Best 2 Gooey Caramel Apple Bars Recipes

Indulge in a delightful culinary journey with our gooey caramel apple bars, a harmonious blend of sweet, tart, and buttery flavors. These irresistible treats feature a flaky crust, a layer of tender apples, and a decadent caramel topping that will tantalize your taste buds. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting, our detailed recipes provide clear instructions and helpful tips to ensure success. Discover the secrets behind the perfect crust, the art of achieving just the right amount of chewiness in the caramel, and the techniques for creating a visually stunning presentation. From classic caramel apple bars to variations like salted caramel apple bars and even gluten-free caramel apple bars, we've got something for everyone. Get ready to impress your friends and family with these delectable delights!

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

GOOEY CARAMEL APPLE BARS

Gooey Caramel Apple Bars image

Instead of preparing plenty of pies when feeding a crowd at Thanksgiving, we suggest you bake of batch of these caramel apple bars.-Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Desserts

Time 1h5m

Yield 2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

5 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/4 teaspoons sugar
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
1-1/4 cups butter-flavored shortening
3 large eggs
1/4 cup cold water
2 tablespoons plus 1-1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
FILLING:
10-1/2 cups sliced peeled tart apples (about 12 medium)
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1-3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup butter, cubed
1 cup chopped walnuts
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Steps:

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, water and vinegar; gradually add to flour mixture, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball., Divide dough in half so that one portion is slightly larger than the other; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. , Roll out larger portion of dough between two sheets of waxed paper into a 17x12-in. rectangle. Transfer to an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Press pastry onto the bottom and up the sides of pan; trim pastry even with top edges of pan. , In a large bowl, combine the apples, sugars, flour, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Stir in cream. , In a Dutch oven, melt butter. Add apple mixture; cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until apples are slightly tender. Stir in walnuts and vanilla. Spoon into crust. , Roll out remaining pastry; place over filling. Trim and seal edges. Cut slits in top. Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 362 calories, Fat 18g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 38mg cholesterol, Sodium 204mg sodium, Carbohydrate 46g carbohydrate (23g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 5g protein.

GOOEY CARAMEL APPLE PECAN BARS

GOOEY CARAMEL APPLE PECAN BARS image

Categories Cake Fruit Dessert Bake Vegetarian

Yield Makes 6-8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

2/3 cup white sugar and 1 cup white sugar
8 TB and 6 TB butter
1 Granny Smith apple, small dice
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup flour, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp Allspice, 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla

Steps:

Prepare Caramel: In medium sized pot, melt 8 TB butter. Add 2/3 cup sugar and boil gently until caramelized, well combined and thickened slightly. Add apples and walnuts. Pour into 8" square pan. Set aside. Prepare bar batter: In mixer combine 1 cup sugar and 6 TB butter. Cream until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Sift remaining dry ingredients and add alternately with sour cream and vanilla, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix just till combined. Spoon batter onto caramel in pan and smooth top. Bake in 350 oven for 30 minutes, or until top is golden brown and caramel is bubbly. Remove from oven and set on wire rack for 5 minutes. Invert pan onto wire rack. Let cool. Cut into squares. Delicious with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping.

Tips:

Use a variety of apples. This will give your bars a more complex flavor and texture. Some good choices include Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Braeburn apples.
Peel and core your apples before cooking them. This will make them easier to eat and will help the caramel sauce to penetrate the apples.
Cook the apples until they are tender but still hold their shape. This will prevent them from becoming mushy in the bars.
Make sure the caramel sauce is thick and gooey. This will help it to stay on the bars when they are cut.
Let the bars cool completely before cutting them. This will help them to hold their shape and prevent them from falling apart.

Conclusion:

Gooey caramel apple bars are a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a treat that your family and friends will love. So next time you're looking for a sweet snack, give these bars a try. You won't be disappointed.