Caramel Apple Oat Squares

Not sure where this came from, a friend gave it to me and we have enjoyed it for years.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1 3⁄4 cups unsifted flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ginger (optional)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 1  cup quick-cooking oats
• 1⁄2 cup  firmly packed brown sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  cup  cold margarine or 1  cup butter
• 1  cup  chopped walnuts
• 20  caramels, unwrapped
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
• 3⁄4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 (21 ounce) can  apple pie filling

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. In large bowl, combine flour, spices if using, oats, sugar, baking soda and salt; cut in margarine until crumbly.
3. Reserving 1-1/2 cups crumb mixture, press remainder on bottom of 13x9-inch baking pan.
4. Bake 15 minutes.
5. Add nuts to reserved crumb mixture.
6. In heavy sauce pan, over low heat, melt caramels with sweetened condensed milk, stirring until smooth, add vanilla.
7. Spoon apple pie filling over prepared crust; top with caramel mixture then reserved crumb mixture.
8. Bake 20 minutes or until set.
9. Cool.
10. Serve warm with ice cream.