These Caramel Apple Crumble Bars make the best apple dessert. All you need are fresh apples and a few simple ingredients, and you’ll be loving the kitchen smells wafting through the house.

Fruit bars with crumble and caramel on top and apple slices and cinnamon sticks around on wood board and parchment paper.

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

For more sweet treats with caramel, whip up these Salted Caramel Cookies or Salted Caramel Cupcakes. Let me know if you try them!

Why We Love This Recipe

Fantastic flavor: One of the best flavors in this caramel apple crumble recipe is the sweet apple slices paired with the caramel flavor. And let’s not forget that incredible crumble topping.
Everyone loves it: Have the recipe handy when you serve it, as your friends and family are going to want to make it, too. It’s the perfect fall dessert when that craving for something sweet strikes.
Easy: All you need is a little bit of time and the printable recipe card below to get started. Before you know it, you’ll be cutting these apple bars and enjoying every bite.

What You Need to Make It

At a glance, this may look like a lot of ingredients, but I’m betting you have most of them already in your pantry or fridge, with the exception of the caramel sauce.

Infographic for recipe ingredients for caramel apple crumble bars.

All-purpose flour: Needed to create the base and will also be used for the crumble top.
Light brown sugar: Adds sweetness and a golden brown color to the base and top.
Neutral oil: Choose an oil of your choice. Coconut oil or olive oil both work well.
Baking powder: Adds texture.
Salt: Enhances flavor.
Apples: Pick your favorite apple, just be sure they are peeled and thinly sliced.
Lemon juice: Helps prevent apples from browning.
Ground cinnamon: Adds a warm flavor.
Caramel sauce: Adds extra sweetness and texture. You’ll also want to save some to drizzle on top.

How to Make this Caramel Apple Dessert

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

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

Flour in a glass bowl on a white counter.

Cake mix with water and oil combined in a glass bowl

Press the mixture into the base of the pan, then pat it down to an even layer.

Cake batter in parchment paper in a baking dish.

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

Add the water and oil, and stir until you get small crumbles that are still a little powdery.

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

Flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt with oil and water in a glass bowl.

Toss the mixture a bit using your fingers until you get larger crumbs. They shouldn’t be any larger than a pea.

Crumble mixture in a glass bowl on a white counter.

To make the filling, peel and slice the apples. Slice them as thin and uniform as possible. Toss the sliced apples in the lemon juice and cinnamon.

Apples and cinnamon in a glass bowl with a lemon and cinnamon in a small bowl on a white counter.

Apples and cinnamon in a glass bowl on a white counter.

To assemble, pour the coated apples onto the base in an even layer without gaps. Drizzle 1/4 cup of the caramel sauce over the apples.

Sliced apples in a parchment paper lined baking dish.

Sliced apples in a parchment paper-lined baking dish with caramel sauce drizzled on top.

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

Apple cake with crumble on top in parchment paper-lined baking dish.

Baked apple cake with crumble on top in parchment paper-lined baking dish.

Let the bars cool in the pan before removing and cutting. Drizzle the remaining caramel sauce on top before serving.

Fruit bars with crumble and caramel on top and apple slices and cinnamon sticks around on wood board and parchment.

Tip & Variations

Granny Smith apples or Macintosh apples work well for this dessert. They hold together while baking and balance the sweetness of the caramel sauce and crumble. That being said, you can use any tart apples or sweet apples that you like. Note that Gala and Fuji apples are the least favorites for this dish because they’re tender apples and can get mushy once baked.
You can make your own homemade caramel sauce for this dish, or buy your favorite brand from the store. I think that homemade always gives the best results!
The caramel drizzle on top of the apples is optional, so don’t worry if you forget to save some or want to reduce the calories. I do think extra caramel sauce adds a ton of flavor. You could also top with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt, as well.

How to Store Caramel Apple Crumble

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

For leftovers, let the crumble cool to room temperature, then store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you can store without the added caramel sauce, that gives the best texture for leftovers, as it will cause the topping to soften during storage.