These Caramel Apple Nut Bars with a brown sugar oat crust, fresh apples and walnuts will be your new favorite quintessential Fall dessert.
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As far as desserts go, anything made with apples and cinnamon has to be my favorite. The flavor combination is out of this world delicious and if given the choice, I'd pick this over cake any day of the week.
Recently, I decided to make a new dessert for Fall and experimented with these Caramel Apple Nut Bars. Though this recipe has a few steps, they're easy to follow and uses common pantry ingredients.
I'll even show you how to make your own caramel; which can be used to dip slices of apples or pour on top of ice cream as well!
This recipe makes 36 bars and though they can be frozen for up to 3 months, my family loved them so much they picked on them all week!
Equipment
Ingredients Needed
You'll need the following ingredients for this recipe:
Prepare the Crust
- All Purpose Flour
- Quick Oats
- Light Brown Sugar
- Baking Soda
- Butter (softened)
Make the Caramel
- Light Brown Sugar
- Heavy Cream
- Butter
Assemble the Bars
- Prepared Crust
- Apples: Peeled, cored and chopped
- Ground Cinnamon
- Chopped Walnuts: You can also substitute chopped pecans
- Prepared Caramel
How do you make Caramel Apple Nut Bars?
There are a few steps to making this recipe; however, you can multi-task and do some at the same time.
The preparation takes about 15-20 minutes; then another 20-25 minutes in the oven to cook.
Step 1. The Crust
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line the sheet pan with parchment paper. Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and softened butter in a medium bowl; then mix until crumbly.
You can do this by hand, with a handheld or stand mixer. Press the mixture evenly onto the bottom of the pan; then bake for 10 minutes and remove from the oven. Set aside.
Step 2. The Caramel
While the crust is baking, you can make the caramel. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium high heat; then add the brown sugar and heavy cream.
Whisk for 2-3 minutes until the caramel thickens and becomes a light brown color. Remove from heat; set aside.
Step 3. Assembling the Bars
Peel, core and finely chop the apples; then place in a medium bowl along with the cinnamon and walnuts. Mix well; then spread the mixture evenly on top of the crust.
Drizzle the caramel all over the top of the apples; then place the pan back into the oven and cook for another 20-25 minutes until the edges are light brown and the apples are soft.
Remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool for 30 minutes before cutting them into 36 bars.
Storage
Once completely cooled, these Caramel Apple Nut Bars can be stored in an airtight container either at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
You can also store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. They're super delicious and perfect for an afternoon snack or to serve during Fall holiday gatherings.
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Caramel Apple Nut Bars
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1 ½ cups light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 8 tablespoons salted butter (softened)
For the Caramel
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cream heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons butter
For the Bars
- prepared crust
- 3 cups peeled, cored and diced apples
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
- prepared caramel
Instructions
Step 1. The Crust
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line the sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and softened butter in a medium bowl; then mix until crumbly. (You can do this by hand, with a handheld or stand mixer).
- Press the mixture evenly onto the bottom of the pan; then bake for 10 minutes and remove from the oven. Set aside.
Step 2. The Caramel
- While the crust is baking, you can make the caramel. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium high heat; then add the brown sugar and heavy cream.
- Whisk for 2-3 minutes until the caramel thickens and becomes a light brown color. Remove from heat; set aside.
Step 3. Assembling the Bars
- Peel, core and finely chop the apples; then place in a medium bowl along with the cinnamon and walnuts. Mix well; then spread the mixture evenly on top of the crust.
- Drizzle the caramel all over the top of the apples; then place the pan back into the oven and cook for another 20-25 minutes until the edges are light brown and the apples are soft.
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool for 30 minutes before cutting them into 36 bars.
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