Caramel Apple Cookie Bars

This was one of the homemade goodies we received in a Christmas basket from a friend with the recipe included. So I wanted to share this scrumptious treat with all of you. I made them for the first time this morning and they are absolutely delicious warm with the ooey gooey caramel topping.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 9
• Yields: 9 bars/cookies

Ingredients

• 3  tablespoons butter, melted
• 3  cups  Golden Grahams cereal, ground in food processor
• 1  roll  Pillsbury sugar cookie dough
• 8  ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 21  ounces  apple pie filling
• 1 1⁄2 ounces  nature valley oats n' honey crunchy granola bars (2 count, crushed)
• 9 1⁄2 ounces  Kraft caramels
• 1⁄2 cup half-and-half

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine melted butter and ground cereal into a large bowl; press into an 8×8 inch baking dish lined with foil that’s been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 10 minutes then remove from oven.
3. Crumble half of the cookie dough over partially baked crust.
4. Place cream cheese, sugar and vanilla into a mixer; beat until smooth.
5. Pour over crumbled cookie dough layer.
6. Bake for 25 minutes then remove from oven.
7. Top with 3/4 of the apple pie filling (I think you could use the whole can). Next top with remaining cookie dough, breaking off into little pieces evenly over top.
8. Sprinkle with crushed granola bars and bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes clean from center.
9. Let cool completely then cut into squares.
10. Melt caramels and Half and Half according to package directions.
11. Drizzle over each bar.
12. Refrigerate leftovers.