Caramel Apple Squares

I found this recipe years ago and am now copying it here from our family cookbook binder. Enjoy!

Caramel Apple Squares

¾ cup butter, softened                                           

1 cup packed brown sugar                                     

1 cup flour                                                            

1 cup old-fashioned oats                                      

1 tsp. ground cinnamon                                           

½ tsp. baking soda

1/2 finely chopped pecans (opt)

3 cups chopped apples, 2 medium

3/4 cup caramel topping

1/4 cup flour

vanilla or cinnamon ice cream (opt)

additional caramel topping (opt)                                            

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease bottom and sides of 13x9 inch pan with shortening.  In large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well mixed.  Beat in 1 cup flour, the oats, cinnamon, baking soda and pecans until well blended and crumbly.  Press half of the crumbly mixture in bottom of pan to form crust.  Spread apples over crust in pan.  In 1 qt. sauce pan, heat ¾ cup caramel topping and ¼ cup flour to boiling, stirring constantly.  Boil about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened.  Drizzle over apples.  Sprinkle with reserved crumbly mixture.  Bake 35-45 minutes or until top is golden brown. Cool 30 minutes before serving.  Top with ice cream and additional caramel topping.