Salted Caramel Apple Bars – Cozy & Delicious Fall Favorite

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There’s something about the first cool snap of fall that makes me want to bake. Maybe it’s the way the air smells like dry leaves and cinnamon, or maybe it’s the feeling that the kitchen should be warm and sweet again. These salted caramel apple bars came out of that kind of day — and they taste exactly like cozy feels.

Why You’ll Love These Salted Caramel Apple Bars

These bars are the shortcut to apple pie, with just as much comfort and even more crunch. You get a buttery shortbread crust, tender apple slices spiced just right, and a golden brown oat streusel on top. But the best part? That salted caramel drizzle. It adds just enough richness to make every bite melt in your mouth.

If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing, fridge-friendly Thanksgiving dessert, this one’s a winner.

Salted caramel apple bars stacked on a green plate with oat streusel topping

Ingredients at a Glance

Here’s what goes into these irresistible bars:

Shortbread crust: Made with melted butter, sugar, flour, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. No chilling needed.
Apple filling: A mix of tart and sweet apples tossed in cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar.
Streusel topping: Oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, and cold cubed butter.
Salted caramel: Drizzled on just before serving. Use your favorite store-bought version or make your own.

You’ll find the full ingredient list and amounts in the recipe card below.

Best Apples for Baking

Using a mix of tart and sweet apples gives these bars a rich, layered flavor. I like Granny Smith for their tart bite and Pink Lady or Honeycrisp for sweetness and texture. You can also try Braeburn for something in between.

The goal is to balance acidity and sweetness, while keeping the slices tender but not mushy after baking.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Salted Caramel Apple Bars

Salted caramel apple bars with oat topping, one with a bite taken

Make the Shortbread Crust

Preheat your oven to 300°F and line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper. In a bowl, stir together melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Mix in the flour until a soft dough forms.

Press the crust evenly into the pan. Bake for 15 minutes. It will look pale, and that’s fine. You want it to be set but not browned yet.

Prepare the Spiced Apple Filling

While the crust bakes, peel and thinly slice your apples. Toss them with flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well coated. This mix starts to smell like fall right away.

Mix the Streusel Topping

In a separate bowl, combine rolled oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Add the cold cubed butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to work it in until you get coarse, buttery crumbs.

Layer, Bake, and Cool

Raise the oven temp to 350°F. When the crust comes out, layer the spiced apples evenly on top and press them down gently. Sprinkle the oat streusel across the top — make sure to cover the apples well.

Bake for 30–35 minutes until the topping is golden and crisp around the edges.

Let the bars cool for 20 minutes at room temperature. Then chill them for at least 2 hours to help them set. This step is key for clean slices.

Finish with Salted Caramel

Once chilled, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment edges. Cut into squares or rectangles, and drizzle each piece with salted caramel just before serving.

The caramel seeps into the streusel a bit and gives a gooey, sticky-sweet contrast to the buttery crunch.

Tips for Perfect Apple Bars

Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then drizzle with caramel.
Serving temp: These bars taste amazing cold, room temp, or gently warmed.
Larger batch: Double the recipe and bake in a 9×13 pan. Pre-bake crust for 18 minutes and final bake for 45–55 minutes.

Three salted caramel apple bars on parchment paper with caramel drizzle

Salted Caramel Topping

You can use your favorite jar of store-bought salted caramel, or make a batch from scratch if you have time. Either way, it adds a soft, sticky finish that turns these bars into a total treat.

Bonus: You can use any extra caramel on Baked Apple Fritters or swirl it into your next batch of brownies.

Bowl of glossy salted caramel sauce with spoon on rustic green table

Salted Caramel Apple Bars Recipe

More Such Recipes

If apples and caramel make your heart happy, you might also love:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these bars ahead of time?

Yes! These bars are perfect for making the night before. Chill them overnight, then slice and drizzle with caramel just before serving.

Do I need to peel the apples?

Peeling is best for texture. The thin slices bake evenly, and there’s no risk of tough skins. If you’re in a hurry, you could skip it, but the texture might not be as soft.

Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats?

You can, but the topping won’t have the same crunch. Rolled oats hold up better during baking and give a heartier bite.

Final Thoughts

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving or bringing dessert to a fall gathering, salted caramel apple bars are a total crowd-pleaser. They’re easy to make, simple to store, and bursting with apple pie flavor — without the fuss of a pie crust.

Try them once, and they might just become a new tradition.

For more cozy recipes and fall favorites, follow along on Pinterest or join the conversation on Facebook.