Tender baked apples are piled on a brown sugar oat base with gooey caramel and cinnamon crumble to make the best Apple Bars ever. Bliss!
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Caramel apples in sliceable bar form!
If you’ve recently gone apple picking, you may as well go back for another bushel now because after making just one batch of these Apple Bars you’ll be making them on repeat all season long (just like this Apple Coffee Cake!).
- Delightful apple bars are everything a fall dessert can, should and must be. The bars are a perfect union between a gooey caramel apple on a stick and classic apple crisp served warm from the oven.
- They’re also EASY! There’s no fussing with homemade crust like with a classic apple pie recipe, and using store-bought caramel makes these apple bars a cinch.
If apples are your fall fave, try my Apple Bread and Crock Pot Apple Crisp too!
5 Star Review
“Was delicious! Thanks for sharing it. My husband was in heaven”
— Debbi —
Key Ingredients
You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some notes to keep in mind.
- Apples. The best apples for this recipe are those that are firm and hold their shape well when baked, like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Gala.
- Caramel Sauce. Regardless of if you use store-bought caramel sauce or my Apple Cider Caramel Sauce, the sweet, gooey caramel factor of these bars will always score a 10/10.
- Butter. Essential for creating a rich crumbly base and topping that hug the tender apples and warm caramel filling.
- Whole Wheat + All Purpose Flour. My way of sneaking a little bonus whole grain nutrition into these bars is with a 50/50 blend of whole wheat flour and everyday all purpose flour.
- Rolled Oats. Add nice texture and subtle nutty flavor to the bars.
- Dark Brown Sugar. Contributes a little extra oomph of molasses flavor.
- Spices. A blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice round out these bars and give them that iconic fall taste (and heavenly aroma).
How to Make Apple Bars
Mix the Crumbs. Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl (reserving 3 tablespoons of all purpose flour). Then, work in the butter with your fingers.
Make the Caramel Layer. Next, whisk together the caramel and reserved 3 tablespoons of flour in a separate bowl.
Form the Crust. Press the crumbs into a greased and parchment-lined 8×8 baking dish, reserving 1/3 for the top layer.
Layer the Rest. Arrange the apples over the crust in an even layer, then add a thick layer of caramel sauce. Finish with a sprinkle of the remaining crumbs.
Bake. Bake until the top is golden. Let cool completely, slice into bars, and serve. ENJOY!
Variations
- Make It Nutty. Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping mixture for some extra crunch and flavor.
- Go Vegan. You can make vegan caramel apple bars with this recipe by swapping the butter for equal amounts of your favorite soy-based margarine (like Earth Balance) and using this Vegan Caramel Sauce.
- Try It Gluten-Free. You could try swapping the oats and flour for a 1-to-1 gluten free baking mix and gluten-free rolled oats. Otherwise, I recommend trying this killer Gluten Free Apple Crisp recipe instead.
Apple Bars
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Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (plus 3 tablespoons), divided
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups peeled diced firm apples such as Granny Smith (about 2 large or 3 medium)
- ½ cup homemade or store-bought caramel sauce try with this vegan caramel sauce
Instructions
- Place rack in center of your oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch x 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, 1 cup all purpose flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, all-spice, and nutmeg. Add the butter in small pieces, then quickly work it in with your fingers, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the caramel and remaining 3 tablespoons of flour. Set aside.
- Press 2/3 of the crumbs into the prepared baking dish and evenly arrange the sliced apples over top. Then evenly pour the caramel over the top of the apples and sprinkle with the remaining crumbs.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until top is lightly browned. Let the bars cool completely before cutting—or serve very messy, very delicious bars immediately.
Notes
- TO STORE: Leftover caramel apple bars may be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
- TO FREEZE: Caramel apple bars may be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
- TO REHEAT: Enjoy these bars chilled from the fridge, at room temperature, or warm. To reheat, warm an individual serving on a microwave-safe plate for 10-20 seconds.
Feedback booth time! Another keeper! I got my bottom layer a little too thick but they were still very, very good (all gone in < 24 hr via us and sharing). I should have listened to you and peeled those apples, tho (me=lazy). I also used all KAF white WW. I'm going to have to start me a lil old "Erin hits" notebook at this rate! ;). Thank you for adding to the rotation list. Our cool air is coming, so more Erin's caramel and Erin's apple bars on the way soon!
Joanie, I love your feedback, and I love you for trying so many of my recipes! Makes me smile every time :-) Thanks for the detailed report, and I might try these with all white WW myself next time. Thanks again, so much!
Was delicious! Thanks for sharing it. My husband was in heaven!
Debbi, I am so so excited to hear that you and your husband loved these bars! “heaven” is the highest praise for which I could ask :) Thanks so much for trying the recipe and letting me know how it turned out for you!
Erin, it went really well – thank you again! The bars were DELICIOUS and everyone loved them! http://eleventhfloorview.com/2014/10/29/vegan-caramel-apple-crisp-bars/
Jacqueline, I am so so happy to hear that! Thank you so much for letting me know, and for sharing the recipe on your blog too. I’m honored!!
Hi there, I would like to make this dessert in a 9×13 pan. Would you recommend doubling the recipe? Thanks.
Hi Rita! I have never made the recipe this way, so it would be a bit of an experiment, but generally to go from an 8 x 8 pan to a 9 x 13 pan, you are fine to double the recipe. You will likely need to adjust the baking time though, so just keep an eye on them. I hope you enjoy!
Loooved this recipe. Perfect for when you’re just craving a little piece of indulgence. The apple pie bars are delicious just as they are…. but the addition of decadent, caramel sauce was awesome and on a whole other level. Thank you, Erin, for another great recipe!
So glad to hear, thank you Sally!
I just made these tonight and had some while still warm and they were amazing! Planning on sharing these caramel apple bars with some extended family this weekend. Now I have a perfect excuse to go pick some apples!
So happy to hear you enjoyed the bars, Stephanie! Thank you!
Oh my gosh I made this last night for dessert and it was a definite hit. My husband went back for seconds, and he never does! And we ate the caramel out of the jar with a spoon…so so good
Yay! Great to hear, thank you Sophia!
So delicious! I only had salted butter in my fridge, and I thought they turned out fantastic. It made a nice salty sweet treat.
So happy to hear, thank you Robin!
What happens if I just use more all purpose flour instead of part wheat, part all purpose?? Will make this tomorrow!
Hi Peter! I haven’t tried it but it should work. Let me know how it goes!
Made a batch yesterday using only all purpose flour (doubled amount). Came out great! Rave reviews. Could have used more caramel sauce to fully cover surface. Alternatly, I could have microwaved the sauce for a few seconds to make it more fluid. Either way.
So glad to hear, Peter! Thank you!
Gave this recipe a try for a family gathering. It was a hit! The bars were sweet but balanced with the tartness of the apples. They’re kind of messy to eat, but that’s part of the fun. Next time, I’m probably going to double the caramel because that’s my favorite part.
Great to hear, Nancy! Thank you!
Made these apple bars last weekend with my kid’s help. They were pretty easy to throw together, and the caramel on top was just the right amount of sweet without being too sticky. My daughter loved how gooey they were, and my partner kept grabbing piece after piece.
Great to hear, Hillary! Thank you!
Made these as a treat for my family, and they loved them. The sweetness was just right, it wasn’t too sugary, so it didn’t feel like a sugar bomb. I had to bake them a little longer because my apples were super juicy, but they still came out great. The caramel on top was perfect, next time I might add some chopped nuts on top for crunch. Thank you for the recipe!
So glad to hear, Brittany! Thank you!