Gooey Caramel Apple Bars

By á-24734

Ingredients

• Filling:
• 5 Cups Flour
• 1 1/4 tsp. Sugar
• 1 1/4 tsp. Salt
• 1 1/4 Cups Butter-flavored Shortening
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 Cup Cold Water
• 2 Tbs. plus 1 1/2 tsp. White Vinegar
• 10 1/2 Cups Tart Apples (about 12 medium), peeled, sliced
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1 Cup Brown Sugar, packed
• 1/2 Cup Flour
• 1 3/4 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 1/2 tsp. Nutmeg
• 1/3 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1/3 Cup Butter, cubed
• 1 Cup Chopped Walnuts
• 1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla

Preparation

Step 1

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk eggs, water, and vinegar, gradually add to flour mixture, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Divide dough in half so that one portion is slightly larger than the other; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. Roll out larger portion between 2 sheets of waxed paper into a 17" x 12" rectangle. Transfer to an ungreased 15" x 10" x 1" baking dish. Press gently onto bottom and up sides of pan; trim pastry even with top edges of pan. In a large bowl, combine apples, sugars, flour, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Stir in cream. In a Dutch oven, melt the butter. Add apple mixture; cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until apples are slightly tender. Stir in walnuts and vanilla. Spoon onto crust. Roll out remaining pastry; place over filling. Trim and seal edges. Cut slits in top. Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack. Yield: 2 dozen bars.