These gooey Caramel Apple Bars are loaded with fruit, nuts, and caramel. Try a warm square topped with vanilla ice cream for an easy fall dessert!
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So, the other day I stopped at the grocery store for something. I walked in the door and up and down a few aisles before realizing that I had absolutely no idea what I was there for.
The funny thing is that I still don’t remember what I needed. It must not have been that important.
I decided to just head down the baking aisle because why not. Not because I needed anything. Our pantry shelves are fully stocked in chocolate chips and candy. But you never know what you might need, or what you might find that just has to come home with you.
Caramel Apple Bars
I am so glad that a spice cake and a container of caramel dip jumped into my cart while I was wandering the store. I really didn’t have any ideas of what I was going to make. But then my mind started to go a mile a minute thinking about all the fall dessert ideas I could make with the apples that were in my refrigerator.
This Caramel Apple Bundt Cake and these Cinnamon Sugar Apple Donut Holes are usually my go to apple desserts, but I wanted to do something different this time.
These apple pie bars are like a 7 layer bar except you use caramel dip instead of the traditional sweetened condensed milk. I am so glad that my husband had a meeting at the church on the same day I made these.
It would have been very dangerous for me to keep these Caramel Apple Bars in my kitchen for very long. They were so delicious and gooey!
Trust me and try one of these easy apple bars with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on it!!! You are welcome!
Tips for making Caramel Apple Bars:
Combine the dry cake mix, butter, and apple cider until a soft dough forms.
Spray your hands with nonstick spray and press half the dough into the bottom of a greased 9×13 pan.
Spread the caramel apple dip over the dough in the pan.
Sprinkle the top of the dip with apple chunks and chopped walnuts.
Drop the rest of the dough in small pieces evenly over the top.
Bake and cool. Drizzle the top of the apple bars with the glaze. (full recipe below)
Try to resist the urge to devour the entire pan of Caramel Apple Bars in one sitting!
More easy apple dessert ideas you may like:
- Peanut Butter Apple Pizza
- Apple Nachos
- Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cheesecake Danish
- Toffee Apple Pie Cookies
- Apple Blondies with Caramel Buttercream
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Caramel Apple Bars
These easy Caramel Apple Bars are loaded with fruit, nuts, and caramel. Try a warm square topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an awesome fall dessert!
Ingredients
- 1 spice cake mix
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 1/3 cup apple cider
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 cups diced apples
- 1 cup caramel apple dip (sold in the produce section by the apples)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
- Combine the cake mix, butter, and apple cider until it forms a soft dough.
- Press half the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. You will need to spray your hands with baking spray too.
- Spread the caramel dip over the dough in the pan. Sprinkle with the apples and walnuts.
- Drop the rest of the dough over the top of the mixture in the pan. Try to drop small pieces evenly everywhere. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for at least one hour.
- Stir together the powdered sugar and the water. Drizzle over the top of the bars. Let set.
- Refrigerate bars until ready to serve. Heat a square in the microwave for 10-15 seconds and top with vanilla ice cream for an amazing treat.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 189Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 213mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 1gSugar: 19gProtein: 2g
*The post and recipe for these Caramel Apple Bars was originally posted on September 25, 2013. The photos and post has been updated and republished on September 17, 2018.
Can these be frozen? Have you tried it?
I have never tried freezing these bars, and I’m not really sure that it would work. I feel like the gooey caramel layer would not thaw out the same. Hope that helps!!
In the recipe it mentions milk but in the instructions it diesnt say anything about the milk. Am i supposed to mix the powdered sugar with the milk?
I’m so sorry about that. It should say water, not milk. I went ahead and fixed the recipe. Enjoy the bars!!
Thanks! Personally, I don’t eat cooked fruit but I made this for my husband. He raved about it. And, it made my house smell amazingly good for fall ? lol
I have everything but the apple cider. Is there anything I can use in place of it?
