Salted Caramel Apple Bars

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Servings: 16
Yield: 16 servings

Description

This sweet, caramel apple snack bar with a cinnamon-sugar and sea-salt topping makes a great coffee break treat.

Ingredients

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
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon coarse sea salt, or to taste**

Directions

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 9-inch square pan.
2 Combine flour, confectioners' sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a bowl.
3 Cream butter in separate large bowl. Beat in egg, applesauce, and vanilla extract.
4 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.
5 Combine granulated sugar, cinnamon and sea salt for the topping. Sprinkle evenly on top of the batter.
6 Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes.
7 Cool completely and cut into 16 bars.