Caramel Apple Butter Bars

Errrrmmmahhhhhgaaaawhhhhh.

Caramel. Apple. Butter. Bars.

Easily the best thing I’ve ever made.

Like, this is what I’m going to start my business with. I just keep thinking about it. People will come for these. And then they’ll come back. And then they’ll buy sheets and sheets of Caramel Apple Butter Bars for private parties and pretend that they’re homemade when really DANIELLE made them. Hi :).

And then they’ll send all their friends to Danielle for Caramel Apple Butter Bars.

Mmm. Hmm.

Let’s talk about how these bars came to be. It started… ohhh… in the fall of 2013. [OMG. Mini freak-out about how fast time goes by and what am I doing with my life {baking really delicious things, obviously} and are these last three years simply GONE?!?!]

But seriously, I can’t believe this was three years ago… I was training for a marathon (downright crazy) and planned to end my long run with a reward from a neighborhood bakery. I wanted to buy a homemade cookie ice cream sandwich, but it was chilly. Instead I bought a Caramel Butter Bar, very similar to these Caramel Apple bad boys, and I have been thinking about that Caramel Butter Bar ever since. It took me three whole years to recreate it.

Insanity.

Especially when you taste HOW FREAKIN’ DELICIOUS these are. I am giving them to every single potential [friend, boyfriend, employer, hairdresser, clothing stylist, flight attendant, loan shark, bartender, etc.] — basically, to ANYONE that could do ANYTHING great for me. Because they will taste a Caramel Apple Butter Bar and they will JUST ALMOST DIE until I give them a second Caramel Apple Butter Bar, which will revive them to a life of extreme pleasure and satisfaction. And from there on out, they will dote on me and give me gifts and shower me with compliments. And that is how I will come out ahead in all areas of life. #WINNING. All ’cause these bars. REALLY.

Except that if I gave them away, I couldn’t start a business with them. So let me rethink that whole plan.

5 from 1 vote

Print

Caramel Apple Butter Bars

Lightly adapted from American Heritage Cooking's Salted Caramel Butter Bars.

Course Dessert

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 24

Author Danielle Cushing

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups butter room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla divided
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tart apples chopped
• 1 10 ounce bag of caramels unwrapped
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degree F. Line a 9x13-inch rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, and powdered sugar. Add 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and beat until combined. Mix in flour and cinnamon to form a soft dough.
3. Press 2/3 of the dough into the bottom of the lined baking sheet and place the rest of the dough in the refrigerator. Bake 15 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, place the caramels, cream, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in a medium bowl. Microwave on high, stirring every 30 seconds, until caramels are melted, about 3 minutes. Stir in the apples.
5. Remove the crust from the oven and spread the caramel apple mixture evenly over the top. Crumble the remaining dough on top of the caramel. Return to the oven and bake another 25 minutes or until filling is bubbly. Remove from oven and let the bars cools completely.