You could also use apple juice, milk, or water in place of the apple cider. I hope that helps and you enjoy the gooey apple bars.
When I mixed the cake mix, butter and apple cider together it was more of a sticky mess rather than a soft dough. Did I do something wrong?
No, it is a very sticky dough. I have found that if you spray your hands with non stick baking spray, it makes it easier to press it into the pan.
Does anyone know if these bars could me made ahead of time and freeze?
Hi, Debbie. I have not frozen these bars before. I’m actually thinking it wouldn’t work too well because as the caramel thaws it could leave condensation and that would make the cake layer mushy. How far in advance do you need this made? It would be fine to make a few days ahead of time if you kept it covered.
I kind of thought the same. I was going to make it up for company that is coming in a couple of weeks so don’t have to do everything all the day before.
these look delicious!! thank you for posting – i am new to your blog and will continue to follow 🙂 i want to try these tonight, but i dont have any caramel apple dip (which i have never tried). can i substitute for dulce de leche instead and if so, how much?
I just made these tonight and had some while still warm and they were amazing! I could not find spice cake mix at my grocery store so I used Duncan Hines carrot cake mix and it worked perfect! Of course I left out the extra packet of carrots and raisins that is is in the box.
Great job improving with the carrot cake mix…and good call to leave out the carrots 🙂 I am so glad you liked the bars…they are one of my absolute favorites!!!
Made these last night for a gathering! They were awesome!! Everyone loved them! Thanks for a great recipe!!!!
I am so glad to hear that! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
should the apple cider be hot or cold? does it matter?
I just used it straight from my refrigerator. I wouldn’t bother heating it up for this recipe.
All nice recipes. Thank lou.
For some reason mine didn’t firm up properly. Family loved them but I will tweak if I make again. Maybe use my own caramel…thicker and no artificial taste. Or just find a better caramel dip!
Was your apple dip thick? The one I used was really thick, but these really aren’t a firm kind of a bar. More like an apple caramel bar crumble 🙂 Definitely play around with the recipe…homemade caramel dip would be delicious.
I bake every week for the O-line of the Wheaton College football team. These were this week’s treats. Not sure how they would be received since I usually make cookies, brownies or cupcakes. The feedback was surprising! Some of the guys said it was the best thing they have ever tasted, while others decribed it as Christmas! Definitely will be making this again!
Yay!!! I am so glad the guys liked these bars. They are one thing that I actually make over and over!!!
These look delicious!! I’m a big fan of caramel apple anything 🙂
I made these and they were so delicious!! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
I am so glad you made and liked these bars. They are my favorite ones right now 🙂
More caramel apple deliciousness here! These look perfect! I am doing some apple baking this weekend and might need to add these to our list! Gorgeous!
What type of apples did you use/or would work? Also do you think putting down a layer of caramel bits would work instead of the apple dip? Im looking forward to making these this weekend, they look delicious
I used the bagged Crunch Pak apples for these bars. And yes, the caramel bits would work too. I actually made it this way my second time. You need to melt the caramel bits down with some milk though, so it is creamy.
These look incredible, Jocelyn!! Mmmmm!
These look sooooo good! 🙂
Oh wow….these looks so perfectly gooey and tasty! Yum!
Oh my- I know my family would just LOVE these.
These bars look absolutely fantastic Jocelyn!! Gorgeous!
These look like the perfect apple treat and I love that they start with a cake mix!
These are dessert perfection!
they look yummy!
Thank you Dina!! 😉
Ha I do the same thing in the baking aisle! “There’s nothing written on my list, but I better check the baking aisle just in case.” These caramel apple bars are just calling my name….
I always tell my hubby that I’m not the only one!! 😉 Thank you Carla!!
WOW! I don’t mind if I do!
Haha, thanks Chels!! 🙂
These look amazing! That gooey center of caramel – I’m dying! Must. make.
I can never seem to avoid the baking aisle – it just calls to me! But then I always come home with stuff I didn’t need but want to bake something with. A good kind of problem to have I guess. 🙂
Thank you Lindsay!! 😉 I think it’s a very good problem to have!
