Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars



Happy Thanksgiving! This recipe rounds out the 2015 Thanksgiving recipe set. These apple pie bars are easier than putting together an entire pie and can be made a day or so ahead of your  celebration.





Ingredients:
SHORTBREAD CRUST
-1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
-1/4 cup granulated sugarsa
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1 cup all-purpose flour (measured correctly)

APPLE FILLING
-2 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced (1/4 inch thick)
-2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
-2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
STREUSEL
-1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
-1/3 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
-1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
-1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Recipe for Salted Caramel Sauce.

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on all sides. Set aside.
To make the crust: Stir the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt together in a medium bowl. Add the flour and stir until everything is combined. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes.

While the crust is baking prepare the filling and steusel.
To make the apple filling: Combine the sliced apples, flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a large bowl until all of the apples are evenly coated. Set aside.
Make the streusel: Whisk the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour together in a medium bowl. Cut in the chilled butter with a pastry blender or two forks (or even with your hands) until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
Remove the crust from the oven, and turn the oven up to 350°F.

Layer the apples on top of the warm crust in an even layer. Sprinkle the apple layer with streusel and bake for 30–35 minutes or until the streusel is golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 20 minutes at room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or overnight).

Once chilled lift the foil or parchment out of the pan using the overhang on the sides and cut into bars. Once sliced, drizzle with salted caramel or caramel sauce and enjoy.




I thought this was a fun recipe to make, it seemed easier to make than an apple pie and I like that it's easy to cut the dessert into small pieces. The salted caramel adds a nice touch, but you could use a regular caramel sauce if you wanted to just purchase one instead of making something. Happy Thanksgiving again, have a wonderful day!

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