Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars Fall Treat – The Fall Dessert That Wins Every Time

There’s something about autumn that pulls you straight into the kitchen. Maybe it’s the chill in the air, maybe it’s the sight of golden leaves tumbling past the window—or maybe it’s just the excuse to bake.

When I was a kid, my Italian grandmother made apple desserts almost every weekend once the weather cooled. She’d pull warm apple crumble from the oven, and the smell of butter, cinnamon, and roasted apples would wrap around the whole house. It was the scent of comfort.

This Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars Fall Treat is my twist on her classic. We’re keeping the buttery crumble and cinnamon-kissed apples, but sneaking in a gooey layer of salted caramel. The result? A salted caramel apple dessert that’s part crisp, part pie, part indulgent magic.

Why You’ll Love These Bars

• Flavor: Sweet-tart apples, warm cinnamon, buttery crumble, and rich salted caramel all in one bite.
  
• Simplicity: One crumble mixture works for both the base and topping—less effort, more payoff.
  
• Texture: Tender baked apples, a chewy caramel layer, and crisp golden topping.
  If you’re into fall dessert bars, this is the one to put on repeat. It’s like apple cinnamon caramel bars met a pie and decided to become portable.

Ingredients List

Here’s what you’ll need for these homemade apple crumble bars:

For the base & topping:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
  
• ½ tsp salt
  
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

For the apple filling:

• 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (mix sweet & tart varieties)
  
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg

For the caramel layer:

• ½ cup salted caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)

This mix will give you the foundation for the best caramel apple crumble squares you’ve ever had.

Step-by-Step Instructions

4.1 Preparing Pan & Crumble Mixture

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
   
2. Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper (leave an overhang for easy lifting).
   
3. In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in vanilla and salt.
   
4. Add flour and mix just until crumbly—don’t overwork it. You want it sandy, not doughy.

4.2 Assembling the Bars

1. Press half of the crumble mixture into the prepared pan to form the base.
   
2. Toss apple slices with cinnamon and nutmeg. Spread them evenly over the base.
   
3. Drizzle salted caramel sauce over the apples.
   
4. Sprinkle remaining crumble mixture over the top.

4.3 Baking

1. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the top is golden and the apples are tender.
   
2. Cool completely before slicing—this is key. If you cut too soon, your baked apple dessert bars will fall apart.

Tips for Success

• Mix your apples: Granny Smith for tartness + Honeycrisp for sweetness is my go-to combo.
  
• Don’t overmix the crumble—big, buttery chunks = better texture.
  
• Cool before cutting: Trust me, waiting pays off with clean, bakery-style slices.
  
• Add flaky salt on top: Enhances the salted caramel flavor in the most addictive way.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• Apple variety: Use what you have—just adjust sugar if using sweeter apples.
  
• Caramel: Homemade caramel brings depth, but store-bought keeps it quick.
  
• Flour options: Gluten-free all-purpose works fine for this easy apple crumble recipe.

Storage & Reheating

• Room temperature: Store in airtight container up to 3 days.
  
• Fridge: Lasts up to a week.
  
• Reheat: Microwave 10–15 seconds or warm in a low oven for that fresh-baked feel.

FAQ

Related Recipes You’ll Love

If these Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars Fall Treat got you in the mood for more cozy fall flavors, here are a few of my favorites from the blog:

Fall Dessert & Seasonal Recipes

• Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting – A soft, spiced cake with the creamiest frosting.
  
• Pumpkin Crisp Recipe – Crumble lovers, this one’s for you.
  
• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Squares – All the fall flavor without the gluten.
  
• 60 Fall Dinner Ideas – Perfect for planning a full autumn menu.

Caramel & Sweet Apple Pairings

• Creamy No-Bake Banana Caramel Dessert – No oven required, just sweet caramel goodness.
  
• Iced Coffee with Caramel – A chilled treat to pair with warm bakes.
  
• Caramel Hazelnut Iced Coffee – Rich, nutty, and just the right amount of sweet.

Conclusion

These Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars Fall Treat are everything autumn baking should be—cozy, rich, and just the right amount of indulgent. They’ve got that perfect mix of textures, they travel well for potlucks, and they make the whole house smell like you’ve been baking all day.

So grab those apples, warm up the oven, and make a batch this weekend. And if you’re looking for more autumn apple baking recipes and sweet inspiration, you can follow my boards on Pinterest.

This is the kind of recipe you’ll want to keep in your back pocket all season long.

Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars Fall Treat – The Fall Dessert That Wins Every Time

Print Recipe

Cozy autumn dessert bars with buttery crumble, cinnamon-spiced apples, and a gooey salted caramel layer—part crisp, part pie, pure indulgent magic.

• Author: Emilio
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 60 minutes
• Yield: 16 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (mix sweet & tart varieties)
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy lifting.
3. Cream together butter and brown sugar in a large bowl. Stir in vanilla and salt.
4. Add flour and mix just until crumbly—aim for a sandy texture.
5. Press half of the crumble mixture into the prepared pan to form the base.
6. Toss apple slices with cinnamon and nutmeg. Spread evenly over the base.
7. Drizzle salted caramel sauce over apples.
8. Sprinkle remaining crumble mixture over the top.
9. Bake for 40–45 minutes, until golden and apples are tender.
10. Cool completely before slicing to allow caramel to set.

Notes

Mix apple varieties for best flavor (Granny Smith + Honeycrisp recommended). Do not overmix crumble for better texture. Cool before cutting for neat slices. Add flaky salt on top to boost salted caramel flavor.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 bar
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 20g
• Sodium: 150mg
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 34g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 30mg

Keywords: salted caramel apple crumble bars, fall dessert, apple cinnamon caramel bars