salted caramel apple bars

Ingredients

• Servings: 16
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch nutmeg
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 cup mott's® original or cinnamon applesauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped dried apples
• 1 cup caramel bits*
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• topping:
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon coarse sea salt, or to taste**

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Ready Time: 45 mins


• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c). grease 9-inch square pan.
• combine flour, confectioners' sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a bowl.
• cream butter in separate large bowl. beat in egg, applesauce, and vanilla extract.
• mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients. stir to combine. add diced apples, caramel bits and walnuts; blend in thoroughly. pour into greased pan and distribute evenly.
• combine granulated sugar, cinnamon and sea salt for the topping. sprinkle evenly on top of the batter.
• bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes.
• cool completely and cut into 16 bars.