Salted Caramel Apple Dream Bars
Creamy, tangy, and oh-so-satisfyingly sweet — these Salted Caramel Apple Dream Bars are the kind of dessert that makes every afternoon feel like a celebration.
Servings: 9 servings
Equipment
- Baking Dish
- Mixing Bowl
- Spatula
Ingredients
Crust Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Graham cracker crumbs
- 0.25 cup Sugar for the crust
- 0.5 cup Melted butter room temperature, melted
Filling Ingredients
- 8 oz Cream cheese softened, room temperature
- 0.5 cup Sugar for the cream cheese filling
- 2 large Eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Topping Ingredients
- 1 medium Apple diced, peeled and cored if preferred
- 0.25 cup Caramel sauce store-bought or homemade
- 0.5 tsp Sea salt coarse or flaky for finishing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Stir until the mixture resembles wet sand.
- Press the graham mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the crust.
- In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy, scraping the sides as needed.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until just combined. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Pour the cream cheese mixture over the prepared crust and spread it gently into an even layer.
- Evenly scatter diced apple over the cream cheese layer. Drizzle caramel sauce across the top in ribbons. Sprinkle sea salt over the caramel.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until the center is set but still slightly jiggly.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack, at least 1 hour. Chill in the fridge for 1 hour if you prefer firmer slices.
- Once cool, slice into bars and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
Use room-temperature cream cheese and eggs to avoid lumps in the filling. Press the crust firmly to prevent it from crumbling when sliced.