Description

Delight in the perfect blend of sweet and salty with these Salted Caramel Apple Bars. Featuring a moist, buttery base studded with spiced apples and swirled with rich caramel sauce, these bars are baked to golden perfection and topped with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for an irresistible finish. Ideal for dessert or an indulgent snack, they bring warm autumn flavors to your table.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs

Dry Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Filling and Topping

3 large apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup caramel sauce
Flaky sea salt for topping

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Instructions

Prepare the Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined.
Add Eggs: Beat in eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add this mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing.
Spice the Apples: Toss peeled, cored, and chopped apples with ground cinnamon and nutmeg until evenly coated.
Incorporate Apples: Fold the spiced apples carefully into the batter to ensure they are evenly distributed without breaking them up.
Transfer to Pan: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
Add Caramel Swirl: Drizzle the caramel sauce evenly over the batter’s surface. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the caramel into the batter for a marbled effect.
Bake: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until the edges turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Finish and Cool: Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with flaky sea salt while the bars are still warm. Let them cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing.

Notes

Ensure apples are peeled and cored to avoid tough or bitter bits in the bars.
Use a light hand when folding apples into the batter to keep them from breaking apart.
Caramel swirls can be adjusted to your preference for sweetness and texture.
Allow bars to cool completely before cutting to achieve clean slices.
Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.