Caramel Apple Bars

With two apple trees on our property, I have an abundance of fruit to cook with year round! During the summer and fall, when apples are in season, I bake with fruit picked fresh off the tree. Since we always end up with more apples than we can use right away, I peel, chop, and store the extra fruit in our freezer to bake with during the winter and spring when our trees are dormant (like I did today in the middle of March!).

Caramel Apple Bars
Yield: 9x13 pan

Ingredients
Crust:
 1/2 cup butter, softened
 1/4 cup shortening
 1 cup packed brown sugar
 1 3/4 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour
 1 cup Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Quick Cooking Oats
 1 tsp salt
 1/2 tsp baking soda

Filling:
 4 1/2 cups chopped peeled tart apples
 3 Tbsp Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour
 11-oz package caramel bits plus 1/2 cup from another 11-oz package
 3 Tbsp butter

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease 9x13 pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
2. In large bowl, cream butter, shortening, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour, oats, salt, and baking soda; mix well. Set aside 2 cups. Press remaining oat mixture into prepared pan.
3. For filling, toss apples with flour; spoon over crust. In saucepan, melt caramels and butter over low heat; drizzle over apples. Top with reserved oat mixture.
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool before cutting into bars.

Serving Suggestion: These bars taste delicious warmed up in the microwave with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home.