These Easy Caramel Apple Bars are a delicious fall dessert recipe made with oatmeal cookie mix, fresh chopped apples, and rich caramel topping. Perfect for parties, bake sales, or cozy autumn baking, these caramel apple dessert bars are simple to make and deliver the classic sweet-tart flavor everyone loves.
Here are the ingredients for making Easy Caramel Apple Bars.
Oatmeal Cookie Mix: This is the main base of the bars, giving them structure, sweetness, and an easy cookie-style crust and topping.
Apple: Chopped apple adds the fresh fruit flavor and soft texture that make these true caramel apple bars.
Caramel Topping: This adds a rich, sweet flavor that pairs beautifully with the apples and gives the bars their signature caramel-apple taste.
Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Butter, egg, and all-purpose flour.
Here are the steps and tips for making this fall dessert recipe. See the full recipe below for all the details.
Keep the butter cold before cutting it into the cookie mix to help the crust and topping stay crumbly. Remember to set enough for the topping aside, then press the remaining the crust in the pan and bake.
Chop the apple finely and spread it evenly over the crust so the bars bake uniformly and slice neatly. Mix the caramel topping and flour, then drizzle it over the apples. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture on top.
Bake until golden brown for the best texture and finished look. Cool completely before cutting or the caramel layer may be soft and messy.
Here’s the best way to store these caramel apple dessert bars to enjoy later.
Store bars covered in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
The caramel layer may harden some in the refrigerator, so let them stand at room temperature for a few minutes to soften before serving, or warm them in a 250°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes.
Heat oven to 350°F. Grease the bottom of a 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, cut the butter into the cookie mix using a fork or pastry blender. Stir in the egg until mixture is crumbly.
Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the cookie mixture. Press remaining cookie mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake 15 minutes.
Sprinkle chopped apple evenly over the crust. In a small bowl, mix caramel topping and flour; drizzle over the apples. Sprinkle the reserved cookie mixture over the apples.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 2 hours. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows.
Empire, Regent, and Spartan apples are good choices for baked apple desserts.
Skip the cooking spray and line pan with foil or parchment paper for quick cleanup and easy bar removal.
| Food Component / Nutrient | Amount | % , Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 3&½g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat | 1&½g | 7% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Omega-3 | 10g | % Value Not Available |
| Cholesterol | 15mg | 4% |
| Sodium | 95mg | 4% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 17g | 6% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Soluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Insoluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Sugars | 9g | % Value Not Available |
| Protein | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Vitamin D | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Calcium | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Iron | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Potassium | 30mg | 1% |
| Vitamin A | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Vitamin C | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin E | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Thiamin | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Riboflavin | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Niacin | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin B6 | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Folic Acid | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin B12 | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Pantothenic Acid | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Phosphorus | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Magnesium | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Zinc | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Manganese | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Selenium | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Copper | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Beta-Carotene | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
