Apple Pie Bars with Salted Peanut Butter Caramel
These scrumptious Apple Pie Bars with Salted Peanut Butter Caramel bring together the comforting familiarity of classics and the luxurious indulgence of gourmet treats. Picture an oat crust that melts in your mouth revealing a spiced apple filling. Each slice of apple is perfectly tender and infused with the warmth of cinnamon and vanilla. If that wasn't enough to tempt your taste buds these bars are then elegantly adorned with a drizzle of homemade peanut butter caramel offering a creamy flavor complemented by just a hint of sea salt to balance the sweetness. This dessert doesn't simply conclude a meal; it steals the show with its twist on tradition captivating both visually and, in every bite.
16 Servings
Ingredients
For the crust and crumble:
- 1 ½ c gluten-free oat flour
- 1 c old-fashioned rolled oats gluten-free
- ½ c packed brown sugar
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the filling:
- 1/2 tbsp melted butter
- 3 medium to large honeycrisp apples peeled and sliced
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of allspice & nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
For the peanut butter caramel:
- 2 tbsp creamy peanut butter
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Take an 8x8 inch pan. Line it with parchment paper then give it a coating of cooking spray.
To make the crust and crumble:
- In a bowl combine 1 ½ cups of oat flour, 1 cup of rolled oats, ½ cup of sugar, ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of baking soda and ¼ teaspoon of salt.
- Stir in 8 tablespoons of melted butter and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until the mixture starts to clump together.
- Press down about 1⅔ cups of the mixture, into the pan for the crust; refrigerate the remaining mixture for use as topping.
For the filling:
- Melt half a tablespoon of butter in a skillet. Add sliced apples along with 3 tablespoons of maple syrup, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, a pinch each of allspice, nutmeg and salt. Cook until the apples become soft and tender.
- Stir in vanilla extract (one teaspoon) and cornstarch (about two teaspoons); cook until thickened. Spread this apple filling over the crust in your pan.
For the topping:
- Retrieve the remaining crust mixture from your fridge; sprinkle it evenly over your apple filling.
- Place your pan in the oven. Reduce its heat to around 300°F (150°C). Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Until golden brown.
- Once done baking allow it to cool down inside the pan on a wire rack before serving or enjoying.
- To create caramel, combine 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, 1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Heat the mixture until it becomes runny then allow it to cool slightly.
- Next, drizzle the caramel over the bars once they have cooled.
- To serve slice the bars into 16 squares. They can be enjoyed either at room temperature or chilled. For a treat you can serve them with a scoop of ice cream!
Notes
Let's whisk away the wheat and welcome a gluten-free twist to these Apple Pie Bars with Salted Peanut Butter Caramel without a whisper of compromise in taste or texture. Begin with your base, opting for gluten-free oat flour that behaves beautifully beneath your fingers, just like its traditional counterpart, and ensure your oats are certified gluten-free to keep every crumb safe and satisfying. As you layer on the apple slices, let the natural sweetness and spice sing their melody, untouched and glorious in their gluten-free state. The pièce de résistance, a peanut butter caramel drizzled with care, remains unchanged, because true decadence knows no bounds.