Caramel Apple Walnut Oat Bars. Seasonally delicious apples, warm comforting spices, oats and crunch walnuts make these bars a fall must!
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The fall bug finally bit me, it took these apples and a change in the weather but I am officially ready for fall. Good thing to because the seasons don’t actually ask permission they just roll right in a take over. And of course fall makes me think of apple pie, Michigan is a huge producer of delicious apples so they are everywhere from the orchards, the road side stands and the grocery stores. It’s no wonder I have apples on the brain.
These Caramel Apple Walnut Oat Bars have been on my radar for a few weeks. I had to tweak the recipe a bit before getting it just right and boy did I. Not to toot my horn or anything, well maybe just a little but these bars are amazing! Imagine an apple pie married an oatmeal cookie and they decided to roll in caramel and walnuts. Though my analogy may be on the ridiculous side its also on the seriously delicious side!
Cool, crisp, apples sautéed down in warm apple pie spices, brown sugar and butter. Deep dark golden caramel sauce, crunchy walnuts and an oatmeal base and top just waiting to hug all that wonderful filling.
Just imagine all the above mentioned ingredients baking together, doing their browning and bubbling dance together. The aroma of fresh baked apples, spices and oatmeal cookies in the air. The wind blowing outside, under a cloud of chilly drizzle as the leaves on the trees are starting to give in to the inevitable as the edges are turning hues of ruby, amber and gold. Ahhh, fall is here and there is no better way to embrace it than with Caramel Apple Walnut Oat Bars, a cup of tea and a warm blanket.
Enjoy!
Stacey
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Caramel Apple Walnut Oat Bars
Ingredients
- COOKIE BASE AND TOP:
- 2¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1½ cups light brown sugar packed
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup butter at room temperature
- 1 large egg
- FILLING:
- 5 cups chopped apples
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 cup chopped walnuts plus more for garnish
- 1 cup caramel sauce plus more for drizzling on top
Instructions
- Line 9x9 pan with parchment
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F
- APPLE FILLING:
- Add apples, brown sugar, butter and spices into a large sautee pan.
- Cook on low-medium heat, stirring often, until apples have softened, about 10 minutes.
- Set aside.
- COOKIE BASE:
- In bowl of mixer on low speed mix flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, salt until combined.
- Slowly add in the butter in chunks with mixer on low.
- Add in egg, mix on medium/low speed until you have a unified crumbly mixture.
- Pour half of the mixture into prepared pan and press into place evenly with back of measuring cup.
- Bake 15 minutes.
- FILLING:
- Evenly spread caramel sauce over cookie.
- Evenly sprinkle on the walnuts.
- Pour on the apple filling you made and gently spread evenly with spatula.
- TOPPING:
- Take the second half of the cookie mixture and evenly distribute over entire top.
- Bake 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely before cutting.
- GARNISH (optional):
- Drizzle with caramel sauce and sprinkle with additional walnuts.
Oh, you set a beautiful stage and a delicious offering! This is quintessential fall, my friend! I love it!
Hi Annie! Thanks so much! These are a tasty way to welcome fall! Take care.
Oh boy, my favorite fall combination ! Thank you ! Happy coking !
Hi 2pots2cook! One of mine as well. Thank you. Take care.
Holy moly these bars certainly aren’t messing around, Stacey! These look BEYOND delicious! And these are a combination of some of my all time favorite things – apple pie, oatmeal cookies, caramel AND walnuts… OH MY! These beauties look dangerously delicious!! But I’m pretty sure they are worth every SINGLE calorie! Gimme gimme! Pinned! Cheers!
Hi Cheyanne! No messing around here thats for sure. So glad you liked these, they hold a special place in my heart for fall (well anytime actually), lol. Take care.
I’m craving all things fall now, too! I love these bars and hope to give them a try soon 🙂
Hi Megan! Fall has a special place in my heart. I am so thrilled you loved these bars. Take care.
Hello!
I have a question. ‘Light brown sugar packed’ is how much? Tablespoons? Teaspoons? Cups?
Hi Kim, thanks for reaching out. Geez, that information would help wouldn’t it, I’m so sorry I accidentally omitted it. It is 1 1/2 cups, the recipe in the post has been updated (thanks to you!). These bars are so yummy, enjoy! Take care.