Apple Bars with caramel glaze are the perfect melt in your mouth combo of tart and sweet. Packed with Granny Smith apples coated with cinnamon.
Apple Bars are a gift from Granny. They are just sweet enough to balance out the wonderful tartness of the apples, and the cinnamon really rounds out the flavors. I remember making these Apple Bars for the first time, and I just couldn’t wait for them to cool. To me, they taste a lot like an apple bread pudding cake. This recipe calls for sour cream which provides a lovely dense texture that is perfectly complemented by its crumbly topping. They’re even delicious without the glaze! Then again apple bars with cream cheese…yikes! These Apple Bars are great any time of day, but I love them on a lazy weekend morning with coffee. Speaking of coffee, have you tried my Apple Coffee Cake?
Can’t stop myself… Caramel Apple Bars are great, the caramel adds salty and gooey – like an apple pie candy bar! Change the batter a bit and you get Apple Crisp Shortbread Bars, for something totally different and exciting. Did I mention apple crisp bars – I think you’ll gonna enjoy these tasty treats.
On the subject of things to try… our Applesauce Cake has a wonderful pairing of cinnamon and cloves that fills your home with delightful aromas. Another apple/cake combo is my Apple Dump Cake. It is really quick, easy and soooo worth it.
If you’re in a hurry try easy apple bars with cake mix, but I prefer homemade (always).
How to Make Apple Bars
To make these quick and easy Apple Bars, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and butter a 7 X 11 baking pan. Next, whisk together the dry ingredients (minus the cinnamon). Peel and cut the apples add the cinnamon. In a separate bowl, beat the cooled melted butter with the sugar and egg. Add walnuts and apples, and fold to coat them. Add the dry ingredient mixture and fold again. Transfer into prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes.
Make the glaze by melting the butter in a saucepan. Add the brown sugar and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, approx. 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and add the powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoons of milk, and the vanilla. Stir until smooth. Quickly glaze bars!
Try Making Apple Pie Bars Next!
Easy apple pie bars make it possible to serve pie to a large group without making multiple pies. They have all of the much-loved characteristics of apple pie, but in one big dish that can be cut into squares for guests to easily self-serve.
Another Decadent Variation Is Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Anything with cheesecake in the name, and I’m sold! Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars have a lusciously soft center, a crispy top, and drizzled caramel to boot! Yum-ee!
Recipe Notes for Apple Bars
The taste and consistency of these Fresh Apple Bars significantly improves with refrigeration. When they’re served cold they have a wonderful moist texture. Because it has so much apple, the apple to batter ratio causes it to kinda crumbles at room temperature. Either way due to its fragility, if served warm it’s better eaten on a plate with a fork than it is eaten out of hand.
Work quickly with the caramel glaze, as it sets fast.
You can make Healthy Apple Bars by melding the apples together with a mixture of oats and honey. A homemade energy bar!
Apple Bars Recipe
I know you’re going to enjoy this wonderful recipe. Please share your thoughts and variations in the comment section.
Apple Cake Bars with Caramel Glaze
Ingredients
Apple Cake Bars:
- 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter Melted and Cooled
- 1 Cup All Purpose Flour
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1 Large Egg
- 1/2 Cup Walnuts Chopped
- 2 Granny Smith Apples Peeled, Cored and Chopped
Glaze:
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar Firmly Packed
- 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 2-4 Tablespoons Whole Milk
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter a 7x11 in baking pan.
- In a small bowl whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
- In a separate medium bowl, with an electric hand mixer, beat the butter, sugar, and egg for about 2 minutes on medium speed. Add walnuts and apple and mix in until well distributed.
- Add flour mixture and stir until just combined.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake about 40 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of cakes comes out clean. Allow cooling completely.
- When cake is cool make glaze by melting the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Add the brown sugar and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, continuing to boil for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and add the powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoons of milk and vanilla and stir until smooth. If you prefer a thinner glaze add more milk.
- Using a large spoon, drizzle over the cake.
- Refrigerate bars.
Can the walnuts be left out? Or should they be replaced with something else?
Hi Ashley! I have yet to try omitting the walnuts from the recipe. But if you give this a go, come back and let us know how it turns out for you! ?
I’ve made this before and will definitely make again with my friends! I have to perfect the glaze this time 🙂
Thanks, Maria! Baking with friends is so much fun!
These are the BESTTTTTT!
I’m with you Lindsey! <3