Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Salted caramel apple pie bars combine tender spiced apples, a buttery base, and rich salted caramel in one comforting dessert. These bars deliver the classic flavor of apple pie in an easy, sliceable form, finished with a balance of sweet and salty notes. Perfect for fall gatherings, holidays, or cozy weekends, salted caramel apple pie bars are simple, satisfying, and always a crowd-pleaser.

Composed with a shortbread crust, an apple filling featuring spices, a streusel topping, and a salted caramel sauce, these apple pie bars rival the deliciousness of traditional apple pie while being considerably easier to prepare. This enjoyable variation on a classic dessert is likely to be favored.

• Heat the oven to 300°F (149°C). Prepare an eight-inch square baking dish by lining its interior surfaces with baking paper, allowing sufficient material to extend over all the edges. Put this aside.
• Prepare the Base: blend the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt together in a medium-sized bowl. Introduce the flour and mix thoroughly until the ingredients are fully combined. Press the mixture uniformly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for fifteen minutes, then carefully remove it from the oven. During this baking interval, the filling and streusel can be prepared.
• To prepare the apple filling, integrate the apple slices, flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg within a large bowl. Stir until the apple pieces are uniformly coated. Set this mixture aside.
• To prepare the streusel component: combine the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour in a medium mixing bowl. Incorporate the chilled butter by cutting it in with a pastry cutter, two forks, or manually, until the resulting mixture achieves a coarse, crumbly texture. Reserve the preparation.
• Set the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Arrange the apples uniformly over the warmed crust. Although the volume of apple slices may seem substantial, place them densely, pressing down to ensure they fit within the crust. Subsequently, scatter the streusel over the apple surface and cook for 30–35 minutes, or until the topping achieves a golden-brown hue.
• Once extracted from the oven, permit the item to cool for a minimum of 20 minutes at ambient temperature. Subsequently, refrigerate for a period of at least two hours, or overnight if preferred. Gently remove the cooled item from the pan by lifting the extended edges of the foil or parchment paper. Then, section it into bars. While a common yield is sixteen smaller bars, an alternative is to cut twelve larger portions. After portioning, apply a light stream of salted caramel sauce onto the surface of each individual bar. These apple pie bars are suitable for consumption warm, at ambient temperature, or when chilled.

• The bars will retain their quality for up to three days when stored in a sealed container within a refrigerated environment. For extended preservation, the bars may be frozen for a maximum duration of three months. Prior to serving, allow them to defrost gradually overnight in the refrigerator, then garnish with a caramel drizzle.