Caramel Apple Bars

I had to re-post this recipe!! LOVE it and it's perfect for this time of year!!

I love Caramel Apples and anything with caramel and apples in it! They remind me of Autumn time and Fair time! This is a recipe I got out of one of my Pillsbury Recipe Magazines a few years ago. The original recipe made a huge batch, but my recipe fits in a 9x9 inch pan. If you need a bigger batch, just double the recipe or go to Pillsbury's recipe site and search for Caramel Apple Bars. I tweaked the recipe a bit, I like to  use Kraft caramels instead of caramel ice cream topping that the original recipe calls for. I like the flavor and texture better!! This recipe reminds me a bit like Apple Crisp but even better because it has the crisp on the bottom as well as the top..... and that's the best part isn't it??? Yum!!

Caramel Apple Bars

Crust and Topping:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup quick-cooking oats

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Dash or two of salt

1 cube  plus 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling:

35 Kraft Caramels, unwrapped (approximately 35)

2 Tablespoons milk or half and half

2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 peeled apples, coarsly chopped ( (I quarter and slice the apples into thin bite size pieces)

1 to 2 Tablespoons Butter

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

DIRECTIONS :

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9x9-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
 In a large bowl, melt butter  in the microwave, then add the rest of the topping ingredients and combine with a fork or pastry blender. Mixture should be crumbly. Press half of the mixture in pan to form crust; reserve remaining mixture for topping. Bake 8 minutes. When done remove from oven and set aside on cooling rack.
While the crust is cooking, in 1-quart saucepan, melt caramels with 2 Tablespoons milk over medium / low heat stirring occasionally.
While carmels melt, add the 2 tablespoons butter to a large skillet and melt over medium heat, then add the apple pieces and lemon juice and cook for about 5 minutes or so until tender. (My apples don't cook enough in the time it takes to cook the bars, so I give them a head start)
When caramels are melted and apples are tender, whisk the  2 Tablespoons of flour into the carmel, then add the apples and nuts to caramel and stir to combine, continue to cook over medium heat for about another minute, stirring constantly, mixture should be slightly thick.
 Pour caramel mixture evenly over top of cooked crust. Sprinkle with reserved topping mixture.
Return to oven; bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack for about an hour. Cut in to squares. Serve with vanilla ice cream. Yummo!!!