Apple Raisin Cookie Bars with Caramel have all the flavors you'd expect in a great fall dessert. The taste of the tart apples, spicy, comforting cinnamon, plump raisins, and salted caramel topping makes these dessert bars completely crave-worthy.
Apple desserts are always a hit, and I've got plenty of them on my website that you need to know about. Especially these Apple Pie Wedges, Apple Cider Donut Muffins, Apple and Pear Blossoms, German Sunken Apple Cake, and Apple Oatmeal Cookies with White Chocolate.
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Table of Contents Found Here
- The ingredient list:
- What I wrote about this recipe in 2011
- Add-in and substitution suggestions:
- Can homemade caramel be used for these cookie bars?
- How many drizzled caramel apple raisin bars does this recipe make?
- Can these apple cookie bars be frozen after baking?
- Additional related recipes for you to enjoy:
- Printable Recipe Card
- Apple Raisin Cookie Bars with Caramel
- Please comment if you've made this recipe.
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*Disclaimer - This recipe was originally published in 2011. I'm working hard to update all my older recipes with printable recipe cards, and additional helpful information. This recipe post has been updated, but the actual recipe itself and the photos have remain unchanged.
The ingredient list:
*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.
What I wrote about this recipe in 2011
Here in the Midwest, Fall is definitely in the air. The crisp, cooler weather always makes me more in the mood to cook and bake.
I'll bet you feel the same way.
I found this recipe recently while paging through a magazine in my dentist's office.
I promise that I didn't rip it out of the magazine (as so many others do), I took it to the receptionist's desk and asked for a piece of paper so I could write it down. Kindly, she offered to photocopy it for me.
I also made a few of my own flavor additions (nutmeg, nuts, and the caramel drizzle).
The results were quite delicious: moist, chewy, and packed with apple flavor.
Don't you just love the Fall? Enjoy!!!
Add-in and substitution suggestions:
Not a fan of raisins? No problem. You can leave them out entirely or swap dried cherries, cranberries, currents, or blueberries for the raisins.
Do nuts drive you nutty in baked goods? Leave them out. I won't tell a soul. However, if you like nuts but don't have pecans on hand, feel free to substitute whatever variety of nuts you do have on hand.
Feel free to substitute Gala, Honey Crisp or Pink Lady for the Granny Smith apples.
Can homemade caramel be used for these cookie bars?
You, bet, but back in 2011 I didn't have a caramel recipe on my site so I linking to one wasn't an option.
That said, I do have a homemade caramel recipe within my Homemade Pecan Turtle Candy recipe that's to-die-for!
How many drizzled caramel apple raisin bars does this recipe make?
As written, this recipe makes 24 cookie bars.
Can these apple cookie bars be frozen after baking?
They sure can.
Store them in an airtight freezer container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Additional related recipes for you to enjoy:
When you make today's recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did.
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Printable Recipe Card
Apple Raisin Cookie Bars with Caramel
Equipment
- kitchen scale optional
- cake tester optional
Ingredients
TO MAKE THE COOKIE BAR BATTER:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups packed dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1½ cups peeled and diced Granny Smith apples
- ½ cup raisins
- ¾ cups chopped pecans
TO MAKE THE CARAMEL DRIZZLE:
- ½ bag (approximately 30 caramels) Kraft caramels unwrapped
- ¼ cup half and half
- ½ teaspoon flaky finishing salt optional
Instructions
TO MAKE THE COOKIE BAR BATTER:
- -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
- -Liberally coat a 13x9x2 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
- -In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt; set aside.
- -In a large bowl, with an electric mixer (or stand mixer), blend the butter and brown sugar on medium speed.
- -Add the eggs and vanilla to the butter and sugar mixture.
- -Continue to blend for approximately 3 minutes or until completely smooth.
- -Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in increments, blending after each addition.
- -Continue to blend until all the flour is very well incorporated.
- -Gently stir in the diced apples, chopped pecans, and raisins until thoroughly blended.
- -Spoon the mixture into your prepared pan and smooth it evenly.
- -Bake for approximately 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- -Cool completely.
TO MAKE THE CARAMEL DRIZZLE
- -Unwrap the individual caramel squares and add them to a microwave-safe bowl.
- -Add the half-and-half
- -Microwave the mixture on medium-low power for 1 minute, stirring in between each microwave session. Stir until the caramel mixture is smooth and creamy.
- -Drizzle the caramel sauce over the cooled, pre-sliced cookie bars.
- -Lightly sprinkle the freshly drizzled caramel with the flaky finishing salt, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
I hope you'll enjoy making (and eating) these delicious apple and caramel cookie bars, with (or without) raisins as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!
Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen on my site, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact me. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back with you just as soon as I possibly can!
Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Maranda says
These sound fantastic! I love Fall flavors and can't wait to start my Fall baking. It was nice of the office to photocopy the recipe for you...I tend to take a picture on my phone when I find something I like. Thanks for sharing!
SweetSugarBelle says
I missed you! I was wondering if you were okay...and I am glad to see you are baking!!! I'll holler at you soon!
There is a movie, Men in Black, and will smith is about to step on a roach, but changes his mind...when he does the roack looks up and says, Damn decent of you...that's exactly what I thought when you said you didnt steal the magazine recipe, LOL!
That is the ULTIMATE let down to go for a recipe and it not be there!=
The Vanilla Bean Baker says
What a great dessert for the season! I'm betting your additions to the recipe made it all the more tasty.
So nice of the receptionist to photo-copy it for you too. Your *pay-it-forward* bonus for not ripping it out of the magazine 😉
yummychunklet says
Oh, these bars look amazing! I love the caramel glaze.
BigBearswife says
I'm "pinning" this! Can't wait to try these!
The Captain's Daughter says
I L-O-V-E fall as much as you do... And, I'll be trying these bars soon!