CARAMEL APPLE BARS

CARAMEL APPLE BARS Serves 24 Shortbread Crust 1/2 cup butter, melted 1/4 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1/4 tsp salt 1 cup flour Apple Filling 1/2 cup caramel sauce - divided 2 apples, peeled and cubed into small pieces 2 tbsp. flour 2 tbsp. brown sugar 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 1/2 tsp cinnamon Topping 1/2 cup old fashioned oats 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice 1/4 cup flour 1/4 cup butter, cold and cubed into small pieces 1/2 cup caramel sauce Preheat oven to 300 Line a 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper or foil, making sure there is a little overhang on the sides To make the crust In a medium bowl combine melted butter, sugar, vanilla and salt Slowly add in flour, stirring until well combined Press crust into pan, making it as even as possible Bake for 15 minutes - while baking make the filling and topping To make the filling In a medium bowl combine cubed apples, flour, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon, until the apples are well coated Set aside To make the topping In a medium bowl combine oats, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and flour Add in cold butter and using your fingers combine the mixture until it comes together as coarse crumbs To finish Raise oven temperature to 350 Remove crust from the oven and top with 1/4 cup of the caramel sauce, drizzling it over the crust as evenly as possible Spread apples over caramel sauce Top apples with crumb topping, making sure to evenly distribute the topping Return pan to oven and continue baking for 25 minutes or until topping is golden brown Remove from oven and let cool for 20-25 minutes Place in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours to let bars completely set-up When ready to serve drizzle remaining 1/4 cup of caramel sauce over bars Serve room temperature or cold