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Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Recipe from Big Country Foods- www.bigcountryfoods.com

Ingredients:

For crust and topping:

• 1 cup organic unsalted butter (softened)
• ½ cup big country organic cane sugar
• ¼ cup of big country organic light brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups organic all-purpose flour (260 grams)
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon (add at end)

For the filling:

• 3 large organic apples (about 1.5 lbs.) *
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 3 Tbsp big country organic cane sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 2 Tbsp organic unsalted butter
• 1 Tbsp organic all-purpose flour

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line an 8 x 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.  Set aside.

For the crust:

1. For the crust, beat butter, sugars, and vanilla for about 2 minutes, or until light and creamy.
2. Whisk together four, and salt until combined.
3. Slowly add flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture, with the mixer on low speed.  Beat until just combined (do not overmix).
4. Press down two-thirds of the dough into the prepared pan, ensuring the entire bottom of the pan is covering an even layer.  Place remaining one third of dough in the fridge (about 1 ¼ cup dough).
5. Bake crust for 16-18 minutes in pre-heated 375-degree oven.  Crust will be slightly browning at edges and pulling away from parchment/sides of pan.  Middle will be very light, golden color.  Set aside to cool.

For the filling:

1. Core and peel the apples, then thinly slice (1/4 – 1/8-inch-thick – the thinner the better!) and place in large mixing bowl.  Add lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, mixing until apples are evenly coated.
2. Melt the butter in a large, heavy pot and then add the prepared apples.  Cook on medium-low heat, stirring often, for about 15 minutes, until the apples are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated.
3. Remove apples from heat and spread evenly over the baked crust, leaving a ½ inch border.

For final assembly and baking:

1. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
2. Top apples with remaining crust dough (reserved in refrigerator).  Pinch together dough with fingers to create big crumble of dough, and scatter evenly on top of apples.
3. Bake for 22 – 25 minutes in 350-degree oven, until the topping is lightly brown.  Set aside to cool for 20 minutes, then place in fridge to fully chill, for at least an hour.
4. Drizzle with caramel sauce, cut into squares and enjoy!

Tips:

• *Use a mix of tart and sweet apples.  Tart apples:  Granny Smith or Braeburn.  Sweet apples:  Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji.
• Wanting to make a larger batch?  Double the recipe and bake in a 13x9 inch pan.  Extend bake times for both rounds of baking (crust & final bake) by 15 minutes longer than times listed in recipe above.