Gluten Free Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

It's officially apple season! The plethora of apples stacked high at the farmer's market this weekend were amazing.  I couldn't help grabbing some Granny Smiths to make these somewhat addicting gluten free salted caramel apple pie bars. With their bright green skin and crisp flesh, these juicy apples are perfect for this recipe.

I LOVE bars and they are super easy to make with gluten free ingredients. The yummy buttery crust and crumbly sweet streusel transform the traditional apple pie into bite size pieces of nirvana. With all the classic ingredients, you will never know these are gluten free.

As for the caramel, feel free to make it homemade, but Trader Joe's makes a kick butt Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce that rivals any recipe, making life that much easier.

The first day of autumn is tomorrow so enjoy these gluten free apple pie bars with a burst of fall in every bite!

Gluten Free Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Recipe by Liz Hughes - Virtually Homemade

Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Yield: 8 large bars or 16 small squares
Ingredients

Crust:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup organic turbinado sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup gluten free all purpose flour Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour, 22-Ounce

Apple Filling:

• 2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced into 1/4" pieces
• 2 tablespoons gluten free all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons organic turbinado sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice

Streusel:

• 1/2 cup gluten free oats
• 1/4 cup gluten free all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup chilled unsalted butter cut into small cubes

•  Trader Joe's Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce

Cooking Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 300° F. Line an 8"x8" pan with parchment paper leaving an overhang on each side (before laying the parchment paper I spray the pan with a little cooking spray so the paper doesn't slip around).
2. Stir the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt together in a medium bowl. Add the flour and stir until everything is combined. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan using your fingers to press down. Bake for 15 minutes, until lightly browned.
3. Combine the sliced apples, flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a large bowl until all of the apples are evenly coated. Set aside.
4. Stir the oats, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a medium bowl. Cut in the chilled butter with a pastry blender or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. 
5. Remove the crust from the oven, and turn the oven up to 350°F. Evenly layer the apples on top of the warm crust.  Sprinkle the apple layer with the streusel and bake for 30–35 minutes or until the streusel is golden brown.
6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Lift the parchment out of the pan using the overhang on the sides and cut into bars. Once cut, drizzle some salted caramel sauce on top of each. 

Based on recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction

Enjoy more Apple recipes from some of my favorite bloggers and Food Network:

The Lemon Bowl: Sparkling Apple Cider Punch
Creative Culinary: Boozy Apple Crisp
Homemade Delish: Apple Chips
Healthy Eats: 6 Healthy Treats to Make After Apple Picking
Daisy at Home: Fall Farmer's Market Salad
Virtually Homemade: Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Apple Bars
TasteBook: Caramel Baked Apples with Cinnamon-Oat Crumble
Napa Farmhouse 1885: "Grownup" Caramel Apples
Red or Green: Caramel Apple Spiced Shortcakes
Big Girls, Small Kitchen: Whole Grain Oat & Millet Pancakes with Shaved Apples
Domesticate Me: Roast Chicken, Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese
Taste with the Eyes: Classic Apple Tarte Tatin with Cognac and Crème Fraîche
FN Dish: Quickest, Easiest Apple Dessert Recipes