Description
These layered bars are so simple! Loaded with homemade caramel and apples. Caramely apple layer tucked in by a brown sugar-y crust on both sides.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Crust
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups flour (see notes)
For the Filling
- 4 small apples
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup cream or half and half
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
- Crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Beat the butter and brown sugar with electric mixers until creamy. Add the cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and flour. The mixture should be crumbly. Set aside one cup of the mixture; press the rest into a 9×13 baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 minutes.
- Filling: Quarter the apples and scoop out seeds/core. Slice the apple quarters with a mandoline slicer to get ultra paper thin slices (or slice by hand, cutting as thin as possible). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add both types of sugar; when the sugar is incorporated and the mixture is JUST about to start bubbling, add the cream and stir until a creamy sauce forms. It should coat the back of a spoon.
- Assembly: When the crust is done, arrange the apples in an even layer over the crust and pour the caramel over the top. Sprinkle with remaining crust crumbles from step one. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar for sparkle and crunch. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven, lift out of the pan using the edges of the parchment paper, and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes. Cut and serve.
Notes
When measuring the flour, I usually just scoop my measuring cup right into the bag. If you are normally more precise with the spoon-measuring, you might need a little more flour to make up for the difference. Just look at the texture – if the dough forms crumbles, you’re good.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: fall dessert, apple dessert, apple crisp, apple crisp bars, dessert bars