Caramel Apple Crumble – Gourmet pleasures and faraway places

These Caramel Apple Crumble Bars are the best apple dessert ever. All you need are fresh apples and a few simple ingredients, and you’ll love the aromas wafting through your kitchen.

Sometimes simple is best and this is one of those recipes that is so easy to make. Treat your taste buds to this perfect dessert recipe, full of sweet and tart flavors.

For more caramel desserts, stir in these Salted Caramel Cookies or Salted Caramel Cupcakes. If you give it a try, please let me know!

Why we love this recipe

tastes great: One of the best flavors in this Caramel Apple Crisp recipe is the combination of sweet apple slices and caramel flavor. Let’s not forget about that incredible scrap.
everyone loves it: Keep the recipe handy when you serve it because your friends and family will want to make it too. This is the perfect fall dessert when those sweet tooth cravings hit.
simple: All you need is a little time and the printable recipe card below to get started. Before you know it, you’ll be slicing into these apple bars and enjoying every bite.

what do you need to do this

At first glance, this may seem like a lot of ingredients, but I bet you already have most of them in your pantry or refrigerator, except for the caramel sauce.

Caramel Apple Crumble Recipe Ingredients Infographic.

all purpose flour: Needed to create the base, which will also be used for the broken top.
light brown sugar: Adds sweetness and golden brown color to bottom and top.
neutral oil:Choose your favorite oil. Coconut oil or olive oil both work well.
baking powder: Add texture.
Salt: Enhance flavor.
apple:Pick your favorite apples and make sure they are peeled and sliced thinly.
lemon juice: Helps prevent apples from browning.
cinnamon powder: Adds warm flavor.
caramel sauce: Adds extra sweetness and texture. You’ll also want to save some for drizzling on top.

How to Make Caramel Apple Dessert

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

To make the base, combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Stir. Add water and oil. Stir together to form a crumbly mixture.

Combine cake mix with water and oil in glass bowl

Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan and beat into an even layer.

Place cake batter on parchment paper in baking pan.

To make the crumble, combine brown sugar, flour, salt, and cinnamon.

Add the water and oil and stir until small crumbs form that are still slightly mealy.

Flour, spices and brown sugar in glass bowls on white counter.

Place flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, oil and water in a glass bowl.

Use your fingers to stir the mixture around until you have larger crumbs. They should be no larger than a pea.

Crush the mixture in a glass bowl on a white counter.

To make the filling, peel and slice the apples. Cut them into as thin and even slices as possible. Toss sliced apples with lemon juice and cinnamon.

Apples and cinnamon in glass bowls, lemons and cinnamon in small bowls on white counter.

Apples and cinnamon in glass bowl on white counter.

To assemble, pour the coated apples evenly over the base without gaps. Drizzle 1/4 cup caramel sauce over apples.

Slice apples and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Place apple slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and drizzle with caramel sauce.

Sprinkle crumbled mixture evenly over caramel and apples. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the crumble on top is browned.

Apple cake, topped with crumble, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake the apple cake, topped with crumble, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Allow the bars to cool in the pan before removing and cutting. Drizzle remaining caramel sauce over top before serving.

Fruit sticks topped with crumbles and caramel, apple slices and cinnamon sticks on board and parchment paper.

Tips and variations

Green or Macintosh apples are perfect for this dessert. They hold together as they bake and balance out the sweetness of the caramel sauce and crumble. That being said, you can use any tart or sweet apple you like. Note that Gala and Fuji apples are the least popular for this recipe as they are tender apples and become mushy when baked.
You can make your own caramel sauce for this dish or buy your favorite brand from the store. I think homemade always gives the best results!
The caramel drizzle on the apples is optional, so don’t worry if you forgot to save some or want to cut down on calories. I do think the extra caramel sauce would add a lot of flavor. You can also top it with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt.

How to Store Caramel Apple Crumble

This dish is best eaten the same day, but can be kept for a few days. I doubt it will last that long!

For leftovers, let the crumbles cool to room temperature, then store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The leftover texture will be best if you can store it without adding caramel sauce, as it causes the ingredients to soften during storage.

Fruit bars with crumble and caramel on top on parchment paper with apples, cinnamon sticks and bowl.

More Easy Apple Recipes

Apple Pancakes Recipe
Baked Apple Fritters
Caramel Apple Jelly
Easy Apple Crisp

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
To make the base, combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Stir.
Add water and oil. Stir together to form a crumbly mixture.
Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan and beat into an even layer.
To make the crumble, combine brown sugar, flour, salt, and cinnamon.
Add the water and oil and stir until small crumbs form that are still slightly mealy.
Use your fingers to stir the mixture around until you have larger crumbs. They should be no larger than a pea.
To make the filling, peel and slice the apples. Cut them into as thin and even slices as possible.
Toss sliced apples with lemon juice and cinnamon.
To assemble, pour the coated apples evenly over the base without gaps.
Drizzle 1/4 cup caramel sauce over apples.
Sprinkle crumbled mixture evenly over caramel and apples.
Place the pan in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the crumble on top is browned.
Allow the bars to cool in the pan before removing and cutting. Drizzle remaining caramel sauce over top before serving.

These energy bars work best when served on the same day, but they’ll still be delicious for days to come. Store in an airtight container or wrap tightly in plastic wrap.

Get to know the author

welcome! I’m Kelly!

Writer, traveler, food and wine lover.

Woman raising wine glass in front of vineyard.