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Gooey Caramel Apple Bars

Gooey Caramel Apple Bars
Instead of preparing plenty of pies when feeding a crowd at Thanksgiving, we suggest you bake of batch of these caramel apple bars.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen
24 ServingsPrep: 30 min. + chilling Bake: 35 min. + cooling

Ingredients

  • 5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/4 teaspoons sugar
  • 1-1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1-1/4 cups butter-flavored shortening
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 cup cold water
  • 2 tablespoons plus 1-1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
  • FILLING:
  • 10-1/2 cups sliced peeled tart apples (about 12 medium)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1-3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/3 cup butter, cubed
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

  • In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Cut in shortening
  • until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk the
  • eggs, water and vinegar; gradually add to flour mixture, tossing
  • with a fork until dough forms a ball.
© Taste of Home 2013

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Gooey Caramel Apple Bars (continued)

Directions (continued)

  • Divide dough in half so that one portion is slightly larger than the
  • other; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until
  • easy to handle.
  • Roll out larger portion of dough between two sheets of waxed paper
  • into a 17-in. x 12-in. rectangle. Transfer to an ungreased 15-in. x
  • 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Press pastry onto the bottom and up the
  • sides of pan; trim pastry even with top edges of pan.
  • In a large bowl, combine the apples, sugars, flour, cinnamon, salt
  • and nutmeg. Stir in cream.
  • In a Dutch oven, melt butter. Add apple mixture; cook over medium
  • heat for 8-10 minutes or until apples are slightly tender. Stir in
  • walnuts and vanilla. Spoon into crust.
  • Roll out remaining pastry; place over filling. Trim and seal edges.
  • Cut slits in top. Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until crust
  • is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack. Yield: 2
  • dozen.
Nutrition Facts: 1 bar equals 362 calories, 18 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 38 mg cholesterol, 204 mg sodium, 46 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 5 g protein.
© Taste of Home 2013