Apple Pie Bars

Add the granulated white sugar to a large sauce pan and heat it over medium-low heat. As the sugar is heating it will crystalize and then eventually all melt down and turn golden in color. When most of the sugar has melted, but there are still a few crystalized clumps, turn the heat down to low so the melted sugar doesn't burn. (Melting all the sugar takes around 20 minutes.)
1 cup (200 g) granulated white sugar
Once all the sugar has melted and turned golden in color, add in the butter right away. Stir quickly until the butter is incorporated.
5 tbsp (70 g) salted butter, softened
Then add in the heavy cream and stir quickly again to incorporate everything together. (At this point if you see the butter and cream start to separate from the sugar turn the heat up to medium low and stir vigorously to combine everything together. This can happen if your butter and cream aren't room temperature.)
1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy cream, at room temperature
Lastly, add in the sea salt and vanilla and stir to combine.
1 tsp vanilla, 1/4-1/2 tsp salt
Let the caramel simmer on low for 2-3 minutes, then remove it from the heat and allow to cool completely before using.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x9 metal baking pan and line the bottom and two sides with parchment paper. Set aside.
Add the butter, brown sugar, granulated white sugar and vanilla to a large bowl. Cream together on high speed with an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
1/2 cup (112 g) unsalted butter, softened, 1/4 cup (55 g) brown sugar, packed, 1/3 cup (67 g) granulated white sugar, 1 tsp vanilla
Add in the flour and salt. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are fully combined. The mixture will be crumbly.
1 1/2 cups (188 g) all purpose flour, spooned and leveled, 1/4 tsp salt
Press the cookie dough into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Bake 12-15 minutes, until lightly golden brown, then let cool.

While the crust bakes make the streusel topping. Add the butter and brown sugar to a medium bowl. Cream together on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened, 1/2 cup (110 g) brown sugar, packed
Add the flour, salt and cinnamon to the butter-sugar mixture and mix on low speed until large, coarse crumbs form.
3/4 cup (94 g) all purpose flour, spooned and leveled, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Place the streusel in the freezer while working on the filling.

Add the apple slices, caramel sauce and spices to a large sauce pan. Stir to coat the apples with the caramel and spices.
5 cups (700 g) apples peeled and diced into ½ inch pieces about 4 large apples, 1/2 cup (140 g) salted caramel sauce, 2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/4 tsp ground allspice, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/8 tsp ground cloves
Cook over medium heat, covered, for 16-20 minutes or until the apples are tender. Stir occasionally to make sure the apples are getting heated evenly.
Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Add the cooked apple mixture on top of the cookie crust then sprinkle the streusel on top of the apples.
Bake the apple pie bars for 30-35 minutes until lightly golden brown on top.
Then let them cool in the pan on a wire rack until completely cooled, about 2 hours. Cut into 16 bars and drizzle caramel sauce over top. Serve with vanilla ice cream or on their own!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple, apple dessert, apple pie, apple pie bars, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving dessert, Thanksgiving recipe