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!
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 9x13 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
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
- ⅓ cup butter, melted
- ⅓ cup apple cider
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 cups diced apples
- 1 cup caramel apple dip (sold in the produce section by the apples)
- ½ 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.
Beth
Can these be frozen? Have you tried it?
Jocelyn
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!!
Paula
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?
Jocelyn
I'm so sorry about that. It should say water, not milk. I went ahead and fixed the recipe. Enjoy the bars!!
Paula
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
Nancy
I have everything but the apple cider. Is there anything I can use in place of it?
Jocelyn
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.
Anna
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?
Jocelyn Brubaker
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.
Debbie
Does anyone know if these bars could me made ahead of time and freeze?
Jocelyn Brubaker
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.
Debbie
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.
Beth
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?
Jessica
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.
Jocelyn Brubaker
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!!!
Rebekah
Made these last night for a gathering! They were awesome!! Everyone loved them! Thanks for a great recipe!!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I am so glad to hear that! Thank you for letting me know 🙂