Caramel Apple Crumb Bars Recipe

Hand holding a caramel apple crumb bar topped with crumble and caramel drizzle.

Caramel Apple Crumb Bars Recipe

This Caramel Apple Crumb Bars is easier than apple pie. With cinnamon apples, gooey caramel, a crisp base, and sweet crumble topping.

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 35

Cooling Time 1

Total Time 1 50

Servings serves

Calories 123kcal

Ingredients

Base

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 150 g
2 tbsp light brown sugar 25 g
5 tbsp neutral oil 75 ml
2 tbsp water 30 ml
3/4 tsp baking powder 3 g
1/4 tsp salt 2 g

Filling

3–4 pieces medium apples peeled and thinly sliced (350 g)
1 tbsp lemon juice 15 ml
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 g
1/4 cup vegan caramel sauce plus more for serving (60 ml)

Crumble

1/4 cup light brown sugar 50 g
1/2 cup all-purpose flour 60 g
2 tbsp neutral oil 30 ml
2 tsp water 10 ml
1/4 tsp salt 2 g
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 0.5 g

Instructions

Grease or line an 8” x 8”/20 x 20cm baking pan with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350° F/175C.

Make base:

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine.
Add the oil and water. Stir until a crumbly mixture forms.
Press mixture into pan. Pat into an even layer.

Make the crumble:

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
Add the oil and water and stir until just combined into small crumbles but still a bit powdery.
Toss further with your fingers until slightly larger crumbs form (no larger than a pea).

Make filling:

Peel and thinly slice the apples.
Toss the sliced apples with lemon juice and cinnamon.

Assemble:

Arrange on the base in an even layer with as few gaps as possible.
Drizzle 1/4 cup/60ml caramel sauce over the apples.
Sprinkle the crumble evenly on top of the apples.
Bake for 30-35 minutes until set and browned on top.
Cool in pan completely before removing and cutting. Drizzle the cut slices with more caramel before serving.
Best the same day. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Best if stored without the caramel drizzle. The crumble will soften during storage.

Notes

Texture/taste Notes: Vegan apple crisp is turned into a decadent handheld dessert. Apples tossed with cinnamon and cooked in a layer with vegan caramel on a crisp pastry base with a sweet crunchy crumble topping. The apples and caramel melt together during baking for a single cohesive bite with all kinds of textures. Drizzled with extra caramel before eating for a gooey bite that taste like fall.

Apples: For best results, use a tart variety apple like Granny Smith, Braeburn, or Macintosh. These will hold together best without disintegrating during baking and balance the sweetness of the caramel and crumble. Fuji and Gala apples are the least optimal choices.

Oil choice: Any neutral oil will work in this recipe like canola, sunflower, or vegetable. Melted coconut oil can be used but will impart more flavour to the pastry base and crumble.

Caramel can be salted or unsalted. If making your own, adjust the salt level to taste.

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