1 ½ cups All-purpose flour
1 cup Old-fashioned oats
¾ cup Brown sugar
½ cup Unsalted butter (melted)
4 cups Apple filling (peeled and sliced apples)
½ cup Caramel sauce
1 tsp Salt (for caramel)
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal later.
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Whisk to combine. Pour in the melted butter and mix until crumbly.
Reserve about a cup of the crust mixture for topping and press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes until slightly golden.
While the crust bakes, peel and slice your apples. Toss them in a bowl with a bit of sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice for flavor.
Once the crust has baked, remove it from the oven and layer the apple mixture over the crust evenly.
Take half of your caramel sauce and drizzle it over the apples.
Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture on top of the apple and caramel layer.
Return to the oven and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes, until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.
Once out of the oven, allow the bars to cool for at least 30 minutes. Afterward, drizzle the remaining caramel sauce over the top and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper, cut into squares, and enjoy!
