Caramel Apple Bars

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
• 4 1/2 cups coarsely chopped peeled baking apples
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 (14 ounce) package caramels
• 3 tablespoons butter or 3 tablespoons margarine

Recipe

• 1 in a mixing bowl, cream butter, shortening and brown sugar until fluffy.
• 2 add flour, oats, salt and baking soda; mix well.
• 3 stir in pecans if desired.
• 4 set aside 2 cups.
• 5 press remaining oat mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan.
• 6 for filling, toss apples with flour; spoon over the crust.
• 7 in a saucepan, melt the caramels and butter over low heat; drizzle over apples.
• 8 top with the reserved oat mixture.
• 9 bake at 400° for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned.
• 10 cool before cutting into bars.