These Caramel Apple Crumb Bars are the perfect combination of buttery crumble, sweet caramel, and spiced apples baked into one heavenly bar. With a soft, chewy texture and golden oat topping, they’re everything you love about apple pie — only easier and even more delicious. Perfect for fall gatherings, bake sales, or an afternoon treat with coffee.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You’ll love these Caramel Apple Crumb Bars because they’re bursting with cozy apple-cinnamon flavor, have a rich caramel drizzle, and bake up beautifully every time. They’re simple to make, slice easily for serving, and stay moist and chewy even days later. Whether served warm or chilled, this fall dessert bar delivers bakery-quality taste straight from your kitchen.

Caramel Apple Crumb Bars

There’s something magical about the combination of apples, cinnamon, and caramel. It’s the scent that fills your kitchen in autumn, the flavor that instantly feels like comfort, and the texture that’s both soft and crumbly in all the right ways. These Caramel Apple Crumb Bars capture that magic in every bite — no pie crust or complicated steps required.

At their core, these dessert bars feature a buttery crumb base that doubles as the topping. It’s made with oats, brown sugar, and flour, creating that perfect mix of tender chew and crunchy edge. The warm brown sugar flavor gives the bars richness without being too sweet.

Then comes the star layer: fresh Granny Smith apples. Tossed with cinnamon, butter, and just enough flour to thicken their juices, they bake down into a soft, jammy filling that’s perfectly balanced between tart and sweet. The apples stay tender without turning mushy, making each bite full of texture.

What takes these bars to the next level, though, is the caramel sauce. A drizzle of good-quality caramel (store-bought or homemade) melts into the apple layer and seeps into the crumb topping during baking, giving every bite a gooey, buttery finish.

One of the best things about this recipe is how approachable it is. You don’t need to roll dough, chill pastry, or even pull out a mixer. Everything mixes together in one or two bowls, and the results taste like a dessert that took hours.

These Caramel Apple Crumb Bars are also wonderfully versatile. They’re perfect as a fall dessert for potlucks or holiday gatherings, but they also make a cozy after-dinner treat or a sweet addition to brunch.

They can be served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, at room temperature with a drizzle of extra caramel, or chilled straight from the fridge when you want something sweet but refreshing.

Another bonus? They hold up beautifully for a few days. The oats keep the crumb tender, and the caramel keeps everything moist and flavorful. You can even make them ahead for easy entertaining.

If you love apple crisp, apple pie, or caramel desserts, these bars will quickly become one of your go-to bakes. They bring together everything comforting about fall — buttery, cozy, and sweet with just the right amount of crunch.

So grab those apples, preheat your oven, and get ready to fill your kitchen with the warm scent of cinnamon and caramel — because once these bars are baking, everyone will find a reason to wander into the kitchen.

Servings & Time

Servings: 12 bars
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients

Crumb Crust & Topping

• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

• 3/4 cup old-fashioned oats

• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/3 cup caramel sauce (plus more for serving)

Apple Filling

• 3 cups peeled, thinly sliced Granny Smith apples (about 2–3 medium apples)

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it.

2. In a medium bowl, combine softened butter and brown sugar, mixing until crumbly.

3. Add flour, oats, baking soda, and salt, stirring until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

4. Press two-thirds of the crumb mixture into the prepared pan to form the base.

5. In another bowl, toss apple slices with melted butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon until evenly coated.

6. Spread the apple filling over the crust in an even layer.

7. Drizzle caramel sauce over the apple layer.

8. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture on top, gently pressing it down.

9. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apples are bubbling.

10. Cool completely before cutting into bars. Drizzle with extra caramel before serving.

Tips

• Use Granny Smith apples for a tart contrast, or mix with Honeycrisp for extra sweetness.

• Homemade caramel sauce adds a richer flavor, but store-bought works perfectly.

• For a crunchier texture, toast the oats before mixing them into the crumb.

• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days, or refrigerate up to 5.