caramel and apples. Caramely apple layer tucked in by a brown sugar-y crust on both sides.
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 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 flour (see notes)
For the Filling
- 4 small apples
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup cream or half and half
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
- Crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Beat the butter and brown sugar with electric mixers until creamy. Add the cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and flour. The mixture should be crumbly. Set aside one cup of the mixture; press the rest into a 9×13 baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 minutes.
- Filling: Quarter the apples and scoop out seeds/core. Slice the apple quarters with a mandoline slicer to get ultra paper thin slices (or slice by hand, cutting as thin as possible). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add both types of sugar; when the sugar is incorporated and the mixture is JUST about to start bubbling, add the cream and stir until a creamy sauce forms. It should coat the back of a spoon.
- Assembly: When the crust is done, arrange the apples in an even layer over the crust and pour the caramel over the top. Sprinkle with remaining crust crumbles from step one. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar for sparkle and crunch. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven, lift out of the pan using the edges of the parchment paper, and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes. Cut and serve.
Notes
When measuring the flour, I usually just scoop my measuring cup right into the bag. If you are normally more precise with the spoon-measuring, you might need a little more flour to make up for the difference. Just look at the texture – if the dough forms crumbles, you’re good.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: fall dessert, apple dessert, apple crisp, apple crisp bars, dessert bars
Fall foods are my absolute fave! These apple pie bars after a hot bowl of chili have just made it onto the weekend menu!
Hope you like it Megan!
Sometimes I wish my sweet tooth would loosen its grip on me at least a little bit, but it never seems to happen! These apple crisp bars sound incredible, Lindsay, and I love the Wholsesome! ingredients!
Thanks Sam! 🙂 We love their products.
I can totally get why these are addictive. They look absolutely delicious. And it sounds so easy to make. Love it!
Agreed! Easy is key these days. I’m with you the taste bud issue Lindsay, I had a sweet tooth but when my metabolism slowed like molasses in January, I decided to eat better my my health and because I want to be there as my kids get older! I want to be alive for all there big moments. Cannot wait for this recipe, I feel so mature for wanting this over chocolate these days (no, that does not mean I shop in the mature ladies section of the Bon-Ton, I’m not quite there….yet….sorry mom I know you love it!)
And where did you get that gray sweater? Gorgeous!!!!
Thanks Laura! 🙂 Sweater = Forever 21.
Thanks Kristina!
I can definitely see why these are addicting. Holy delicious!! I really love that topping 🙂
ME TOO 😀
I think I’m addicted already! I love fall and all the yumminess that comes with it! These bars look like a perfect snack….or dessert….or maybe even breakfast!
I can’t say I haven’t done it 🙂
These look like my kind of dessert! Definitely making these for our neighborhood pumpkin-carving and chili-cookoff party this weekend. Thanks, Lindsay!
How fun! hope you like them, Sally!
I’m much more of a summer girl than a fan of fall, but one of the things I DO love about this season is the produce – apples included!! And I definitely won’t judge you for eating a few of these out of the fridge cold, because I would 100% do the same thing!
Ugh, so good. 🙂 Thank you for not judging!
Pinch of big YUM! I love apple crisp and your version looks delicious!
Thank you Julie!
These are on my to do list ASAP!!
I have never tried the Wholesome! brand, so I will definitely keep an eye out at the stores in my area.
I’ve been seeing them everywhere lately from mainstream to co-op! woohoo! Enjoy Dayna!
I’m a chocolate girl at heart, too, but these look SO good! Love caramel apple EVERYTHING!
Thanks Lucia! 🙂
I’m more of a salty snacks (and CHEESE!) girl myself, but these are calling my name!
Even us salty-snack-loving girls need a sweet every now and then…
I love everything about these bars! Layers, thin apple slices, homemade caramel, crisp on the bottom and top….yum! What an irresistable treat!
xx Sydney
Thanks Sydney! 🙂
Just about to receive some fresh apples, from a friends garden tree, on Sunday. Perfect timing with this delicious looking recipe. Pinned. Thank you Lindsay! 🙂
Perfect timing Neil! I hope you like them!
Uum… These look fantastic! Yum.
Thanks Leesa!
Ugh my husband always chooses the fruit dessert too. WHY?! But these look fabulous!
We need to start getting our husbands to learn the truth of chocolate…. but until then… we have these bars. 🙂 Compromise.
My fruit dessert loving hubby will LOVE these! And, maybe I’ll be pulling them outta the fridge too? Time will tell! 🙂
Hahah – I hope so! Thanks Senika!
I would have voted for this too! This sounds like the best after dinner dessert 🙂
Thanks Cathleen! Hope you like them!
This recipe looks amazing! Thanks for sharing the Wholesome brand. I will have to give their products a try.
They have a wide variety of products and I love that I can find them in so many grocery stores! 🙂 Thanks Emily!
You can’t go wrong with apples and caramel. These bars look soooo delicious. I have to make them:)
Thanks Ilona! Enjoy!
Sorry I did not mean to give 4 stars. It should be 5. Mobile technolgy…
haha – no worries – happens all the time. 🙂
I TOTALLY need to try these!!! they look SO good! apples and caramel flavor this time of year is the BEST!!!! 😉
Thanks Michele! 🙂 Hope you like them!
I wish my sweet tooth would lessen! It basically controls my after dinner desire for a slice of cake or cookie even though i’m full.
That crumble topping and paper thin apples adds up to one heck of an addicting dessert.
The paper thin apples are just my FAVORITE. A good thin cut makes all the difference!
This recipe looks amazing! Thank you.
Thanks Melissa! 🙂
What a Delicious recipe!! I plan on making this today! Could I substitute greek yogurt for the cream? Thank you!!
Hm, for the caramel? I wouldn’t sub yogurt on that one… I don’t imagine that going well. But you could always prove me wrong! 🙂
So excited to see this recipe as my family went apple picking last weekend and needless to say I have an abundance of apples-this was a great alternative to an apple pie. I made your recipe and I stayed true to it except that I added salt to my caramel and salt to the finished product. It was delicious and would recommend this recipe (esp with the added salt!)! It was quick and easy to make too. Thanks for sharing this!!!
I added a little salt to mine, too! 🙂 So glad you liked this one Nova!