These Vegan Caramel Apple Crumb Bars will make your autumn dreams come true!
As a twist on my vegan apple crumble, it’s got all the classic flavors but with more of the crumb and a decadent maple caramel topping.
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Ingredients
Makes 8 large or 16 small bars
Apple filling
3-5 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon cane sugar
Zest from 1/2 orange
Zest from 1/2 lemon
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed orange juice
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Crumb bottom and top layers
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cane sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon salt (use 1/4 if butter is salted)
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup *cold* vegan butter, cut into cubes
2 tablespoons non-dairy milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Toppings
1/4-1/3 cup vegan maple caramel sauce
Scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream per bar
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C). Line a 8×8 in. or 20x20 cm. baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
In a bowl, combine all apple filling ingredients. Set aside.
Now let’s make the crumb layers. Combine all dry ingredients. Then add in the vanilla, butter, and milk until the mixture is moist and crumbly (if you don’t have a stand mixer, a wooden spoon and your hands will do just fine).
Divide the crumb mixture into two. Press half of the mixture into an even layer in the bottom of the dish (try to pack it down to close all gaps, forming a crust). Set the other half of the crumb mixture aside.
Add in the apple filling, making sure it's distributed evenly.
Scatter the other half of the crumb mixture on top of the apple filling layer. Don’t pack it down like you did for the crust. This layer should be more crumbly and textured than the bottom layer.
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes on the middle rack of the oven.
Make the maple caramel sauce while the crumb bars bake.
After 30 minutes has elapsed, remove the foil from the baking dish, then continuing baking for another 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the apples are soft and gooey (insert a toothpick or knife to check). Once ready, remove from oven and let it set for at least 10-15 minutes before cutting into it (the cooler it is, the neater it will be to cut).
Cut it into even squares or rectangles and drizzle the entire thing with about 1/4-1/3 cup of the maple caramel sauce. Serve them warm, room temperature, or chilled with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream on top and, optionally, a drizzle more of the caramel.
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