Few desserts capture the cozy warmth of autumn quite like Salted Caramel Apple Bars. With layers of buttery shortbread, cinnamon-spiced apples, gooey caramel drizzle, and a crumbly oat topping, these bars are a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

Whether you’re planning a fall bake sale, prepping for Thanksgiving, or just craving something indulgent to pair with your coffee, these bars are the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and salty. Best of all, they’re easy to make and cut beautifully into squares for sharing.

Why You’ll Love These Apple Bars

Multi-layered indulgence – Buttery crust, tender apples, rich caramel, and crumb topping.
Easy to share – Bake once, slice into 16 perfect bars.
Seasonal favorite – Apples + cinnamon + caramel = autumn comfort food.
Make ahead – Keeps well for 3–4 days in the fridge.

Ingredients

For the Shortbread Crust:

1 cup unsalted butter, melted
½ cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour

For the Apple Filling:

4 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled and diced
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg

For the Crumb Topping:

1 cup old-fashioned oats
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed

For the Caramel Drizzle:

½ cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
½ tsp flaky sea salt

Instructions

Preheat Oven – Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper.
Make Shortbread Crust – In a bowl, mix melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and flour. Press evenly into the pan. Bake 15 minutes until lightly golden.
Prepare Apple Filling – Toss diced apples with flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spread evenly over baked crust.
Make Crumb Topping – Mix oats, brown sugar, and flour. Cut in cold butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples.
Bake – Return to oven and bake 35–40 minutes until topping is golden and apples are tender.
Cool & Drizzle – Let bars cool completely. Drizzle with caramel sauce and sprinkle with flaky sea salt before slicing.

Tips & Variations

Best apples – Use tart apples like Granny Smith for balance.
Extra crunch – Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the crumb topping.
Caramel choice – Thick, homemade caramel works best, but store-bought is fine.
Serving idea – Warm bars slightly and top with vanilla ice cream.

Serving Suggestions

Slice into squares and serve on a fall dessert platter.
Pair with hot apple cider or a pumpkin spice latte.
Wrap individually for bake sales or gifts.

Nutrition (per bar, 16 servings)

Calories: 280
Carbohydrates: 38g
Protein: 2g
Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Cholesterol: 30mg
Sodium: 120mg
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 20g