Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening
- 1-3/4 cups flour
- 1-1/2 cups quick cooking oats
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 4 cups chopped peeled tart apples (3 medium apples)
- 3 Tbsp. flour
- 14 oz. pkg. caramels, unwrapped
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In large bowl, combine brown sugar with butter and shortening and cream together until well blended. Add 1-3/4 cups flour, quick cooking oats, salt and baking soda and mix well. Measure out 2 cups of this crumbly mixture and set aside. Pat remaining crumbly mixture into 13x9" pan.In large bowl, combine apples and 3 Tbsp. flour and spread over crust.
In medium bowl, microwave unwrapped caramels until melted, about 4-5 minutes on MEDIUM powder, stirring every minute. Pour over apples and then sprinkle with reserved crumbly mixture. Pat lightly.
Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until crumbs are golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with fork. Cut into bars when cooled. Store in refrigerator. 36 bars

