Caramel Apple Streusel Bars

Well, it has happened. Another year of my life has gone by and it’s time to celebrate with an autumnal dessert! My very favorite desserts involve apples- apple crisp, apple pie, apple turn over, apple dumplings, cider doughnuts, apple cake, apple tart- in fact, I was wracking my brain this year to come up with a new apple dessert fit to serve in the place of birthday cake.

I was struggling until I went to a local fair and saw a very quintessential fall fair treat: a caramel apple! I mean, duh- apple and caramel are match made in heaven. I decided to marry the apple and caramel with a delicious cookie crust and a nutty streusel topping. The result was absolutely delicious and oh-so-ooey-gooey.

It may not be your birthday, but I urge you to come up with an excuse to make these bars. You won’t be sorry! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a pan of these bars that I have strictly forbidden anyone else to eat and they are all calling my name….

Ingredients:

Crust

5 tablespoons softened butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup sour cream

1cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

Filling

1 cup caramel sauce

3 large apples

Streusel

4 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into small pieces

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2 finely chopped pecans

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 by 9 inch pan with Baker’s Joy and set aside.

Streusel: In a large bowl, use a pastry cutter to combine all the streusel ingredients together until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.

Filing: Core and peel the apples. Grate them with a coarse grater and set aside.

Crust: Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking soda. Set aside.

Beat together the softened butter and sugar until lift and fluffy. Add the egg and mix well. Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat again. Stir in the dry ingredients until you get a thick, sooth batter.

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