Sheet Pan Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Caramel Apple Pie Bars are a complete showstopper handheld dessert with buttery shortbread crust, caramel apple filling and mile-high crumble topping.

Baked in a large pan this is an addictingly chewy and buttery bar recipe for a crowd that is loved by everyone! Make up a batch for bake sales, holiday gifting and cookie swaps or make just to keep slices on hand for yourself throughout the week ?

Apple pie + shortbread cookie + caramel apples

Like a mix of apple pie, caramel apple, shortbread cookies and candy bars. These flaky, buttery, chewy layers are bursting with fresh apple flavor.

Based loosely on the NY Times Apple Bars this recipe skips the hassle of parcooking the apples in favor of the fresh burst of apple flavor. And these apples bars are coated in a luscious layer of caramel that adds irresistible chewiness and depth of flavor.

The name is a little deceiving, though. Unlike Nectarine + Berry Slab Pie Bars this recipe for Caramel Apple Pie Bars is actually more of a decadent cookie or candy slice, rather than pie.

They hold their shape well after slicing and stay fresh for up to three days after baking. Perfect for gifting!

Ingredients

• Apples – large juicy but sturdy apples like Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Gala or any apple you have on hand
• Caramel – about 30 unwrapped and melted caramel candy squares or 3/4 cup of your choice of caramel.
• Butter – unsalted or substitute salted butter and reduce the amount of added salt.
• Flour – all purpose
• Sugar – both powdered and granulated
• Vanilla – extract or substitute paste or powder
• Cinnamon powder
• Milk
• Salt – both fine baking salt for the pastry and a little flaky salt to add crunchy bits of salt to the caramel layer (optional).

How to make

1. Make a buttery shortbread dough. Press 1/3 into pan as a bottom crust and leave the remaining 2/3 crumbly to use later as the topping. 1/3 might seem scrimpy but I PROMISE it’s so worth it to save the majority of the shortbread for a generous top layer. It’s not only stunning but the large crumbles bake up slightly chewy for a delicious finished product.

2. Peel and dice apples then toss with cinnamon and sugar. Scatter evenly over crust and bake until starting to soften.

3. Meanwhile melt caramel squares. Or make your own thick caramel sauce from scratch.

4. Pour evenly over apples and crust.

5. Top with remaining shortbread crumble.
6. Bake until golden brown.
7. Cool then cut into squares.

8. Enjoy!

Can apple bars be frozen?

There are a few different options for making apple bars ahead of time.

• The shortbread can be refrigerated up to 3 days, either 1/3 as a dough ball and the rest crumbled. Or press the 1/3 into the bottom crust and refrigerate.
• Alternately, the shortbread can be frozen for up to three months. Carefully place crumble on one sheet pan and press the bottom crust into another. Freeze both then wrap crust tightly with plastic wrap and transfer crumble topping to a freezer bag. Use directly from freezer.
• Or, bars can be frozen after baking for up to 3 months. Simply defrost and enjoy.

Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Caramel Apple Pie Bars are a complete showstopper handheld dessert with buttery shortbread crust, caramel apple filling and finished with a mile-high crumble topping.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

apples, baked goods, bars, caramel, desserts, fall, winter

Servings: 24 pieces

Calories: 334kcal

Author: Tristin Rieken

Ingredients

Shortbread

• 2 cups salted butter 4 sticks
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups all purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt

Caramel Apple Filling

• 4 large apples peeled cored and diced, about 3 cups diced
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 9 ounces caramel candies 30 squares or about ¾ cup melted caramel
• 3 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ teaspoon flaky sea salt

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325.
• Grease a 9 x 13 inch ¼ sheet pan or baking dish lightly with butter.
• Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Then add vanilla and mix in flour. Dough will be crumbly.
• Sprinkle roughly 1/3 of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan and press to flatten evenly. Cover remaining shortbread crumble with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• Toss diced apples with cinnamon and sugar and evenly layer on top of the crust. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat caramels over medium heat in a small saucepan with milk. Once melted remove from heat, stir in vanilla and stir until smooth.
• After 25 minutes of baking pour caramel sauce over crust and apples making sure to cover all the way to the edges. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and crumble remaining shortbread over the top.
• Bake until golden brown, 35-40 minutes. Let cool, cut into squares and serve.

Notes

Keeps up to 3 days at room temperature. Or, freeze for up to 3 months, defrosting before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 235mg | Potassium: 84mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 495IU | Vitamin C: 1.4mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg

Made this recipe? Please share!Mention @freshflavorful or tag #FreshFlavorfulLife

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