If you love the luscious flavors of apple and caramel, this is the recipe for you. These bars are delicious and simple. Best of all, they start with a box of cake mix.
Caramel Apples in a Bar? Yes, Please!
When you read the words “caramel apples” what comes to mind?
If you’re like me, you have flashbacks to childhood. You can see yourself holding an apple covered in rich sticky caramel.
Those flavors are perfect together. The sweet crispness of the apple, the gooey stickiness of the caramel. . .they’re the perfect complement.
Caramel and Apple. . .what a Great Combination!
These two flavors are great in the fall at a carnival and they’re perfect in the winter, when you need the warmth of a sweet dessert.
Apple and caramel are green tin the springtime and summer, as well. No matter when you have these delicious flavors they remind you of days gone by.
And this recipe? Well, I promise. . .it will have you swooning. . .and thinking of your childhood.
You’ll dream of apple pies, apple crumble, and apple cookies!
These bars are all of those things and more!
Caramel Apple Bars Ingredients
You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick peek at what you’ll need. These are simple ingredients available at your local grocery store.
- yellow cake mix
- large egg
- room temperature butter
- caramel apple pie filling
- caramel frosting
How to Make these Easy Caramel Apple Bars
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Prepared a 9×13-inch baking dish by spraying with nonstick spray. Place a piece of parchment paper inside. Then spray the paper lightly with more nonstick spray.
Place apple pie filling into a food processor or mixer.
Process for a few seconds to break down the apples. Set aside.
Make your crust:
Place dry cake mix into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Add egg and butter. Mix well.
You will end up with a texture much like a cookie dough.
Press the dough into the bottom of the 9×13-inch prepared pan.
Place in preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes.
Pour the chopped apple pie filling on top of the partially baked crust.
Spread it out to cover the whole crust.
Add dollops of caramel frosting.
Place back in the oven for an additional 30 minutes to continue baking.
Remove and place baking dish on wire rack to cool.
I left mine to cool for a full hour.
Continue cooling in the refrigerator for an additional hour.
Cut into squares and serve.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay good for 3 – 4 days.
I don’t recommend freezing these bars.
What to Expect from these Caramel Apple Bars
These are rich and gooey, much like an apple pie. I loved the crunch bottom (what a lovely buttery shortbread crust!) and the luscious juicy apple bits. Talk about a sweet apple filling! Delicious!
The addition of the caramel sends them over the top. This would make a delicious fall dessert. Or, really, a dessert for any time of year!
Serve with a scoop of ice cream for the perfect summer treat!
These would be great in the fall, for sure. But I think they’re also a terrific summertime treat. Really, you can serve them any time of year. Your family and guests will be very happy, indeed!
Variations on this Recipe
Brown sugar: I think the addition of half a cup of brown sugar to the apple mixture would result in the topping ending up a lovely golden brown color.
Caramel drizzle: This would be perfect on top.
Fresh apples: If you like, you can make your own apple layer with fresh apples. Just simmer apples with a little water or apple juice, cinnamon, and sugar. (Cinnamon apples are delicious!)
Coconut pecan frosting: I think this would be delicious in place of the caramel frosting. I would probably mix it directly into the apples and spread on top of the partially baked crust.
Crumb topping: Sprinkle a streusel layer on top or withhold 1/3 of the cake batter to place on top before baking. If you want coarse crumbs, skip the egg in the cake and you’ll end up with a crumb that’s easy to sprinkle on top. Caramel apple crumb bars sound delicious, don’t they?
Oatmeal cookie base: Add a cup of oatmeal to the cake mix before spreading into prepared pan.
Homemade caramel sauce: This would be so delicious in place of the canned frosting! You’ll end up with caramel apple pie bars!
Toffee bits: Add a cup to the top before baking. Delicious!
Whipped cream: Top with whipped cream. You can make your own with heavy whipping cream!
Other Apple Favorites from Out of the Box Baking:
Apple Snickerdoodle Dump Cake: Is it a gooey cobbler, a pie, or a dump cake? Call it what you like, friends, but this Apple Snickerdoodle dessert is easy to make, loaded with cinnamon-apple flavor, and perfect for your next gathering.
Apple Pie Coffee Cake: If you love apple pie but you’re in the mood for a delicious coffee cake, one you would be happy to serve at a breakfast gathering or brunch, have I got a great new recipe for you! This “from scratch” cake is light and luscious and covered in a crisp streusel.
Apple Pie Cobbler with Crescent Rolls: Every now and again you stumble across a recipe that changes everything. This apple pie cobbler is one of those. It’s luscious, gooey, chewy, and perfect for fall! But it’s so easy to make you won’t want to wait until then to make it!
Follow this link for a comprehensive post listing more of my fall cookies and bars, perfect for autumn!
Learn more about doctored cake mixes, the theme of this blog.
For the master list of all doctored cake mix recipes on this site, visit Doctored Cake Mix Recipes, Master List.
That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe.
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Caramel Apple Bars
If you love the luscious flavors of apple and caramel, this is the recipe for you. These bars are delicious and simple. Best of all, they start with a box of cake mix.
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 egg
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) of room temperature butter
- 1 can caramel apple pie filling
- 1 canister caramel frosting
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepared a 9x13-inch baking dish by spraying with nonstick spray. Place a piece of parchment paper inside. Then spray the paper lightly with more nonstick spray.
- Process the caramel apple pie filling by placing it into a food processor or mixer for a few seconds to break down the apples. Set aside.
- Make your crust: Place dry cake mix into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Add egg and butter. Mix well.
- You will end up with a texture much like a cookie dough.
- Press the dough into the bottom of the 9x13-inch pan.
- Place in preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes.
- Pour the chopped apple pie filling on top of the partially baked crust.
Add dollops of caramel frosting. - Place back in the oven for an additional 30 minutes to continue baking.
Remove and place baking dish on wire rack to cool. - I leave mine to cool for a full hour.
- Continue cooling in the refrigerator for an additional hour.
- Cut into squares and serve.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay good for 3 - 4 days. I don’t recommend freezing these bars.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
Sunday 27th of August 2023
I'm running behind!! Thanks for sharing at the what's for dinner party last week - The new party is open now. Hope to see you there!
Tammy
Friday 18th of August 2023
This is actually so creative! Sounds delicious and easy to make in a pinch...love caramel and apples together!