Caramel Apple Bars

I first made these Caramel Apple Bars from My Baking Addiction for school a few weeks ago & they went like hot-cakes (or hot apple pie, if you will). I didn’t take photos that time AND I slightly under-baked them, so they didn’t turn out as pretty and I wasn’t happy with their looks. It was requested that I make them again (and immediately – in a “you should leave school immediately and make them again” kinda way, which I obviously didn’t do but instead waited a few weeks). In an effort to keep my friends at school and avoid a roit, I finally decided to whip these up again…

They are really easy to make, so I don’t know what took me to long to make them again! SO – since October is both National Apple AND National Caramel Month, I decided I should make them again (in our school we celebrate something called “Apple Crunch Day” so I brought in chewy apple bars to celebrate with my co-workers).

These can easily be made without the caramel if you want to skip that step and then they are more like “apple pie bars” but with the caramel – it really kicks it up to the next level. These are nice and sweet and just the right amount of chewy-ness and you can have more than one since they have fruit in them (so that makes them ‘healthy’).

WARNING… Once you make these you will be making them again because people won’t stop asking you until you do!! So, Happy Caramel/Apple Month & good luck…

Caramel Apple Bars

borrowed, loved & saved from My Baking Addiction!

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped apple (about 2 apples)
• [1 cup finely chopped walnuts]
• Topping:  1/4 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13 inch pan.

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon; set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together: melted butter, brown sugar, and white sugar, until smooth. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture until just combined, then stir in the apples and walnuts (if using).

Spread the mixture evenly into prepared pan. In a cup or small bowl, stir together the remaining “topping” cinnamon and sugar; sprinkle over the top of the bars. Bake for 30-35 minutes in preheated oven; bars should spring back when lightly touched. Cool in the pan, and cut into squares.

When cool: drizzle them with melted Caramel Bits or Caramel Ice Cream Topping or Melted Chewy Caramels & carefully remove from pan then enjoy!

I also want to try these tasty looking bars from Joanne but knew that I needed to make these bars again first!

And I leave you with this, Today’s Question of the Day… Is there a dish that you make that everyone always wants the recipe for or that you are always asked to bring places?