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Cozy Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars with Pecan Topping

salted caramel apple crumble bars - featured image
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These bars combine tart apples, a buttery crust, crunchy pecan topping, and a luscious homemade salted caramel drizzle for a cozy, comforting dessert perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (312g)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar (150g)
  • 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed (226g)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced (about 3 cups)
  • ½ cup brown sugar (100g)
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted (120g)
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar (50g)
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted (42g)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (200g) for caramel
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed (85g) for caramel
  • ½ cup heavy cream, warmed (120ml)
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  1. Combine 2 ½ cups flour, ¾ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add 1 cup cold, cubed butter. Use a food processor or fingers to cut butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces. Set aside about 1 ½ cups of this mixture for crumble topping and press the rest firmly into the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Chill in fridge for 15 minutes.
  2. Peel, core, and dice 4 medium Granny Smith apples into roughly ½-inch pieces. Toss with ½ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch until evenly coated and slightly thickened.
  3. Spread 1 cup chopped pecans on a baking sheet and toast in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 8 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned.
  4. In a small bowl, combine toasted pecans, ¼ cup light brown sugar, 3 tablespoons melted butter, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Mix until pecans are evenly coated and clumps form.
  5. Spread apple filling evenly over chilled crust. Sprinkle reserved crumble mixture on top, breaking it up with fingers. Scatter pecan topping evenly over everything.
  6. Bake in preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 35-40 minutes until topping is golden brown and apple filling bubbles at edges.
  7. While bars bake, prepare salted caramel: Heat 1 cup sugar in medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until melted and amber (5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in 6 tablespoons butter until melted. Slowly add ½ cup warm heavy cream while stirring. Return to heat 1-2 minutes until smooth. Stir in 1 teaspoon sea salt. Let cool slightly.
  8. Once bars are out of oven and slightly cooled (about 15 minutes), drizzle salted caramel generously over top. Let bars cool completely before slicing into squares.

Notes

Use cold butter for a flaky crust and chill the crust before adding filling to prevent sogginess. Toast pecans carefully to avoid bitterness. Make caramel while bars bake to save time. Let bars cool completely before slicing to keep them from crumbling. For gluten-free, substitute almond flour for all-purpose flour. For dairy-free, use coconut oil and coconut cream.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crumble bars, salted caramel, pecan topping, easy dessert, homemade caramel, fall dessert, cozy dessert

Find it online: https://pokirecipes.com/cozy-salted-caramel-apple-crumble-bars-easy-homemade-pecan-topping-recipe/