Caramel Apple Pie Bars with Crumb Topping

Introduction
These Caramel Apple Pie Bars combine all the comforting flavors of a classic apple pie into easy-to-serve dessert bars. With a buttery shortbread crust, spiced apple filling, crumbly streusel topping, and a decadent drizzle of caramel sauce, these bars are perfect for fall baking or holiday gatherings. They offer all the cozy, sweet goodness of apple pie in a fun, handheld form!

Ingredients
For the Shortbread Crust:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

½ cup granulated sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

¼ tsp salt

For the Apple Filling:

3 large apples, peeled and diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work great)

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

2 tbsp granulated sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp nutmeg

1 tsp lemon juice

For the Crumb Topping:

1 cup old-fashioned oats

½ cup brown sugar

½ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

½ tsp cinnamon

For the Caramel Drizzle:

Store-bought caramel sauce or homemade (melt ½ cup caramels with 2 tbsp heavy cream)

How to Make
1. Preheat Oven & Prepare Pan: