PA. PREFERRED JUNIOR SALTED CARAMEL APPLE PIE BARS
COOKIES, BROWNIES AND BARS CONTEST
½ cup unsalted butter, melted ¼ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
¼ tsp. salt
1 cup all purpose flour
Apple filling
2 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced
2 Tbsps. all-purpose flour 2 Tbsps. granulated sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
⅛ tsp. nutmeg
Streusel
½ cup old fashioned whole rolled oats
⅓ cup brown sugar
¼ tsp. cinnamon
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Salted caramel sauce
1 cup granulated sugar
6 Tbsp. salted butter, room temperature, cut into pieces ½ cup heavy cream, room temperature
1 tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line bottom and sides of
8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
Shortbread crust: Stir melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt together in medium bowl. Add flour and stir until combined. Press mixture evenly into prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
Apple filling: Combine sliced apples, flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl until all of the apples are evenly coated.
Streusel: Whisk the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour together in a medium bowl. Cut the chilled butter with a pastry blender/fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
Turn oven up to 350 degrees. Evenly and tightly layer the apples on top of the warm crust. Sprinkle the apple layer with the streusel and bake for 30-35 minutes until the streusel is golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes and then chill in refrigerator for at least two hours. Cut into bars.
Caramel topping: Heat sugar in saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Be careful not to burn it. Once sugar is completely melted, immediately stir in the butter until melted and combined. Caramel will bubble rapidly when the butter is added. If butter separates or sugar clumps, remove from heat and whisk to combine again. After the butter has melted and combined with the caramelized sugar, stir constantly while adding the heavy cream slowly. After all the heavy cream has been added, stop stirring and allow to boil for one minute. Remove from heat and add salt. Allow to slightly cool and then drizzle the caramel sauce over the top of the bars.