Caramel Honeycrisp Apple Bars

138

Ingredients

Crust

3/4 cup packed Dixie Crystals Light Brown Sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cardamom
1/8 teaspoon allspice
2 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour*
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Filling

3 cups peeled and chopped Honeycrisp apples
1 teaspoon Dixie Crystals Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch cardamom

Caramel Layer

11 ounce bag caramel bits
1/4 cup evaporated milk

*Spoon & Sweep method: Use a spoon to fill measuring cup with flour until required amount is obtained. Scooping measuring cup directly into flour bag will firmly pack flour resulting in too much flour required for recipe.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13” pan with foil; grease foil.
With an electric mixer, cream together brown sugar and butter until creamy. Beat in salt, baking soda, and spices. On low speed, mix in flour until combined. (The mixture will be crumbly.)
Reserve 3/4 cup of crust and stir in pecans. Squeeze mixture together into larger pieces. Set aside.
Press remaining crust into prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, toss chopped apples with granulated sugar, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, melt caramel bits and evaporated milk over low heat, stirring until smooth.
Scatter apples over warm crust, then pour on caramel sauce. Sprinkle reserved topping over the top. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until caramel is bubbly. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.
Once cool, lift foil to remove from pan and peel back foil sides from bars. Use a bench scraper for easy cutting.

Dixie Crystals Insight

Recipe developed for Dixie Crystals by Bridget Edwards @Bake at 350.

Rate & Review

Sweetalk member

Sep 07, 2020

This was a big hit! I made my own Carmel sauce with imperial sugar instead of Carmel bits, and I added a half cup of oats to the topping. The salty, crunchy, base was really a nice so treat to the tender sweet apples. Easy to make, easier to eat!

Patricia Bricker

Nov 19, 2017

Gotta try

Vanessa

Sep 22, 2017

Wow, this was really good!!! But, I'm not sure what the Caramel did for the recipe other than act as a sweetener. The caramel flavor was NOT distinguishable. Next time, I will omit the caramel and add 1/2 cup packed brown Sugar mixed with 2 tsp cinnamon, and 2 TBS melted butter, to the apple mixture. The brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter will caramelize with the apples when baked. I did not use nuts (didn't have any in my pantry) and they were not missed.

Lbiacchi

Oct 02, 2015

So delicious! Easy to make, and definitely a crowd pleaser!