It may be 83829783° here right now, but I heard a whisper this weekend that it’s going to be cooling down this week.
So I guess I’ll suck it up and stop posting salad recipes and accept that it’s fall now, even if I have yet to wear a sweater.
(Ok that’s a lie I will find a way to post salad year round and you know it).
These apple pie bars are the epitome of autumn in a dessert. Shortbread crust, fresh apple filling, streusel, and dulce de leche (aka caramel, but just better) come together to make a seriously rich and delicious treat.
These bars are surprisingly easy to make and come together in under an hour- that is if you can even wait long enough to let them cool before you dive in!
Get ready for more fall inspired recipes! And check out what I’ve made in past autumn seasons over here.
- 1½ cups flour
- 1½ + 2 tsp cane sugar, divided
- pinch salt
- ⅓ cup cold butter, chopped
- ⅓ cup ice water
- 2 large apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- 1 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup dulce de leche
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup oats
- ⅓ cup coconut (or brown) sugar
- ¼ cup cold butter, chopped
- 2 tbsp dulce de leche, warmed
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease the bottom and sides of an 8x8 pan.
- In a large bowl, combine all crust ingredients and mix with hands or a fork until just combined.
- Press crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack (don't turn off oven!!!)
- In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp butter over low heat and add diced apples, tossing to coat evenly. Cook down for 5-10 minutes, until apples are soft. Remove from heat and stir in ¼ cup dulce de leche.
- Pour mixture over baked crust.
- In another bowl, combine ½ cup flour, ½ cup oats, ⅓ cup coconut sugar, and ¼ cup cold butter with a fork or hands until just combined.
- Spread crumb topping over apple filling in pan. Bake for another 10-15 minutes, until crumb is golden brown.
- Remove from oven and cool on wire rack. Drizzle with warmed dulce de leche before serving.
these look divine Medha! I am such a dulce de leche fan so I want these bars in my life asap!
Thanks, Manali!
haha yeahhh I am soooo ready for fall baking and food but the weather has still been so warm here! It’s very confusing for my taste buds! lol PS these bars sound amazing!!
Thanks!
Wow, those look so delicious, beautiful photographs too!
Thank you so much!
Waaay faster than an apple pie… oh my! Delicious way to start fall Medha. And OMGee to the dulce de leche!! I’ve got a similar recipe lined up for the blog as well because I just went apple picking and my fridge is packed with them! I was in fleece and sweaters last week as it’s been dipping into the 40s at night. Hope you’ll be wearing a sweater soon my dear!
Right? No time for intense baking right now- I’m saving that allllll for the holidays 🙂
I will trade you our COLD weather for a little of your warm weather, OK? 😉 LOL whatever the weather these bars look amazing. I am all in whenever dulce de leche is involved!
Haha thanks, Denise!
These look to die for! Caramel, apples, and shortbread crust are three of my very favorite things. Love this!!
Thank you so much 🙂
I absolutely adore anything and everything with dulce de leche, but these bars look especially tempting!
Thanks, Becky!
It’s pretty hot here too (so I feel you!!) but I’ll always welcome fall if it means sitting in an A/C’d room to appreciate the cool weather! Love these streusel bars – SO gorgeous!
Haha true! Thanks 🙂
I can not get enough apple recipes right now and these streusel bars look so scrumptious! I love that dulce de leche on top!
Right? Thanks!
Wow, these bars look incredible! That crumb topping…I’m not sure I could resist eating it all before adding it to the recipe!
Haha thanks, Sarah!
It’s starting to cool down over here too and we can’t get enough of apple pie treats! Love the streusel topping and dulce de leche!
Thank you 🙂
These look so good! Love the dulce de leche on top!
I’m a huge fan of dulce de leche anything!
Hahha enjoy your summer weather for as long as possible. But keep posting delicious fall recipes like this!
Thank you!
I cannot wait for the temps to cool down! We had a little taste of fall weather last week, but today we’re right back up in the mid-80s. I keep telling myself I will NOT complain one bit when it’s cold cold cold in the thick of winter. I think I could eat these apple pie bars all year round though! Love that dulce de leche!
Haha thanks so much!
It finally cooled off, and now it’s TOO cold. Arg. I want some balance here!
But these bars are heaven, so I’ll go for them.
Thanks, Mir!