Salted Caramel Apple Butter Bars
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Posted: 08/25/24
Updated: 08/26/24
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These amazing Salted Caramel Apple Butter Bars start with a delicious shortbread crust that’s topped with caramel apple filling and chunks of shortbread dough on top. This is the perfect fall dessert recipe!
Caramel apples are a hit for a reason! Sweet and sticky caramel on a tart and crunchy apple, what’s not to love?! But I don’t about you, but I don’t think I want to make caramel apples too often. It’s a lot of work and it’s pretty messy. So, what’s the best way to get that delicious flavor combination without all of the mess? These salted caramel apple butter bars of course!
I got the idea for these when making my apple bars with caramel frosting and apple pie. How could I combine the two and create something that was the best of both worlds? After all, caramel apple dump cake was a success so I figured I could make another caramely creation that was just as good. That’s how these caramel apple butter bars were born, and man are they amazing!
Why You’ll Love Salted Caramel Apple Butter Bars
- These bars are an easily shareable treat that are perfect for parties and get-togethers! You don’t have to worry about hanging around a dessert table to cut a cake or pie. These are single serving and ready to go.
- Apple caramel bars are great for bake sales! They’re unique and won’t be yet another version of chocolate chip cookies or sugar cookies.
- You can get 20 servings out of one baking dish worth of bars. That serves SO many people with just a single recipe!
Ingredients for Salted Caramel Apple Bars
- Powdered sugar – Powdered sugar is how you will sweeten the homemade crust for these apple caramel bars.
- Vanilla – You’ll need pure vanilla extract for both the crust and the filling, so make sure you have plenty.
- Cinnamon – Cinnamon and apples are a match made in heaven!
- Sugar – Use some granulated white sugar to sweeten these bars to perfection.
- Sea salt – A little touch of salt helps to balance the sweetness and give that delicious salted caramel flavor that everyone knows and loves.
- Heavy whipping cream – Use heavy whipping cream make filling for these apple bars super creamy.
- Granny smith apples – You can use any type of apple you want, but I find the tart flavor of granny smith apples goes perfectly with the sweetness of caramel!
- Cornstarch – Cornstarch acts as a thickener to make the apple filling a more hearty consistency.
- Unwrapped caramels – Caramel candies are the easiest way to make these bars full of gooey caramel goodness.
- Salted butter – Use salted butter to add to the salted caramel flavor.
- All purpose flour – All purpose flour is the main ingredient for the crust of your salted caramel apple butter bars.
How to Make Salted Caramel Apple Butter Bars
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and then spray a 9×13 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set it to the side.
Add butter, vanilla extract, sugar, and powdered sugar to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer at medium speed until creamy.
Slowly add the flour to the wet ingredients. Mix on low until all of the flour is incorporated and forms a soft dough.
Press ⅓ of the dough into the bottom of the previously prepared pan to create a crust. Place the rest of the dough in the fridge to chill until needed.
Bake the crust for 17-19 minutes until it’s a pale golden brown color.
Once the crust is done baking, allow it to cool for 15 minutes. You can make the topping while you wait!
Place unwrapped caramel candies, heavy whipping cream, and vanilla into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute and stir. If the caramels aren’t melted, put the bowl back into the microwave for about 30 seconds and then stir.
In a separate bowl, mix together diced apples and cornstarch until the apples are well coated. Then pour the apples into the caramel sauce and mix.
Once the crust has cooled, pour the filling for the salted caramel apple butter bars into the prepared crust and spread it out evenly.
Sprinkle sea salt over the caramel, then use the chilled dough from the fridge and crumble it over the caramel apples.
Place the pan back into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the topping is golden brown!
How to Store Leftover Caramel Apple Bars
FRIDGE: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
FREEZER: Place leftovers in a freezer safe bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw in the fridge.
I personally like to eat these bars warm, so I pop one into the toaster oven or microwave before eating it. But you can also eat them cold or at room temperature!
What to Serve with Salted Caramel Apple Butter Bars
These delicious bars are perfect as is, but you can take them over the top with a few extra special add-ons! Adding a drizzle of homemade caramel sauce is just amazing. And homemade hot fudge sauce adds a nice chocolatey touch!
If you’re up for eating a warm bar with a fork or spoon, some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream is a drool-worthy addition with these bars.
Why are my apple bars soggy?
If you end up with salted caramel apple butter bars that are super soggy, you may have forgotten an ingredient. Cornstarch is key in making the filling saucey instead of watery. Make sure you toss the apples in it before adding the caramel! You may also have baked the apple bars for too long. Keep an eye on them while they’re in the oven and make sure you follow the bake time instructions.
Pro Tips for the Best Caramel Apple Bars
- Be sure you dice the apples into even chunks so that they all cook through and soften well.
- Don’t overheat the caramel! Just keep heating in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until the caramel is smooth and creamy.
- The pie crust only need to be baked until slightly golden brown before adding the filling. Be careful not to overbake it.
These delicious salted caramel apple butter bars are a sticky sweet treat that everyone will love to eat!
More Apple Recipes You’ll Love
- This Apple Crumble is a staple during the fall! Everyone loves it and it’s easier than making an entire pie.
- Looking for an easy after-school snack? Then you’ve gotta check out these Apple Nachos.
- Apple Cider is a warm and cozy staple of the fall and winter seasons! Warming spices and sweet apples combine to make the best drink.
- Easy Apple Dumplings are a must try recipe. So good and so simple!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Salted Carmel Apple Butter Bars
A homemade shortbread crust, topped with caramel apple filling that's amazing and the perfect fall dessert.
Video
bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 pound salted butter room temp
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons vanilla
- 4 cups all purpose flour
Filling
- 14 ounces unwrapped caramels (1 bag)
- ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 4 granny smith apples peeled and diced
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ Tablespoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13 inch pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixing add butter, vanilla, sugar and powdered sugar. Mix with a paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy.
- Add the flour into the butter mixture slowly. Mix at low speed until all flour is in and a smooth soft dough forms.
- Press ⅓ of the dough evenly across the bottom of the prepared pan to form the bottom crust. Put the rest on the dough in the fridge to chill until needed.
- Bake the crust in the preheated oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 17-19 minutes or until the crust is pale golden brown.
- When the crust is done baking let it cool for 15 minutes before topping
- While the crust is cooling, make the filling. Place unwrapped caramels, heavy whipping cream and vanilla in a microwave safe bowl.
- Microwave on high for 1 minute and stir caramels. If the caramels are not melted, put back in the microwave for another 30 seconds and stir. Repeat until the caramels are melted and smooth.
- In a medium mixing bowl add the diced apples and cornstarch. Mix until the apples are coated with the cornstarch.
- Add the apples to the caramel sauce and mix together.
- Once the crust is cooled pour the caramel apple mixture on top of it and spread out evenly.
- Sprinkle the sea salt on top of the caramel mixture
- Take the chilled dough out of the fridge and crumble it on top of the caramel mixture evenly.
- Put the pan back in the oven and bake for 25-30 min or until the crumbled topping is firm and lightly golden.
Tips
FRIDGE: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
FREEZER: Place leftovers in a freezer safe bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw in the fridge.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1bar, Calories: 443kcal (22%), Carbohydrates: 60g (20%), Protein: 4g (8%), Fat: 22g (34%), Saturated Fat: 13g (81%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 55mg (18%), Sodium: 371mg (16%), Potassium: 121mg (3%), Fiber: 2g (8%), Sugar: 36g (40%), Vitamin A: 654IU (13%), Vitamin C: 2mg (2%), Calcium: 44mg (4%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
Adrienne says
So delicious! The caramel takes these over the top. Perfect fall treat!