Ingredients

SHORTBREAD CRUST

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature

APPLE PIE BARS FILLING

• 2 apples (I used granny smith)
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg

OAT STREUSEL TOPPING

• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Directions

• First preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 7×11 pan or 8×8 pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Next, make the shortbread crust by adding the flour, brown sugar, and butter to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture becomes a crumbly dough. If you don’t have a processor, use a large mixing bowl and electric mixer and mix together until the crust comes together.
• Add the dough into the prepared pan and gently press evenly (ensuring there are no holes) to reach all edges to form your crust. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
• While the crust is baking, prepare your apple pie bar filling and streusel topping.
• Core, peel, and slice your apples into small slices. Place the sliced apples in a bowl and coat in the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well coated.
• For the streusel topping, combine oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour in a mixing bowl.
• Next, add in cubed butter and incorporate using a pastry blender, two forks, or your hands (my preferred method) until the mixture is like coarse crumbs.
• Once crust has baked for 15 minutes, top with the apple mixture until all the crust is covered. Sprinkle evenly with the oat streusel topping and place in the oven to bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is a light golden brown.
• While the apple pie bars are baking, prepare your homemade salted caramel sauce.
• In a saucepan, combine sugar, salt, and water. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat and stir for 5 minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Next, increase heat to medium-high and continue to cook without stirring for 6-7 minutes. The sugar will caramelize and become a deep golden color (almost copper looking).
• Remove the pan from the heat and add in the heavy whipping cream and butter. The mixture may bubble up in this step, so be careful.
• Allow the caramel to cool for 10-15 minutes.
• Remove apple pie bars from oven and let cool in the pan on a wire rack. Once caramel has cooled for 10-15 minutes, drizzle the top of the apple bars with a homemade salted caramel sauce or jar of sauce nd let it set up completely before slicing and serving.
• If desired, serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!