Apple Bars

These Apple Bars are so flavorful and chewy, and they taste just like apple pie drizzled with caramel! If you are looking for a unique summer dessert, these easy apple bars are going to quickly become one of your favorite summer treats!

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Why you are going to just LOVE our recipe for Apple Bars

I am a huge fan of Apple Pie, and the only thing that I love more than apple pie is a nice juicy, sticky caramel apple! I think that these Apple Crisp Bars are the perfect summer dessert because they combine all of the flavor of caramel apples and apple pie in a handheld treat!

I mean, I do not want to sound full of myself, but...these just might be the best apple bars that you will ever have!

These apple bars were inspired by our Salted Caramel Apple Scones recipe that we shared a few years ago. You might also want to make our super yummy Summertime Sangria if you are making this recipe for an adult get together this summer!

Where can I find the recipe card for this Recipe?

If you would rather skip all of my cooking tips, important information for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the recipe, just hit that jump to recipe button and it will take you down to the printable recipe card! I know that a lot of people are old fashioned - like me! - and like to have a printed out recipe card for their family's recipe book.

Jump to Recipe

Are you looking for other recipes to serve alongside my Apple Pie Bars Recipe?

Check out these really fun recipes on The Rebel Chick, like our Pumpkin Bars Easy Recipe. I am always adding new recipes, especially super fun baked goods, like our apple cheesecake bars!

We LOVE making blondies, brownies and bars! As much as I love cookies, cookie bars are just so much fun to make and are perfect for every occasion. Whenever I leave Nick to go on a trip without him, I always make a batch of brownies or something yummy for him. 

These apple bar recipes with fresh apples are just as delicious as cookies...but they are just bigger and BETTER! Check out some of our other blondies, bars and brownies recipes. I am sure that you will find something you like. 

How to Make Our Amazing Caramel Easy Apple Bars

Here are the Ingredients that you will need to make our recipe for Apple Bars

You will probably have most of the essentials for this apple crisp bars recipe already, but make sure that you add a bag of caramels and fresh apples to your grocery list!

We are going to use FRESH apples for this recipe, not canned apple pie filling.

• unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• light brown sugar (make sure that you buy light brown sugar, as dark brown sugar has much too strong of a taste for these apple bars and granulated sugar just doesn't work for this)
• uncooked oatmeal - quick cooking or old fashioned
• all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• baking soda
• apples - coarsely chopped peeled
• caramels - we are using store bought caramels for this best apple bar recipe

A note about what kind of apples to use in our Apple Bars recipe

So, in this apple bars recipe, we used Red Delicious apples. However, you can use any variety of apples if you don't want to use Red Delicious.

Just keep in mind that if you use Granny Smith apples, the bars will be a little more tart! We strongly suggest that you use Red Delicious, as that is the flavor profile our recipe is based on.

Please note that all of the exact amounts for each ingredient for our apple bar dessert is listed in the printable recipe card at the end of this post!

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Directions for how to make the recipe for our Caramel Apple Bar

Now you are going to begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees.

You are going to start by creaming together your room temperature unsalted butter and firmly packed light brown sugar in a large mixing bowl until it is fluffy. You can use a stand mixer or just a large mixing bowl and a hand mixer, this should take about 5 minutes.

Please note that this oatmeal flour mixture will be thick! Remember, we are not making cookies or a cake, we are making rich, dense bars. 

Once your butter and sugar are light and creamy, gradually fold in the all purpose flour, the salt, baking soda and your oatmeal. 

Please note that this oatmeal flour mixture will be thick! Remember, we are not making cookies or a cake, we are making rich, dense bars. 

Make sure that you set aside 1 and a half cups of the oatmeal flour mixture. Press the remaining oatmeal mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan.

Set your prepared oatmeal crust aside. 

Now let's start working on our apple topping! As great as this tasty base of the bars is, the caramel apple topping is the absolute BEST part of this recipe!

Your apples should be washed, peeled, and chopped into small pieces - about 1 inches. Toss your apples with 3 tablespoons of the all purpose flour and mix them together well.

Spread your chopped apples on top of the prepared oatmeal crust. 

Now, in a saucepan, melt the caramels and butter over low heat.

Stir them constantly until the caramel is smooth and completely melted.

Pour the melted caramel mixture over the top of the apples. 

Crumble the remaining crumble topping and sprinkle it on top of the apple caramel topped bars.

Bake your apple bars at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown on top.

Allow your Apple Bars to cool completely before cutting it into squares.

This Apple Bars Recipe makes 18 bars!

Substitutions and Variations of our Apple Bars

Of course I think that this is the best recipe for apple squares, but we will give you a few ideas for alternatives!

Apple Slices - If you want to use apple slices instead of apple chunks, that is okay. Just make sure that you get the caramel and oatmeal crumble topping mixed into all of the nooks and crannies. 

Chocolate - You can also drizzle a bit of chocolate sauce over the top of the finished apple bars for a little kick of chocolate! YAY!

Pecans or Walnuts - Do you love nuts? Both walnuts and pecans work well in this recipe. Just make sure that you chop them into small pieces. 

How to store your Apple Pie Bars

Once your apple pie bars are completely cooled down, put them in a sealed container in the refrigerator. You can divide the layers with parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together. 

What to make for dinner with our Apple Bars

Are you looking for some easy recipes to make for dinner? We absolutely LOVE making simple - but delicious - dinners! We have a huge selection of Instant Pot and Slow Cooker dinners, as well as lots of one pot meals!

These are a few of my favorite easy dinner recipes to serve with our caramel apple crisp bars with oats:

Share these Apple Bars with your friends and family on social media!

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If you do make our apple dessert bars recipe, I hope that you will share that you tried it in the comments section here on my site and on Pinterest too!

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To Print the Recipe for our Apple Pie Bars, simply click the printable recipe card below.

I know that many people still like to print out recipes and keep them in a recipe binder, or simply have the printed recipe sitting in front of them when it comes time to cook! 

Sometimes it is just easier to go off a recipe when it is printed right in front of you. Who wants to swipe their screen on their phone or tablet when their hands are greasy? So I love offering this option as well!

Equipment you will need to make our Apple Bars

If you do not have one of the pieces of kitchen equipment that this recipe requires, you can find inexpensive baking supplies on Amazon!

Here are a few of my favorite options. Simply click the links to purchase them on Amazon.

• Non-Stick Cookie Pan - Set of 3 Nonstick Medium Cookie Pans will be your go-to set for endless uses. Measuring 15.2" x 10.2" x 0.7" allowing ample space for baking batches of holiday cookies, making sheet pan dinners or toasting appetizers.
• Parchment Paper - If You Care Parchment Paper comes as pack of one box, providing a total of 70 sq ft of unbleached baking paper.
• Cooling Rack for Baking - Measuring 16 x 10 inch, larger size perfect for cooking and cooling.
• Mixing Bowls with Pour Spout - Nesting mixing bowls include 3 different sizes for a variety of cooking and baking needs.
• Cookie Scoop Set - This 3 piece cookie scoop set are made of stainless steel. They won't corrode, and keep safe and durable. 
• Measuring Cup Set - This versatile measuring cup set includes ¼ cup, ⅓ cup, ½ cup, and 1 cup sizes. It can be used for both wet and dry ingredients. The clearly marked measurements help you quickly find sizes. BPA-free plastic construction holds up to everyday use ad the cups nest together and attach to a ring for easy access in drawers and cabinets.

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