Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Fall is just around the corner and so is apple season. Apple pie is always good but this is a new twist on an old time classic.  This recipe looks like it has a lot of steps but you can make the salted caramel ahead of time. It's also best to make the bars the day before so they can cool completely.



Oven: 350 degrees
Bake: Crust 15 minutes
Bake: Bars 30 minutes    (Double recipe  bake 45 minutes)
Pan: 8 x 8     (Double Recipe 9x13 pan)
Yield: 12-16 bars depending on the size

Ingredients:
Shortbread Crust

• 1/2 c. (113g) unsalted butter, melted
  
• 1/4 c. (50g) sugar
  
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 c. (125g) soft white flour
  

Apple Filling

• 2 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced 1/4 inch thick                            (3-4 cups depending on the size)
• 2 T. flour or
• 2 T. sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
  
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
  

Streusel

• 1/2 c. (40g) old-fashioned oats
• 1/3 c. (70g) packed light or dark brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 c. (30g) soft white
• 1/4 c. (60g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• homemade salted caramel sauce (Recipe)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on all sides. Set aside.
   
2. Make the crust: Stir the melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt together in a medium bowl. Next add the flour and stir until everything is combined. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
3. Make the apple filling: Combine the sliced apples, flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a large bowl until all of the apples are evenly coated. Set aside.
4. Make the streusel: Mix the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour together in a medium bowl. Cut in the chilled butter with a pastry blender or with your fingers, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
   
5. Remove the crust from the oven, and turn the oven up to 350°F Evenly layer the apples on top of the warm crust. It will look like there are too many apple slices, so layer them tightly and press them down to fit. Sprinkle the apple layer with streusel and bake for 30–35 minutes or until the streusel is golden brown.
6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 20 minutes at room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or overnight). Lift the foil or parchment out of the pan using the overhang on the sides and cut into bars. I usually cut them into 16 smaller bars, but you can cut them into 12 larger bars. Once cut, drizzle some salted caramel sauce on top of each. These apple pie bars can be enjoyed warm, at room temperature, or even cold

 Tips

1. The bars keep best in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freezing them will keep them fresh for 3 months. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator then drizzle with the caramel before serving.
2. Use two different kinds of apples for a more complex flavor. I use 1 tart apple variety such as Granny Smith, and 1 sweeter apple variety such as Pink Lady.

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