These Apple Pie Bars are fussier than my usual apple pies, I think, but the work that goes into these bars is also evident in the flavor and texture.
The original recipe is from King Arthur Flour, part of an autumn feature last year. I found some things off-kilter though, especially the way the juice from my apples just plain did not cook off. Therefore, I built in advice on how to handle that if it happens to you as well.
If you like a variety of textures in a single bite, this recipe will please you immensely. You get a firm base crust, tender apples, and melt-in-the-mouth crumbles all together. So good.
Bready or Not: Apple Pie Bars
These luscious bars are time-consuming to make but well worth the effort, as the concentrated apple flavor adds a lot to these dense treats. Modified from King Arthur Flour.
Equipment
- 8×8 pan
- aluminum foil
- nonstick spray
Ingredients
Crust
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick) room temperature
- 1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons brown sugar packed
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
Filling
- 6 cups apples (678g) peeled and diced in 1/2" pieces (6 to 8 medium apples, such as Cosmic Crisp)
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons pie spice or ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup white sugar
Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 teaspoon pie spice or ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter cold, cut into small cubes
Instructions
Make crust
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line an 8×8 square pan with foil and apply nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Scrape the bowl and add the flour and salt. Continue to beat until the mixture is somewhat crumbly; if you squeeze a clump, it should hold together.
- Transfer the crust mixture to the prepared pan. Press down into an even layer. Use a fork to dock it all over.
- Bake crust until lightly golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove it from the oven.
- Increase oven temperature to 350. Set aside crust to cool while filling is prepared.
Make filling
- Place the apples and lemon juice in a big bowl and stir to coat.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the spice and stir.
- Carefully add the apples to the skillet and stir to coat. Continue to stir occasionally for about 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle sugar evenly over the apples. Cook and continue to stir occasionally for 6 to 10 minutes. The apples will likely release a lot of liquid. If this evaporates down to become a mere sticky mixture, great. If not, use a slotted spoon to drain-off the apples and set them aside in another dish to cool while the topping is prepared.
- (What to do with that leftover liquid, if you have some? You can simmer it down to create a thick syrup to use on the bars or on something like ice cream, or drink it straight. Seems tragic to let it go to waste!)
Make topping
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and pie spice. Mash in the butter until crumbly.
Assemble and bake
- Transfer the cooked and cooled apples to top the crust, spreading into an even layer. Sprinkle the topping over the apples.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the topping is light golden brown. A fork stabbed into the top should confirm the apples are tender.
- Cool bars at room temperature, then move to fridge to chill before cutting. Use foil to lift contents onto a cutting board to slice.
- Store bars at room temperature or in the fridge in a sealed container. They can also be individually wrapped and frozen.
