These Caramel Apple Crisp Bars are like fall in a pan! Easy to make with a base of cinnamon oatmeal crunch and topped with fresh apples that taste just like mom's homemade apple pie. Add some crumbs and a caramel drizzle and these cookie bars are irresistible! Options for gluten-free and paleo given.
Don't you just love bar cookies? They're so easy to make and so yummy! You don't have to make individual cookies, just plop the batter in a pan and bake. And, since it's fall, I couldn't think of anything more perfect than whipping up these caramel apple crisp bars.
I love making bar cookies since they're so easy like my Mint Cookie Bars and Chocolate Spice Bars, but since it's fall, I'm into anything and everything apple.
Table of contents
These sweet cinnamon apple oatmeal bars are like little apple pies you can hold in your hand. And even better when topped with the rich caramel drizzle. Of course, don't discount the pile of sweet crumbs on the top. You could almost get away with having it for breakfast! Oatmeal plus streusel equals apple coffee cake, right?!
4 Layers of Deliciousness
Oatmeal Cookie Base - is an oat-based sturdy dough that is flavored with cinnamon sugar and vanilla. It is baked to form a sturdy base for the delectable apple filling.
Sweet Apple Filling - apples are tossed with a bit of flour to keep the moisture in them then sweetened with cinnamon and nutmeg flavored sugar.
Streusel Crumbs - are made from the oatmeal base, minus the vanilla, with added pecans for some crunch.
Caramel Topping - adds extra sweetness and is always a great pairing with apples.
Best Apples to Use
You want to use both sweet and tart apples in this apple crumb bars recipe for the most flavor.
- Sweet apple options - Honeycrisp, Fuji, Jazz, and Pink Lady
- Tart apple options - Granny Smith, Jonathan, or Braeburn
Variations
Salted Caramel - just add ¼ teaspoon salt to the melted caramel and stir well. You can also opt to sprinkle a little sea salt over the caramel after it is drizzled over the cooled bars.
Gluten-free Apple Pie Bars - use a 1:1 gluten-free flour in place of any all-purpose flour in the recipe.
Vegan Apple Bars - substitute the butter for a vegan variety and use a plant-based caramel sauce such as Nature's Charm Coconut Caramel Sauce or, if you prefer, make your own.
Opt to use a 9x13-inch pan for a larger batch, just double the quantities and bake for the same amount of time.
How to Make Apple Bars with Caramel
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter.
- Continue cutting in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Take ¾ cup and place in a smaller bowl, add pecans, and set aside. This will be your crumb topping.
- Add vanilla extract to the original oatmeal mixture and mix well. This will be the cookie base. Pour into the prepared square baking dish and pat evenly into bottom.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- While cookie base is baking make the apple layer. Mix all apple layer ingredients together. As soon as cookie base is done, remove from oven and cover with apple mixture. Pat gently into place.
- Sprinkle crumb pecan topping over apples and return to oven.
- Bake 30 minutes. Cool then place in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Remove bars from refrigerator. Lift carefully from pan and place on wooden cutting board. Cut into 16 small squares.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar then drizzle with melted caramel. Place in airtight container and store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
These Caramel Apple Crisp Bars are everything you love about apple crisps, sweet apple filling, crispy oat crumbs, and a rich caramel drizzle. They all combine into one sweet, tart, and buttery treat that's super simple to whip up and perfect for fall.
Bonus, they make your kitchen smell amazing! Have them topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert, as they are for an after-school snack, or maybe even sneak a bar in for breakfast! (I won't tell) Enjoy!
More Apple Recipes
Caramel Apple Dip is a sweet caramel cream cheese ball, rolled in chocolate and peanuts, making it the perfect appetizer dip for seasonal fall apples.
One Bowl Apple Cake is an easy one-bowl bundt cake that's the ideal dessert for fall.
Easy Apple Crisp by The Forked Spoon is an easy recipe of caramelized apples beneath a cinnamon-spiced oatmeal topping.
Hello Dolly Bars with butterscotch chips, cinnamon, and walnuts are a tasty fall twist of the original.
Find more easy fall recipes here on 2CM!
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Caramel Apple Crisp Bars
Ingredients
Cookie Base & Crumb Layer
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup + 2 Tablespoons butter, cold
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup pecans, chopped
Apple Layer
- 2 apples, peeled, cored & cubed (one tart & one sweet)
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
Powdered Sugar & Caramel Drizzle
- Powdered sugar
- ½ cup Kraft caramel bits or caramel squares, melted
- 2 teaspoons water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper and spray with non-stick spray. The parchment paper should come up and over the sides. This will allow you to lift the cooked bars out of the dish so they can be cut.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter with pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Take ¾ cup and place in a smaller bowl, add pecans, and set aside. This is your crumb topping.
- To the original mixture add the vanilla extract and mix well. Pour into the prepared square baking dish and pat evenly into bottom. Place in oven and bake for 15 minutes.
- While cookie base is baking make the apple layer. Mix all apple layer ingredients together. As soon as cookie base is done, remove from oven and cover with apple mixture. Pat gently into place.
- Sprinkle crumb topping over apples and return to oven. Bake 30 minutes.
- Cool on wire rack for 30-45 minutes then place in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Melt caramel bits and water in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each increment. Usually takes about 1 minute.
- Remove bars from refrigerator. Lift carefully from pan and place on wooden cutting board. Cut into 16 small squares. Sprinkle with powdered sugar then drizzle with melted caramel. Place in airtight container and store in refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
This post has been updated with step-by-step instructions. It was first published on September 22, 2015.