Hey there could always be something you missed in the baking aisle! ALWAYS. It’s like my little home within the grocery store heehee so I always gravitate there, and now I want to go there and get some cake mix to make these bars! Caramel, apples, easy-to-grab-and-go bars? I’ll take a million.
Exactly!! 😉 Thank you Jess!!
One word… yum! These look unbelievable!
Thank you so much Emily!! 😉
I can see the deliciousness and gooeyness in your photos! Thank you for remembering to give us the recipe 🙂
Haha, you’re very welcome!! Thank you Brenda!!
Walking down the baking aisle without a mission can be a dangerous thing : -) These look amazing.
Very dangerous!! 😉 Thank you Laura!!
Love your recipe today! Is there a way to print out the recipe with an attached picture? Thanks for all the great ideas!
I am so glad you like the recipes. Let me look into adding the picture to the recipe card.
Oh, these sound amazing! Love the gooey caramel center!
Thank you Jessica!! 😉
So yummy looking! I adore all 7-layer bar type desserts!!
I do too!! Thank you so much Ashton!! 🙂
Spice cake & caramel = winner! These look delicious!!
Thank you so much Stephanie!! 😉
mmm come to mama! Seriously these would be so good right now.
Haha! Thank you Rachel!! 🙂
Subbing caramel apple dip for SCM might just be the most genius thing ever. (Could you do it with sauce or would it be too runny?) Think of all the possibilities! These look so gooey (aka perfect!:) and I love all those flavors together!
Thank you Mary!! I think it would work for sauce too. 😉
Wow what great recipes, they all sound delicious. These apple bars are so simple to make and semi-homemade which is even better. Like you, I’d better make these on a day that I have someplace to go, otherwise I’m sure I will devour them. Great recipes!
Thank you so much Vicki!! 😉
Soft, gooey perfection! I’d love a bite of one. I need your neopolitan fudge recipe. I’m still thinking about it – best dessert I ate all weekend. Not kidding!
Awwww, thank you Averie!! I will have to get that recipe to you soon!!
Between you and and Aimee, apple week is going to kill me! I just want to reach into the screen and grab one of these right now. Spice cake, apples, and caramel? Too good to be true.
Haha!! Did you survive? 😉 Thanks Marcie!!
Oh my gracious…I forget EVERYTHING lately!! I’m loving apple week by the way…PINNING these!!
I hear ya, sometimes I think is forget my own head if it wasn’t attached!! 😉 Thank you so much Ashley!!
Those look scrumdiddlyumptious! Perfect dessert for this time of year, apples are so fantastic right now!
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Haha, this comment put a smile on my face! 😉 Thanks Eric!
Ha!! I have so been there! I think it means our brains our overworked. Too much recipe development! 🙂
These bars look awesome, so glad you remembered how to bake!
Haha, too much recipe development! I love it! I’m claiming that next time I forget something! 😉 Thanks Tieghan!
Jocelyn,
These look so good. I think I have all of the stuff and want to make these for Bunko tomorrow. Yum!
That’s awesome!! You will adore these, I’m sure! Thanks Christy!
Whoops,. I mean that I hope you DID adore these! 😉
These look wonderful Jocelyn! You guys have me all motivated in apple week that I have been using apples in the kitchen all day! I always wonder the baking isle just because it gives me inspiration!!
Thank you Nancy!! The baking isle is definitely one of my homes away from home! 😉
This looks so delicious Jocelyn! You are so amazing! Angie xo
Thank you so much Angie!! 😉
OMG these look amazing Jocelyn! I am glad you remember how to bake, cause now you can send me some, hint hint,.
Haha! Only if you send me some of those delish blondies!! 😉
Oh my gosh I’m dying. I MUST MAKE THESE! Genius.
Thanks Tiffany! Seriously, you will be in love with them if you make them! 😉