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Cozy Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

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These Cozy Caramel Apple Crumble Bars are an easy homemade dessert featuring a buttery, crunchy oat crumble topping, a luscious caramel layer, and a tender apple filling. Perfect for a cozy treat or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (190 g)
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (90 g)
  • ¾ cup packed brown sugar (150 g)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed (225 g)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 4 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped (about 3 cups / 450 g)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 g)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ½ cup caramel sauce (120 ml), store-bought or homemade

Instructions

  1. Peel, core, and chop 4 medium Granny Smith apples into ½-inch pieces. Toss immediately with 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice in a medium bowl to prevent browning.
  2. Add ¼ cup granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch to the apples. Stir gently until evenly coated. Set aside to let the cornstarch absorb the juices.
  3. In a large bowl, combine 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup rolled oats, ¾ cup packed brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
  4. Add 1 cup cold, cubed unsalted butter. Using a pastry cutter or fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized bits.
  5. Reserve about 1 ½ cups of the crumble mixture for the topping. Press the remaining crumble evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch pan to form the base layer.
  6. Drizzle ½ cup caramel sauce evenly over the pressed crumble base. Spread gently with the back of a spoon.
  7. Spoon the apple mixture evenly over the caramel layer. Press down lightly to compact but do not mash the apples.
  8. Sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture evenly over the apples, covering the filling completely.
  9. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly around the edges. Start checking at 30 minutes if oven heat varies.
  10. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes to allow the caramel and apple filling to set.
  11. Cut into squares or bars using a sharp knife. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Keep butter cold to ensure a flaky, buttery crumble topping. Chop apples evenly for uniform cooking. Use cornstarch to thicken the apple filling and prevent sogginess. If the topping browns too quickly, tent with foil halfway through baking. Let bars cool completely before cutting for clean slices. Bars taste better after resting overnight in the fridge. For gluten-free, substitute flour and oats with certified gluten-free versions. For dairy-free, substitute butter with coconut oil or vegan butter.

Nutrition

Keywords: caramel apple bars, apple crumble bars, easy dessert bars, homemade dessert, fall dessert, caramel apple crumble, cozy dessert

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