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    Home » Food

    Apple Bars

    Published: Jun 12, 2023 · Modified: Oct 19, 2023 by Jennifer · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    126 shares

    These Apple Bars are so flavorful and chewy, and they taste just like apple pie drizzled with caramel!

    If you are looking for a unique summer dessert, these easy apple bars are going to quickly become one of your favorite treats!

    bars covered in chunks of apples, caramel and oatmeal

    Why you are going to just LOVE our recipe for Apple Bars

    I am a huge fan of Apple Pie, and the only thing that I love more than apple pie is a nice juicy, sticky caramel apple!

    I think that these Apple Crisp Bars are the perfect summer dessert because they combine all of the flavor of caramel apples and apple pie in a handheld treat!

    I mean, I do not want to sound full of myself, but...these just might be the best apple bars that you will ever have!

    These apple bars were inspired by our Salted Caramel Apple Scones recipe that we shared a few years ago.

    You might also want to make our super yummy Summertime Sangria if you are making this recipe for an adult get together this summer!

    oatmeal bars covered in chunks of apples and drizzled with caramel

    Are you looking for other recipes to serve alongside my Apple Pie Bars Recipe?

    Check out these really fun recipes on The Rebel Chick, like our Pumpkin Bars Easy Recipe. I am always adding new recipes, especially super fun baked goods, like our apple cheesecake bars!

    We LOVE making blondies, brownies and bars! As much as I love cookies, cookie bars are just so much fun to make and are perfect for every occasion.

    Whenever I leave Nick to go on a trip without him, I always make a batch of brownies or something yummy for him. 

    These apple bar recipes with fresh apples are just as delicious as cookies...but they are just bigger and BETTER!

    Check out some of our other blondies, bars and brownies recipes. I am sure that you will find something you like. 

    Blondies Brownies Bars

    • Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies
      Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies
    • PEEPS Easter Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
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    • M&M Brownies for Valentine's Day
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    • Christmas Caramel Bars on a dessert stand
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    See more Blondies Brownies Bars →
    oatmeal bars covered in chunks of apples and drizzled with caramel

    How to Make Our Amazing Caramel Easy Apple Bars

    Here are the Ingredients that you will need to make our recipe for Apple Bars

    You will probably have most of the essentials for this apple crisp bars recipe already, but make sure that you add a bag of caramels and fresh apples to your grocery list!

    We are going to use FRESH apples for this recipe, not canned apple pie filling.

    • unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
    • light brown sugar (make sure that you buy light brown sugar, as dark brown sugar has much too strong of a taste for these apple bars and granulated sugar just doesn't work for this)
    • uncooked oatmeal - quick cooking or old fashioned
    • all purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • baking soda
    • apples - coarsely chopped peeled
    • caramels - we are using store bought caramels for this best apple bar recipe

    A note about what kind of apples to use in our Apple Bars recipe

    So, in this apple bars recipe, we used Red Delicious apples. However, you can use any variety of apples if you don't want to use Red Delicious.

    Just keep in mind that if you use Granny Smith apples, the bars will be a little more tart! We strongly suggest that you use Red Delicious, as that is the flavor profile our recipe is based on.

    oatmeal bars covered in chunks of apples and drizzled with caramel

    Please note that all of the exact amounts for each ingredient for our apple bar dessert is listed in the printable recipe card at the end of this post!

    Get all of your cooking and baking supplies on Amazon.com!

    Amazon Prime Fresh has TONS of household supplies and groceries at great prices and offers free delivery with an Amazon Prime membership! Sign up for Amazon Prime Fresh here!

    Directions for how to make the recipe for our Caramel Apple Bar

    Now you are going to begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees.

    You are going to start by creaming together your room temperature unsalted butter and firmly packed light brown sugar in a large mixing bowl until it is fluffy. You can use a stand mixer or just a large mixing bowl and a hand mixer, this should take about 5 minutes.

    Please note that this oatmeal flour mixture will be thick! Remember, we are not making cookies or a cake, we are making rich, dense bars. 

    sticks of butter and light brown sugar in a mixing bowl

    Once your butter and sugar are light and creamy, gradually fold in the all purpose flour, the salt, baking soda and your oatmeal. 

    oatmeal and flour in a mixing bowl

    Please note that this oatmeal flour mixture will be thick! Remember, we are not making cookies or a cake, we are making rich, dense bars. 

    Make sure that you set aside 1 and a half cups of the oatmeal flour mixture. Press the remaining oatmeal mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan.

    oatmeal mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 pan

    Set your prepared oatmeal crust aside. 

    Now let's start working on our apple topping! As great as this tasty base of the bars is, the caramel apple topping is the absolute BEST part of this recipe!

    Your apples should be washed, peeled, and chopped into small pieces - about 1 inches. Toss your apples with 3 tablespoons of the all purpose flour and mix them together well.

    chunks of apples in a bowl with a spoon of flour

    Spread your chopped apples on top of the prepared oatmeal crust. 

    Now, in a saucepan, melt the caramels and butter over low heat.

    caramels and butter in a saucepan

    Stir them constantly until the caramel is smooth and completely melted.

