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Easy Salted Caramel Apple Bars with Oat Crumble

Salted caramel apple bars - featured image
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These Easy Salted Caramel Apple Bars with Oat Crumble feature a buttery oat base, soft caramel-coated apples, and a ribbon of salted caramel that creates little pockets of sweetness throughout. A quick and forgiving dessert that comes together in about 20 minutes of active work.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (135g) rolled oats
  • 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (100g) packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 medium apples (about 450g), peeled, cored, and diced into ½-inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon (8g) cornstarch
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar (for caramel)
  • ¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream, at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt, plus more for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two sides.
  2. Make the oat crumble: In a medium bowl, stir together rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour in melted butter and mix until moistened and clumpy. Set aside about ¾ cup of this mixture for the topping.
  3. Prepare the apples: Toss diced apples with granulated sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch until evenly coated. Let sit while you make the caramel.
  4. Make the salted caramel sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, spread ½ cup granulated sugar in an even layer. Let it melt without stirring, swirling the pan occasionally, until deep amber (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from heat, carefully whisk in room-temperature cream (it will bubble), then whisk in butter pieces until melted. Stir in flaky sea salt. Let cool for 2-3 minutes.
  5. Assemble the bars: Press the larger portion of oat crumble evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan, compacting firmly.
  6. Spread the diced apples evenly over the oat base.
  7. Drizzle the salted caramel sauce evenly over the apples.
  8. Sprinkle the reserved oat crumble over the caramel and apples. Do not press down.
  9. Bake on the middle rack for 32-35 minutes, until topping is golden brown and edges are bubbly. If browning too quickly after 25 minutes, tent loosely with foil.
  10. Cool completely in the pan for at least 2 hours before cutting. For clean squares, chill in the fridge for 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

For best results, let bars cool completely before cutting. They taste even better the next day. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week. Freeze individual squares wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple bars, salted caramel, oat crumble, easy dessert, fall baking, apple dessert, caramel apple bars

Find it online: https://cravemila.com/easy-salted-caramel-apple-bars-with-oat-crumble/