These easy Caramel Apple Bars have a soft cake mix crust, a gooey caramel center, and lots of apple chunks and nuts. Warm apple squares are a delicious fall dessert, especially when served with vanilla ice cream.
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During the fall months I love getting into the kitchen and making delicious desserts with different varieties of apples that we get from the store and the farmers market.
Sometimes I make this apple bundt cake, sometimes these cinnamon sugar apple donut holes, and sometimes it's as simple as a pan of apple nachos with tons of toppings.
One of my favorite apple desserts are these simple apple squares made with a cake mix.
Why You Will Love These Bars
These apple bars are similar to a 7 layer bar except you use caramel dip instead of the traditional sweetened condensed milk. It makes them so delicious and gooey!
- Easy to make in minutes. Using a cake mix and store bought caramel dip makes the layers come together quickly.
- Loaded with fruit and nuts. The hardest part of this recipe is chopping the apples and walnuts into bite sized pieces.
- So gooey and delicious! Trust me and try one of these easy apple bars with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
Key Ingredients
This apple bars recipe is so easy to make with just a few ingredients. They bake up soft, gooey, and so good.
- Spice Cake Mix - Using a spice mix is an easy way to add flavor without extra ingredients. If you can't find one, use a vanilla or yellow cake mix and add 1 teaspoon cinnamon and ½ teaspoon nutmeg.
- Apple Cider - Gives the dough a little bit more apple flavor. You can also use water or milk in place of it.
- Caramel Apple Dip - You can find containers of this gooey dip in the produce section of most grocery stores. It is usually near the apples.
- Apples - Use whatever apple you like or have on hand. Usually 2 apples is all you will need.
- Walnuts - These really add a good flavor and crunch to the apple squares. If you do not like nuts or are allergic, just leave them out.
How to Make Caramel Apple Bars
Make the cake mix crust. Combine the dry cake mix, melted butter, and apple cider in a medium bowl Mix it until a soft dough forms.
Assemble the layers. Spray your hands with Baker's Joy and press half the dough into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. The crust will be thin. Do not panic! Gently press and move the dough until it covers the bottom of the pan.
Spread the caramel apple dip evenly over the dough in the pan with an angled spatula. Slice and core the apples and chop the walnuts, then sprinkle them on top of the dip.
Bake and cool the bars. Drop the rest of the dough in small pieces evenly over the top. Place in a preheated oven and bake until bubbly. Remove and cool to room temperature.
Decorate and serve. Drizzle the top of the apple bars with simple powdered sugar glaze. These apple bars are delicious served plain, but they are even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream.
Storage Recommendations
These apple bars are best kept in a covered container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. They are delicious served cold, or you can reheat squares in the microwave for 10-20 seconds.
I do not recommend freezing this recipe. Because of the caramel and apples in the recipe they do not thaw out very well.
Tips and Tricks
- Spray the bottom of the 9x13 baking pan with nonstick spray, then spray your hands before you try to press the dough out. It helps if you drop dough in different places on the pan rather than one spot.
- The dough is soft and very thin. Take your time as you press it out.
- Dice the apples and walnuts into small bite sized pieces, so they bake easily and quickly.
- Don't like nuts? Skip them or add toffee bits instead.
- Drop small pieces of dough all over the top of the fruit and nuts. Use a spoon to portion it out easier.
- Try sprinkling the top of the dough with cinnamon sugar to give the top a crunchy and sweet texture.
Recipe FAQ'S
We prefer to use Gala or Honeycrisp apples for all of our baked goods such as pies or bars. You want to choose an apple that holds up while it is baking. Other good varieties are Pink Lady, Jonagold, Granny Smith, or Cortland.
That is totally up to you. We usually save time and leave the peels on for most apple desserts. If you do not like the apple peel texture, peel yours first.
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Recipe
Caramel Apple Bars
These easy Caramel Apple Bars have a soft cake mix crust, a gooey caramel center, and lots of apple chunks and nuts. Warm apple squares are a delicious fall dessert, especially when served with vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients
- 1 spice cake mix
- ⅓ cup unsalted 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 gently into the bottom of the prepared pan. You will need to spray your hands with baking spray to do this.
- 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 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.
Notes
- Spray the bottom of the 9x13 baking pan with nonstick spray, then spray your hands before you try to press the dough out. It helps if you drop dough in different places on the pan rather than one spot.
- The dough is soft and very thin. Take your time as you press it out.
- Dice the apples and walnuts into small bite sized pieces, so they bake easily and quickly.
- Don't like nuts? Skip them or add toffee bits instead.
- Drop small pieces of dough all over the top of the fruit and nuts. Use a spoon to portion it out easier.
- Try sprinkling the top of the dough with cinnamon sugar to give the top a crunchy and sweet texture.
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 September 2013. The photos and post has been updated and republished on October 2022.
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katie
should the apple cider be hot or cold? does it matter?
Jocelyn Brubaker
I just used it straight from my refrigerator. I wouldn't bother heating it up for this recipe.
Liz
All nice recipes. Thank lou.
Ann
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!
Jocelyn Brubaker
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.
Aubrey Z
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!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yay!!! I am so glad the guys liked these bars. They are one thing that I actually make over and over!!!
Kristen Duke
These look delicious!! I'm a big fan of caramel apple anything 🙂
Jenn @ Once Upon a Tier
I made these and they were so delicious!! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I am so glad you made and liked these bars. They are my favorite ones right now 🙂
Mackenzie
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!
Ann
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
Jocelyn Brubaker
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.
kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor
These look incredible, Jocelyn!! Mmmmm!
Ginger
These look sooooo good! 🙂
Lyuba@willcookforsmiles
Oh wow....these looks so perfectly gooey and tasty! Yum!
Gina
Oh my- I know my family would just LOVE these.
Trish - Mom On Timeout
These bars look absolutely fantastic Jocelyn!! Gorgeous!
Stephanie @ Macaroni and Cheesecake
These look like the perfect apple treat and I love that they start with a cake mix!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl
These are dessert perfection!
Dina
they look yummy!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Dina!! 😉
Carla
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....
Jocelyn Brubaker
I always tell my hubby that I'm not the only one!! 😉 Thank you Carla!!
Chels R.
WOW! I don't mind if I do!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, thanks Chels!! 🙂
Lindsay @ Life, Love and Sugar
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. 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Lindsay!! 😉 I think it's a very good problem to have!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
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.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Exactly!! 😉 Thank you Jess!!