    Chewy Caramel Apple Bars Recipe

    Pour the melted caramel mixture over the top of the apples. 

    oatmeal crust with apples and caramel in a baking pan

    Crumble the remaining crumble topping and sprinkle it on top of the apple caramel topped bars.

    oatmeal crust with apples and caramel in a baking pan with oatmeal crisp on top

    Bake your apple bars at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown on top.

    oatmeal bars covered in chunks of apples and drizzled with caramel

    Allow your Apple Bars to cool completely before cutting it into squares.

    This Apple Bars Recipe makes 18 bars!

    Substitutions and Variations of our Apple Bars

    Of course I think that this is the best recipe for apple squares, but we will give you a few ideas for alternatives!

    Apple Slices - If you want to use apple slices instead of apple chunks, that is okay. Just make sure that you get the caramel and oatmeal crumble topping mixed into all of the nooks and crannies. 

    Chocolate - You can also drizzle a bit of chocolate sauce over the top of the finished apple bars for a little kick of chocolate! YAY!

    Pecans or Walnuts - Do you love nuts? Both walnuts and pecans work well in this recipe. Just make sure that you chop them into small pieces. 

    How to store your Apple Pie Bars

    Once your apple pie bars are completely cooled down, put them in a sealed container in the refrigerator. You can divide the layers with parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together. 

    oatmeal bars covered in chunks of apples and drizzled with caramel

    What to make for dinner with our Apple Bars

    Are you looking for some easy recipes to make for dinner? We absolutely LOVE making simple - but delicious - dinners! We have a huge selection of Instant Pot and Slow Cooker dinners, as well as lots of one pot meals!

    These are a few of my favorite easy dinner recipes to serve with our caramel apple crisp bars with oats:

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    • Broccoli Rice and Cheese Chicken Casserole
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    • Chicken Stuffed Peppers
      Chicken Stuffed Peppers
    See more Easy Dinner Recipes →

    Share these Apple Bars with your friends and family on social media!

    If you love this recipe for apple bars as much as we do, please leave me a 5-star review below and help me share this recipe on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

    If you do make our apple dessert bars recipe, I hope that you will share that you tried it in the comments section here on my site and on Pinterest too!

    oatmeal bars covered in chunks of apples and drizzled with caramel

    To Print the Recipe for our Apple Pie Bars, simply click the printable recipe card below.

    I know that many people still like to print out recipes and keep them in a recipe binder, or simply have the printed recipe sitting in front of them when it comes time to cook! You can also email this recipe!

    Chewy Caramel Apple Bars Recipe

    Apple Bars

    Jennifer
    These Apple Bars are so flavorful and chewy, and they taste just like apple pie drizzled with caramel!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, Snack, Snacks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 18 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • ¾ cup softened butter
    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • 1 cup oatmeal quick cooking or old fashioned
    • 1-¾ cups all purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 4-½ cups coarsely chopped peeled apples
    • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
    • 1 package 11 oz, caramels, unwrapped
    • 3 tablespoons butter

    Instructions
     

    • Cream butter and brown sugar together in a large mixer until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Fol din flour, oatmeal salt and baking soda. Mixture will be thick. Set aside 1-½ cups mixture and press remaining mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Set aside.
    • Toss apples with 3 tablespoons flour and mix well. Spread on top of crust.
    • Melt caramels and butter over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth and melted. Pour on top of apples.
    • Crumble remaining dough and sprinkle on top of bars. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on top. Cool completely before cutting into bars. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
    Keyword Apples, bars, blondies, Caramel
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Equipment you will need to make our Apple Bars

    If you do not have one of the pieces of kitchen equipment that this recipe requires, you can find inexpensive baking supplies on Amazon!

    Here are a few of my favorite options. Simply click the links to purchase them on Amazon.

    • Non-Stick Cookie Pan - Set of 3 Nonstick Medium Cookie Pans will be your go-to set for endless uses. Measuring 15.2" x 10.2" x 0.7" allowing ample space for baking batches of holiday cookies, making sheet pan dinners or toasting appetizers.
    • Parchment Paper - If You Care Parchment Paper comes as pack of one box, providing a total of 70 sq ft of unbleached baking paper.
    • Cooling Rack for Baking - Measuring 16 x 10 inch, larger size perfect for cooking and cooling.
    • Mixing Bowls with Pour Spout - Nesting mixing bowls include 3 different sizes for a variety of cooking and baking needs.
    • Cookie Scoop Set - This 3 piece cookie scoop set are made of stainless steel. They won't corrode, and keep safe and durable. 
    • Measuring Cup Set - This versatile measuring cup set includes ¼ cup, ⅓ cup, ½ cup, and 1 cup sizes. It can be used for both wet and dry ingredients. The clearly marked measurements help you quickly find sizes. BPA-free plastic construction holds up to everyday use ad the cups nest together and attach to a ring for easy access in drawers and cabinets.

    More Check out our amazing catalog of recipes on The Rebel Chick!

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    126 shares

    About Jennifer

    Jennifer, AKA "The Rebel Chick," is a 40-something Gen Xer who strives to help her readers live their best lives possible with easy recipes, travel inspiration and lifestyle tips!

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    Hi, I'm Jennifer! I'm a Miami native and I love sharing easy dinner recipes, baking recipes, travel ideas and general Miami Lifestyle fun! Follow along for inspiration on how to make the most of your life!

    More about me →

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