Caramel Apple Pie Pecan Bars

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil provides a dairy-free option while still maintaining richness.

pecans

🥗Healthier: walnuts

💰Cheaper: sunflower seeds

Walnuts provide similar texture and flavor, while sunflower seeds are more budget-friendly.

caramel sauce

🥗Healthier: date syrup

💰Cheaper: homemade caramel

Date syrup is a healthier sweetener alternative, and homemade caramel can save costs.

all-purpose flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: cake flour

Whole wheat flour adds fiber, while cake flour can sometimes be less expensive.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a saucepan over medium heat, add 1 cup of granulated sugar and stir for about 10 minutes until it melts and turns light brown.

Switch to a whisk and add 6 tablespoons of salted butter carefully, as it will bubble and boil.

Add 1/2 cup of heavy cream, stirring continuously, and let it boil for about a minute.

Turn off the heat and add 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt, stirring until smooth. Let it cool covered on an unused burner.

In a bowl, mix 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of fine sea salt.

In another bowl, combine 8 teaspoons of melted unsalted butter and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, then pour this into the dry ingredients and stir until it forms a dough.

Spread the dough evenly in a greased 8 by 8 inch pan and bake for 15 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Peel and core 3 large honey crisp apples, slice them into half-inch pieces, and place them in a bowl.

To the apples, add 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/8 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, mixing until combined.

Remove the crust from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup of rolled oats, 1/3 cup of packed brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, mixing well.

Add 4 tablespoons of cold unsalted butter cut into cubes and mix until the mixture forms crumbles.

Assemble the bars by spreading the apple filling over the pre-cooked crust and smoothing it out evenly.

Spread the streusel topping over the apple filling as evenly as possible.

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes until the top is golden brown; broil for an additional 2 minutes if necessary.

Let the bars cool for about half an hour, then chop 1 cup of raw unsalted pecans using a pastry blender.

Sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly over the top of the bars.

Cover the bars and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up before cutting.

Cut the bars into 9 squares (3 by 3) and drizzle heated caramel over the top of each bar.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens