Soft, chewy bars with tender apples and a smooth caramel drizzle, ideal for a comforting sweet treat.
# Ingredients:
→ Cookie Base
01 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
02 - 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
07 - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Apple Filling
09 - 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
10 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
→ Caramel Layer
12 - 3/4 cup soft caramels, unwrapped
13 - 2 tablespoons milk
# Instructions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - Combine melted butter and brown sugar in a large bowl and whisk until smooth. Add egg and vanilla extract; mix thoroughly.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
04 - Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and stir until just combined. Reserve 1/2 cup of dough and press remaining dough evenly into prepared pan to form base.
05 - Toss diced apples with granulated sugar and cinnamon, then spread evenly over cookie base.
06 - Combine caramels and milk in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring between, until smooth and pourable, about 1 minute.
07 - Drizzle melted caramel evenly over the apple layer.
08 - Crumble reserved dough over the caramel-topped apples in small pieces.
09 - Bake for 28 to 32 minutes until golden and set. Allow to cool completely in pan before lifting out and cutting into bars.
