SALTED CARAMEL SOURDOUGH APPLE CRUMBLE BARS

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease and line an 8x8” baking pan with parchment paper; set aside.

Start by preparing the crust. In a medium bowl, add the softened butter and sugar. Beat for ~1min, until light and fluffy. Add in the sourdough discard, and mix until incorporated. Add the vanilla; mix again. Then, add the salt and flour, and mix until soft chunks of dough form.

Pour into the prepared baking pan, and use your fingers to press into an even layer. Prick the crust with a fork, and bake at 350F for 20-25 mins, until edges start to brown and it’s baked through. Remove & set aside.

Apple pie filling: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, water, and lemon juice and mix. Cover and cook for ~10mins, until apples are softened.

Add the cornstarch/water mixture, mix, and cook until the apple mixture is thickened. Set aside.

Crumble: In a medium bowl, mix together all of the ingredients until combined & crumbly. Set aside.

Assemble: Evenly layer the apples on top of the crust. Then, sprinkle the apple layer with the crumble.

Bake at 350F for 30-35 mins, or until golden brown. Remove and allow to cool for at least 20 mins.

Make the salted caramel by mixing together all of the ingredients in a medium bowl. Then, drizzle the bars with the salted caramel.

Slice and serve warm, at room temp, or chilled with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Enjoy!