These Caramel Apple bars are so easy to make, yet beautifully satisfying! A crumbly oat mixture is layered with spiced apples before being baked and drizzled with caramel sauce. All of our favourite Fall flavours in one bar.
Man, do I have a recipe for you today!!
These are literally like eating a combination of apple pie and apple crumble, but in bar form – meaning you can have this Autumn deliciousness on the go!
Obviously being a baker is pretty cool and you get plenty of perks, like trying what you make…
Whenever I make something, I always get a spoon and just try a corner. Or I’m supposed to. With these, I literally kept going in with my spoon and ended up eating 2 slices worth. :O
And then because they are crumbly I probably ate another slices worth whilst styling them! 😉
I’m normally pretty strict with myself and just allow myself to have a small piece, but I couldn’t stop!
I guess that’s testament to how damn fine these bars are 🙂
These are so simple to make and combine all the best things about Autumn. You don’t need any fancy ingredients either, the main ones are oats, apples and caramel – the only other ingredients are a bit of butter, some sugar, flour and spices – I bet you have all of those things right in your kitchen now!
Now, you can obviously use any apples you like, but I like a nice crisp, tart apple so I used Granny Smiths. To jazz them up I tossed them in some cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves and just a tiny amount of flour so I didn’t end up with a big wet mess!
The oat layer is my go-to recipe for oatmeal which holds – butter, flour, oats, vanilla and a mixture of white and light brown sugar. I think with the caramel if I’d have used all brown sugar, these may have been too caramel-y (If that’s even possible?!) – so I used the white sugar to break it up a bit and it worked so well 🙂
If you’ve read my blog for a while, you’ll probably have seen these Caramel Apple Muffins from last year – they quickly became one of the most popular recipes on this little blog, so I know how much you guys love the caramel apple combination too – It seemed only natural to bring you another recipe combining the two this year.
The apples in these bars get all tender and juicy once baked and the crumbly oats add a sweet, slightly crunchy contrast. Added to this, the sticky, rich caramel and you have one heavenly dessert!
But don’t take my word for it! Go make some ASAP!
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Caramel Apple Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- For the filling:
- 2 cups (220g) fresh apples, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground cloves
- Pinch of ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- For the oatmeal:
- 1 stick (113g) unsalted butter, set at room temperature for 10 mins before use
- 1/4 cup (50g) light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) caster sugar
- 1 1/2 cups (135g) oats, not quick cook
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- For the glaze:
- 1/3 cup (100g) Carnation Caramel (heaping cup)
- 1 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F and grease and line an 8x8 inch square pan.
- Place chopped apples into a medium sized bowl. Place cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and flour into a small bowl and mix together briefly.
- Add the spice mix to the apples and toss until the apples are covered, leave to one side.
- Make the oat mix: Place butter, sugars, oats and vanilla into a large bowl and rub together until you have a coarse breadcrumb texture - if you have some larger lumps this is fine.
- Tip 2/3 of the oat mixture into your lined tin and press into the tin firmly until level.
- Sprinkle the apples on top of the oat layer and then add the remaining 1/3 mix of oats on top.
- Press the oat mixture until level, having some apples poking through is perfect.
- Place in the oven for 30-40 minutes until lightly golden, slightly cracked and the apples are tender when skewered.
- Leave to cool in the tin completely before slicing into 9-12 bars.
- Place the caramel and milk into a medium bowl and whisk until combined and smooth.
- Drizzle or spoon glaze onto cooled bars.
- Oatmeal bars will keep in an airtight container, at room temperature for 3 days (apple may go a little soft).
Annie is a self-taught baker, recipe developer and food photographer. When not in the kitchen, she can be found with her head in a book or jotting down recipe ideas! 
LOL I love it, that is when I know a recipe is good. I can’t stop stuffing my face and it must leave my house quickly.
I’ve never seen that caramel before going to have to try it out.
Haha I was like that “please take them now else I’ll put on 2 stone!!”
Oh wow! These look amazing! I’m going to have to look for the caramel. The polkadot plate is adorable too! Thanks for sharing at my Creative Ways Link Party! Have a great week!
Blessings,
Nici
Thanks so much Nici! 😀
I am all caramel anything, everything, all the time, especially where apples are involved!
Same here, you can never have enough caramel!
I am so smitten with these – and look at that caramel – gosh! Dont think Ive seen that in the stores before – must look for it!
Thank you! 😀 – In my supermarket it’s by all the condensed/evaporated milk, it’s great if you want a thick caramel and don’t have time to make it!
these sound wonderful! i make caramel apple crisp every fall so you know i loveee these flavors 🙂
Thank you Sarah 🙂
Oh, yum! These lood so good.
Thank you Heidi! 🙂
This looks amazing!! Love that you made caramel apples portable 🙂 pinned!
Thanks so much for the pin! 😀
Wow I wish I could lick the sceen and taste those 🙂 They look fabulous. Pinned.
Thank you so much Erlene! 🙂
These look delicious too! I just got through drooling over Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Brownies!
Haha thank you!! 😀
Wow! Yum! I will try these bars this fall for sure. Stopping in from the link up! 🙂
Thanks so much 🙂
Yum!!! These look delicious. Thanks for sharing with Adorned From Above’s Link Party. Have a great week.
Debi @ Adorned From Above
Thank you!
How absolutely fall-tastic!! I’m so glad fall is in the air – because I love all the fall flavors in cookie bars! Totally gorgeous, Annie!
Thank you so much Megan! 🙂
These look so good! I’m featuring them at this week’s link party! http://www.thelifeofjenniferdawn.com/2014/09/a-little-bird-told-me-link-party-108.html
Thank you so much for the feature Jennifer! 🙂
I’m currently loving the caramel apple theme (and I always love anything with oatmeal!) so these bars look perfect for me – although I’m sure you’re stunning photos ensure that, too! Pinning 🙂
Thanks so much Nicola – I’m loving all things caramel apple too! 🙂
Hi! Stopping by from Family Fun Friday say thanks for linking with us and let you know you’ve been featured this week!
Thanks so much for the feature Danita! 🙂
What a great post!!! Congrats on being featured last week on The Wednesday Roundup Link Party!!! I’ve also pinned this one to our Features board on Pinterest {http://www.pinterest.com/anglemoine/the-wednesday-roundup-features/}. The Wednesday Roundup goes live every Wednesday at 7am est, we’d love for you to come by and link up again!
Angela ~ LeMoine Family Kitchen