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Ultra close-up macro of salted caramel apple crisp bars with buttery shortbread and dripping caramel

Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars (With Buttery Shortbread Crust)

Three irresistible autumn layers in one square: a melt-in-your-mouth buttery shortbread base, sweet spiced cinnamon-brown-sugar apples, and a crunchy brown sugar oat streusel drizzled generously with warm salted caramel.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Calories: 285
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

Shortbread Crust Layer
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar creates an ultra-tender melt-in-mouth crumb
  • 1 cup unsalted butter cold, cut into small cubes
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
Spiced Apple Filling Layer
  • 4 large Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and finely diced
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour thickens the natural apple juices
  • 2 tbsp granulated white sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg freshly grated
Streusel Topping & Caramel Drizzle
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats not instant quick oats
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter cold, cut into small cubes
  • 1/2 cup thick salted caramel sauce for drizzling on top
  • 1/2 tsp flaky sea salt Maldon or coarse sea salt for finish

Method
 

  1. Prep oven and pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x9-inch metal square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
  2. Make and blind-bake shortbread crust: In a food processor or bowl with a pastry cutter, pulse together flour, powdered sugar, cold butter cubes, vanilla, and salt until a crumbly dough forms. Press dough firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden around the edges.
  3. Prepare spiced apple filling: While crust bakes, toss diced apples with flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl until evenly coated.
  4. Make oat streusel: In a separate medium bowl, mix rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in cold butter cubes using your fingers or pastry cutter until coarse, pea-sized crumbs form.
  5. Assemble the layers: Spread the spiced diced apples evenly over the warm pre-baked shortbread crust. Scatter the buttery oat streusel evenly over the apples, gently pressing down.
  6. Bake to bubbling perfection: Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes until the streusel is golden brown and the spiced apple juices are bubbling around the edges.
  7. Cool, drizzle, and slice: Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan for at least 1 hour (chill in the fridge for 30 minutes for cleanest square slices). Drizzle generously with warm salted caramel sauce, sprinkle with flaky sea salt, slice into 16 bars, and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 3gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 140mgPotassium: 95mgFiber: 2gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 410IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1.1mg

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