Description
Homemade Flaky Apple Pie Bars showcase classic American dessert flavors in a convenient handheld treat. Crisp pastry and caramelized apples blend perfectly for a delightful experience you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 small apples (Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced)
- 1 cup (230 g) butter or vegetable shortening
- 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsps granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- ½ cup (120 ml) milk
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- Handful of crushed pecans
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment at 375°F (190°C), positioning the rack in the center. Coat a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray or butter to ensure easy removal.
- Create the foundational pastry mixture by combining flour and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Blend these dry components thoroughly until uniformly integrated.
- Transform the dry ingredients into a cohesive dough by cutting cold butter into the flour using a pastry cutter until the texture resembles coarse, pebble-like crumbs. Whisk egg yolks with milk in a separate vessel, then gradually incorporate this liquid into the flour mixture, stirring consistently until a uniform dough emerges.
- Partition the dough, reserving approximately one-fourth for the crumb topping. This separated portion will later add textural complexity to the dessert.
- Press the primary dough portion into the prepared pan, ensuring an even, compact base that covers the entire bottom surface.
- Arrange apple slices across the dough base in an overlapping pattern. Sprinkle a harmonious blend of brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon uniformly over the fruit layer.
- Craft the crumb topping by combining the reserved dough with brown sugar, crushed pecans, additional granulated sugar, and flour. Mix until the consistency becomes delightfully crumbly, then distribute this mixture generously over the seasoned apples.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes. Monitor until the topping achieves a golden-brown hue and the filling becomes effervescent and bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely within the pan. This resting period enables the dessert to stabilize, facilitating clean, precise cutting into elegant squares.
Notes
- Choose cold butter or shortening to ensure the most flaky, tender crust texture that melts in your mouth.
- Dice apples uniformly to guarantee even cooking and consistent texture throughout the bars.
- Experiment with different apple varieties like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Braeburn for varied flavor profiles and sweetness levels.
- Add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to the sugar mixture to enhance the warm, aromatic fall-inspired flavors of the dessert.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 298 kcal
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 72 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg