#3606 - Gooey Caramel Apple Bars

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1/2 cup softened butter
1/4 cup Crisco shortening
1 3/4 cups flour + 3 TBSP flour
1 1/2 cups Quaker quick oats
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
4 1/2 cups chopped tart baking apples (wash, peel and core apples before chopping)
1 bag Kraft caramels

In a bowl add brown sugar, butter, shortening, 1 3/4 cups flour, oats, salt and baking soda--mix with a pastry blender to make crumbs. Reserve 2 cups of the crumb mixture, then spread the remaining crumb mixture in the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. In a bowl add chopped apples and 3 TBSP flour--toss to coat. Spread chopped apples evenly over the crust. Unwrap the caramels and place them in a saucepan--cook/stir over low heat until melted an smooth. Pour the melted caramels evenly over the chopped apples. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly over the top. Use your fingers to LIGHTLY press the crumb mixture into the caramel. Bake at 400 degrees 25-35 minutes or until golden brown (apples should be tender). Cool completely. Cut into bars.