Description
These delicious Oatmeal Cookie Bars feature a buttery oat crust, a tart apple filling, and a luscious homemade caramel sauce. Perfect for a cozy dessert or snack, these bars combine the comforting flavors of oats, apples, and caramel in a simple, crowd-pleasing recipe.
Ingredients
Crust and Topping
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup shortening
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional
Filling
- 4-1/2 cups coarsely chopped peeled tart apples (about 4 large apples, use varieties like Granny Smith and Pink Lady for depth of flavor)
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 package (11 ounces) caramels
- 3 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Mix the crust ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer in a large bowl), cream together the softened butter, shortening, and brown sugar for five to seven minutes until light and fluffy. Add the flour, oats, salt, and baking soda; mix well until incorporated. If desired, fold in the chopped pecans. Measure out 2 cups of this mixture and set aside for topping.
- Press the crust: Press the remaining oat mixture firmly into an ungreased 13×9-inch baking pan, creating an even layer that will serve as the base for the bars.
- Prepare the apples: In a medium bowl, toss the peeled, coarsely chopped tart apples with 3 tablespoons of flour to evenly coat. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the oat crust in the baking pan.
- Make the caramel sauce: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the caramel candies together with 3 tablespoons of butter, stirring until smooth and creamy to create a luscious caramel sauce.
- Assemble the bars: Drizzle the warm caramel sauce evenly over the layer of apples, then sprinkle the reserved 2 cups of oat mixture evenly on top to create the topping.
- Bake the bars: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Bake the assembled bars for 25 to 30 minutes or until the topping is lightly browned and the apples are tender.
- Cool and serve: Allow the bars to cool completely to room temperature in the pan before cutting into 20 bars. This ensures the bars set properly for clean slices.
Notes
- You can omit pecans to make the bars nut-free.
- Use a mix of tart apple varieties for balanced flavor and texture.
- Ensure the bars are fully cooled before cutting to avoid crumbling.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Chilling the bars briefly after cooling can help firm them up for easier slicing.