Caramel Apple Cookie Bars

 

Happy Autumn everyone!  I found a partial recipe on a facebook video, I thought I had saved it but can't seem to find it again, so I had to improvise.......and they turned out way better than I expected, so I had to add them here!

1 cup spiced apple cider, reduced to 1/3 cup *

2 sticks butter, softened

1 egg

1 TB molasses

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed

1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups flour

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup Kraft Caramel bits (or chopped up caramels if you prefer)

1 sm/med apple, cored and diced small (peeled or not is up to you, I left it peeled and used fuji)

cinnamon to taste

* To reduce your apple cider put it in a glass measuring cup (2 cup or lager to prevent spills)

Microwave on high for 5 minutes, check to see how much it has reduced, add 1-2 minutes at a time until you are down to 1/3 cup

You could do this stove top too, but it will take longer and you have to pour it back and forth into measuring cup so I prefer microwave method.

Set aside to cool

For the cookies:

Preheat oven to 350  and Grease a 9 x 13 pan

Cream butter, molasses and sugar until creamy and pale. Add egg  and reduced cider, beat well until everything is well incorporated and the batter is a light brown color

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together

Add 1 cup at a time and mix well until everything is well combined.

Add apples, white chocolate and caramel bits, mix gently until just combined.

Spread evenly into prepared pan and sprinkle with cinnamon (or apple pie spice if you like!)

Bake 35-45 minutes until golden brown, you can do toothpick method, but kind of difficult with the caramel.

Allow to cool in pan, slice into bars and enjoy!

I served slightly warm with some Ginger Ice Cream from Elevated Ice Cream.... (seriously, if you are ever in Port Townsend, WA you HAVE to stop by this place!)