Caramel Apple Snickerdoodle Bars

These caramel apple snickerdoodle bars are soft, buttery cookie bars topped with tender cinnamon apples and melty caramel chips. Think classic snickerdoodle flavor meets caramel apples at the county fair — but in bar form, and without any fuss.

Why You’ll Love These Bars

• Soft, chewy cookie-bar base (not cakey)
• Apples stay tender — not soggy
• Caramel melts into little pockets on top
• Easy to slice and serve
• Perfect for fall, holidays, or anytime apples are piling up
• These bars are rich without being heavy and sweet.

What are Caramel Apple Bars?

I've made a ton of bars, (many with a doctored cake mix base) but, until recently, I hadn't found what I would consider "the perfect" base for a cookie bar.

Now I have. And there's no turning back, friends!

The inspiration for this bar came from my delicious Snickerdoodle Bars. I'll be honest: that recipe (passed to me by my daughter) has proven to be the all-around winner at my Christmas parties this holiday season.

No, I'm serious. Every. Single. Time. People rush over to me and say, "What was in those cinnamon-sugar bars?"

I immediately direct them to the recipe for my Snickerdoodle Bars on this site.

This Cookie Bar Crust is Perfect

Which is a lot to claim, I know. But the Snickerdoodle crust is so tender, so buttery, and so light and flaky (yet moist and delicious) that I knew. . .I just knew. . .it would make a perfect foundation for this recipe.

(I interrupt this post to share that this is actually the 2nd time this week I've used this Snickerdoodle crust as a foundation for a cookie bar. I made some over-the-top Peppermint Bark Cookie Bars last night with the same crust.)

Adding fresh fruit on top of a crust, though? That's tricky. So, I doctored my finely chopped apples with cornstarch so that they wouldn't produce too much moisture and end up ruining that delicious crust.

We can talk more about the outcome later, but go ahead and give the ingredients a peek and then let's get going!

Ingredients for Caramel Apple Snickerdoodle Bars

I've got a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here's a glance at what you'll need. These are easy-to-find ingredients.

Snickerdoodle-Style Cookie Base

• 1 cup salted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ⅔ cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for sprinkling)

Apple Caramel Topping

• 2½–3 cups apples, peeled and finely diced
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 cup caramel chips

Optional:

• Flaky sea salt, for finishing

How to Make Caramel Apple Snickerdoodle Bars

Step 1: Prep the Pan

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.

Step 2: Make the Cookie Base

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Gradually add the flour, mixing just until combined.

Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Lightly flour your hands if needed.

Step 3: Prepare the Apples

In a medium bowl, toss the diced apples with:

• Lemon juice
• Cinnamon
• Brown sugar
• Cornstarch

This step helps control moisture and ensures the apples bake up tender, not watery.

Step 4: Assemble

Scatter the apple mixture evenly over the unbaked cookie base.

Sprinkle the caramel chips over the apples.

Gently press down just enough so everything settles into the surface.

Step 5: Bake

Bake for 35 - 45 minutes, or until:

• Edges are lightly golden
• Center is set
• Apples are tender
• Caramel chips are melted

If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil during the last few minutes.

Note: The edges should be set and slightly golden and the middle should be soft but not too jiggly. A little movement is okay. As the bars cool, the cornstarch and flour will do their jobs to pull things together into bar form.

Step 6: Cool & Slice

Allow bars to cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Cut into squares.

For extra flavor contrast, sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt just before serving.

Tips for Success

• Dice apples small so they bake evenly
• Don’t overload with apples — 3 cups is the max
• Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Gala work best
• Let the bars cool before cutting for clean slices

Storage

Store bars tightly covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
They also freeze beautifully.

What to Love About these Caramel Apple Snickerdoodle Bars

Personally, I feel like this idea was a blast of inspiration from above. (I love coming up with new recipes, but this one kind of felt. . .divinely inspired.)

If you love Snickerdoodles and apple desserts but don’t want another pie, crisp, or cake-mix bar, this recipe is for you. It's unique but oh, so simple to make! (And no fussy pie crust to contend with.)

These caramel apple snickerdoodle bars deliver everything you want from an apple dessert — warmth, spice, sweetness, and texture — without the hassle of pie crusts or soggy layers. They’re simple, dependable, and just different enough to stand out.

If you love snickerdoodles, apples, and caramel, this recipe is a keeper.

Variations on this Recipe

There are so many fun ways to "dress up" this recipe. Here are some ideas that come to mind:

Pecans or Walnuts: Finely chop one or the other and sprinkle on before baking. (Apples and nuts go together beautifully!)

Apple Pie Spice: You can sprinkle on apple spice along with the cinnamon for an even richer flavor profile!

Add cinnamon to the crust: A teaspoon of good cinnamon will take this crust over the tope!

Other Apple Favorites from Out of the Box Baking

If you like apples, we've got you covered. Here are some true fan favorites!

• Cinnamon Apple Sourdough: You just haven't lived till you've added apples to this delicious bread!
• Apple Pie Focaccia: Think rich pastry, loaded with cinnamon apples and sweet glaze. Delicious!
• Easy Apple Pie with Homemade Crust: Yum. And. . .yum! This one's not just for the holidays. Enjoy it year 'round!

That's it for this Post!

I hope you love this recipe, friends! If you do, please leave a comment. And before you go, you should totally pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

Janice Thompson is a professional baker, cake designer, and author with over 20 years of experience creating unique cakes and desserts. She’s the creator of Out of the Box Baking, where she shares her favorite doctored cake mix recipes, tutorials, and baking tips. Learn more →