Irresistible Salted Caramel Apple Bars for Fall
Introduction
Nothing says autumn like the comforting combination of apples and caramel. These Salted Caramel Apple Bars are your answer to a fuss-free fall dessert—warm, gooey apples layered on a buttery crust and drizzled with luscious salted caramel. The harmonious blend of sweet and salty makes these bars an irresistibly crowd-pleasing treat, perfect for sharing at potlucks or family gatherings.
Why These Salted Caramel Apple Bars Are a Fall Favorite
These bars stand out for their layers of rich flavor: a tender crust, cinnamon-spiced apples, and a homemade salted caramel that sets this recipe apart. The balance of crisp apples and velvety caramel is simply unbeatable, creating a bite that’s satisfyingly sweet with a hint of saltiness to bring all the flavors together.
Tips for the Perfect Caramel Sauce
Homemade caramel truly elevates these bars. Start by bringing sugar to a gentle amber caramel before adding cream and a generous pinch of sea salt. If pressed for time, a good-quality store-bought caramel sauce, warmed and finished with flaky salt, works beautifully as well.
Layering Your Apple Bars
Spread your buttery shortbread crust in a pan and par-bake until lightly golden. Layer thinly sliced apples tossed in cinnamon and sugar over the crust, then drizzle with caramel. Finish with a sprinkle of salt before baking once more for decadent bars that hold their shape and deliver maximum fall flavor.
Serving Suggestions for Salted Caramel Apple Bars
These bars are delicious warm, straight from the oven or chilled after setting. Serve them as is, or elevate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a swirl of whipped cream for a comforting dessert that pairs perfectly with coffee or spiced tea.
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
This recipe makes about 16 bars. Each serving contains approximately 180–220 calories, depending on caramel and apple quantities. Enjoy as an occasional treat for yourself or your guests!
Irresistible Salted Caramel Apple Bars for Fall (Recap)
With a golden base, spiced apple center, and a salty-sweet caramel topping, these bars are a classic fall treat you’ll want to make all season long.
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly generate a streamlined shopping list, sorted by store section! This feature makes grocery trips smoother and meal planning for the week truly effortless.

Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Prepare the crust: In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Bake the crust for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden around the edges. Remove from oven and set aside.
- Assemble the apple layer: Toss sliced apples with sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Spread evenly over the partially baked crust.
- Make the caramel: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the sugar, swirling the pan occasionally until it turns a deep amber. Carefully add butter and stir. Slowly whisk in cream (mixture will bubble) and continue stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in salt.
- Drizzle caramel over the apples (reserve a little for serving, if desired). Add a pinch of flaky salt on top for extra flavor.
- Bake bars for 25–28 minutes until apples are tender. Cool completely in pan before cutting into bars.
- Serve warm or chilled with an extra drizzle of caramel sauce and a sprinkle of sea salt, if desired.
Weekly Meal Planning
Planning sweets for the week? These bars can be made ahead and stored airtight for up to four days—making them a great choice for meal prep. Save and schedule this recipe to auto-generate shopping lists that consolidate ingredients across all your planned meals for the week, making grocery shopping more efficient and eliminating duplicate buys.
Planning Benefits:
- Calculates total ingredient amounts across all saved recipes
- Sorts shopping lists by store section
- Helps streamline meal prepping and reduces food waste
- Keeps your meal schedule organized week to week
Pro tip: If you’re already planning to use apples in another meal—or need more butter for another dessert—CookifyAI helps you avoid double-buying and streamlines your entire week’s grocery routine. Plan your recipes here for the simplest meal prep experience.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour (plus cooling time)





