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. She has a slight obsession with tennis, motorsport, makeup, handbags and sunglasses! 
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.
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
I am all caramel anything, everything, all the time, especially where apples are involved!
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!
these sound wonderful! i make caramel apple crisp every fall so you know i loveee these flavors 🙂
Oh, yum! These lood so good.
This looks amazing!! Love that you made caramel apples portable 🙂 pinned!
Wow I wish I could lick the sceen and taste those 🙂 They look fabulous. Pinned.
These look delicious too! I just got through drooling over Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Brownies!
Wow! Yum! I will try these bars this fall for sure. Stopping in from the link up! 🙂
Yum!!! These look delicious. Thanks for sharing with Adorned From Above’s Link Party. Have a great week.
Debi @ Adorned From Above
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!
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
Thanks so much Nici! 😀
Haha I was like that “please take them now else I’ll put on 2 stone!!”
Same here, you can never have enough caramel!
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!
Thank you Sarah 🙂
Thank you Heidi! 🙂
Thanks so much for the pin! 😀
Thank you so much Erlene! 🙂
Haha thank you!! 😀
Thanks so much 🙂
Thank you!
Thank you so much Megan! 🙂
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 🙂
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 Nicola – I’m loving all things caramel apple too! 🙂
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