Prep and Assembly Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 50 minutes
With fall settling in, there’s no better way to celebrate the season than by baking something that fills your kitchen with warm scents of autumn. Dutch Apple Caramel Bars, a delicious dessert by TheJennyWren, are a go-to weekend bake that will make your house cozier than ever and your taste buds come to life.
Perfect for any gathering, these bars combine a flaky, buttery crust with a creamy apple filling, topped off with a crunchy Stroopwafel crumble and drizzled in rich caramel. Although the recipe takes about an hour and 20 minutes from start to finish, most of the time is spent letting the dessert bake.
Let’s get into it!
Ingredients
Crust
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup shortening
- 3 tablespoons sugar Dash of salt
- ¾ cup water
Filling
- 3 cups Granny Smith Apples (sliced thin and peeled, or any tart apple variety of your choice)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons flour
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 egg (helps bind the filling)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- 2 cups Dutch Waffle Company No-Bake Stroopwafel Pie Crust
Serve With
- Caramel Drizzle
- Vanilla Ice Cream
Directions
Prepare the Crust
- Mix the crust ingredients: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour with 1 cup of shortening. Using a pastry cutter or your hands, work the shortening into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add sugar and salt: Stir in 3 tablespoons of sugar and a dash of salt, blending everything together.
- Incorporate the water: Gradually add ¾ cup of cold water, mixing until the dough begins to come together. Be careful not to overwork it. You want the dough to remain tender and flaky.
- Press into the pan: Transfer the dough to a 9x13-inch baking pan and use your hands or the back of a spoon to evenly press it down to form the crust. Make sure it’s smooth and covers the bottom completely. Set aside while you prepare the filling.
Prepare the Filling
- Slice the apples: Peel and slice 3 cups of Granny Smith apples. Try to keep the slices uniform in size, so they bake evenly. If Granny Smith apples aren’t available, any tart apple will do (tartness helps balance the sweetness of the other ingredients). Lay the apple slices in an even layer over the crust.
- Prepare the dry mix: In a small bowl, combine 1 cup of sugar, 3 tablespoons of flour, and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture generously over the apple slices. The flour will help thicken the juices from the apples as they bake, while the cinnamon adds a touch of warmth to the flavor.
- Whisk the wet ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together 1 egg, 1 cup of heavy cream, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Pour this creamy mixture evenly over the apples. This custard-like filling bakes into the apples, creating a rich and luxurious center for the bars.
Add the Stroopwafel Topping
- Top with Stroopwafel Pie Crust Crumbs: For the final layer, sprinkle 2 cups of Dutch Waffle Company’s No-Bake Stroopwafel Pie Crust over the top of the dessert. The stroopwafel crumbs will bake into a crispy topping filled with brown sugar, cookie, cinnamon, and butter flavors, adding texture and depth to each bite.
Bake and Serve
- Bake: Place the prepared pan in the oven and bake for 50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling slightly.
- Cool before slicing: Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for at least 20-30 minutes before slicing. This allows the filling to set, making it easier to cut clean bars (plus, it prevents ice cream from melting immediately).
- Add caramel and ice cream: For an extra decadent touch, drizzle warm caramel sauce over each serving and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Share Your Bakes with Us!
We love seeing how our customers across the country incorporate our products into their favorite recipes. If you make these Dutch Apple Caramel Bars or have another stroopwafel-inspired creation, don’t hesitate to share! Email photos and recipes to chelsea@dutchwafflecompany.us or bianca@dutchwafflecompany.us. Your creations might be featured on our social media or blog!