Apple Bars Recipe

A stack of three apple bars with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and honey caramel on top

4.82 from 11 votes

These Apple Bars are made with fall spiced apples that are layered on a honey almond shortbread crust and topped with a buttery crumble and honey caramel sauce!

Prep Time25

Cook Time38

Total Time1 3

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 331kcal

Author: Jocelyn Delk Adams

Ingredients

For the Crumble and Crust

1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar or 1/3 cup honey (start at 1/4 cup and add until it gets crumbly)
1/4 cup ground almonds
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
10 tbsp unsalted butter cold and cut into cubes
1 large egg yolk
1 tbsp cold water

For the Apple Filling

2 1/2 cups fresh apple slices
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1/2 cup honey
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Honey Caramel

2 tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
pinch of cinnamon

Instructions

For the Crumble and Crust

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare a 8×8-inch baking pan with the non-stick coating of your choice.
For the crumb and crust, whisk together flour, sugar, ground almonds, baking powder and salt.
Next, cut in the cold butter using two forks or a pastry cutter then slowly mix in the egg yolk and cold water (if you using honey instead of sugar, add in here as well). Don't worry if the dough seems really crumbly. It should be!
Next take half of the crumble mixture and press into the prepared pan. The rest should be saved for the top of the bars.

For the Apple Filling

Stir together apple slices, lemon juice, flour, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla until combined.
To assemble, evenly add apple filling to the top of the crust.
Next sprinkle the remaining crumble over the top of the apple filling.
Bake for 30-38 minutes or until golden brown and set.
Cool bars to room temperature then cut and serve.

For the Honey Caramel

While bars bake, add butter and honey to a medium sized pot over medium heat and allow the butter to melt and combine with the honey. Once butter completely melts, stir together over medium high heat for about 5-6 minutes or until it has thickened somewhat.
Whisk in the cream and bring to a boil then remove from heat. Finally stir in the vanilla, salt and cinnamon and allow it to thicken and cool a bit. Drizzle caramel sauce over completed bars and enjoy!

Notes

How to Store Apple Bars

Room Temp: Keep your apple bars in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 days.
Fridge: Pop them in the fridge and they will stay fresh for about 5 days. You can eat them cold or warm them up in the microwave or oven.
Freezer: Wrap the cooled bars tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through or give individual bars a quick zap in the microwave.

Nutrition