Salted Caramel Apple Bars ~ We Love delicious Food, Recipes, and Cooking Techniques

Salted caramel apple bars are ooey-gooey treats that have an amazing buttery shortbread crust and a soft and sweet caramel apple center! This is one of the best desserts you will make this fall!

Try these yummy Salted Caramel Butter Bars or Dutch Caramel Apple Pie Bars too! They are two buttery bars that deliver the perfectly sweet and salty caramel flavor that is so popular this time of year.

Salted Caramel Apple Bars Recipe

Fall is the time for apple recipes, and let me tell you, these salted caramel apple bars are so insanely delicious that they are worth every bite. I made this recipe just last week and that tiny square was worth every single calorie! These caramel apple bars are adapted from the Salted Caramel Butter Bars recipe. It’s one of my favorites on the website.

They start with a buttery shortbread crust. The center is salted caramel apple and the top is more buttery shortbread goodness. My very favorite part is the tiny hint of saltiness in these bars. Once you combine that sweet and salty taste with some delicious apples, the rest is history! These are sure to be a hit with your family!

Ingredients in Caramel Apple Bars

Just a few easy to work with ingredients blend together flawlessly to create this family favorite dessert bar. The shortbread cookie crust is flaky and crumbly, while the center is filled with soft caramel coated apples. Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

Butter: Let the butter sit out for a few minutes and soften to room temperature. Use unsalted butter in this recipe.
White sugar: This adds sweetness to the shortbread crust.
Powdered sugar: The powdered sugar creates the melt-in-your-mouth texture in the shortbread.
Vanilla Extract: I added this to both the shortbread and the caramel filling. This extract brings out all the flavors and adds its own buttery rich flavor.
Flour: I used all-purpose flour in this recipe.
Apples: Medium sized Granny Smith apples work best!
Caramels: Unwrap soft caramel candies and melt them in the microwave for super quick and easy caramel.
Whipping cream: This prevents the caramels from drying out as they melt.
Coarse sea salt: Just a pinch is enough to add in that contrasting salty flavor.

6 pictures showing how to make the dough, make the filling and then combine them together on a baking sheet.

Let’s Bake These Yummy Dessert Bars!

It’s easier than you think to bake these salted caramel apple bars from scratch. They smell SO GOOD as they bake and they will get devoured right away! The hardest part is letting them cool before cutting into them!

Prep: Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Lightly spray with cooking spray.
Combine ingredients to form dough: In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and powdered sugar. Add vanilla and beat until combined. Mix in the flour and combine until it forms a soft dough.
Add half of the dough to dish: Press half of the dough mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 dish and place the other half of the dough into the refrigerator. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes until they are light golden brown.
Mix caramel sauce: Remove the pan from the oven and melt the caramels, heavy cream and ½ teaspoon vanilla in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir together until smooth. Stir in the chopped apples. Pour evenly over the hot crust. Lightly sprinkle the coarse sea salt over the crust. I didn’t end up using the entire amount, just lightly sprinkle it evenly on top. You don’t want them too salty.
Add top layer of dough: Take the remaining dough out of the refrigerator and crumble over the top of the caramel.
Bake: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until filling is bubbly and the top is firm. Let them cool completely before cutting.

The topview of a caramel apple bar broken in half

Tips for the Best Butter Bars

Keep these quick and easy tips in mind as you prepare your salted caramel apple bars. They will help you bake the perfect buttery shortbread crust. You will be serving a professional-looking dessert that people will rave about in no time!

Crumbly Dough: Shortbread dough is supposed to be a bit dry and crumbly. However, if your dough is still too crumbly, even after working it for a while, you can easily adjust it by either adding more butter or more water.
Chill: Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes before baking. This will help the cookies to be firm and not spread too much while baking.
Pierce Shortbread: Poking holes in your shortbread dough will help it cook evenly since it is such a dry dough.
Cream Butter and Sugar: The creaming process will give the shortbread great texture by adding air pockets that will puff up when the cookies are baking in the oven.
Do Not Overcook: The shortbread will still be soft when it first comes out of the oven. Do not leave it in too long. As it cools, it will harden. Look for a golden color to know when it is done.

How to Store Leftovers

These salted caramel apple bars are SO good and, if possible, taste even better the next day! Once the bars have cooled completely, then cover them in an airtight container and store them at room temperature. They will last for up to 5 days!