Apple Pie Bars: A Sweet and Easy Dessert



Apple pie bars are a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that is perfect for any occasion. They are made with a simple pastry crust that is filled with a sweet and tangy apple filling. The bars are then baked until golden brown and served warm or cold.

Apple pie bars are a great way to use up leftover apples. You can also use different types of apples to create different flavors. For example, Granny Smith apples will give your bars a tart flavor, while Honeycrisp apples will give them a sweeter flavor.

Here is a recipe for apple pie bars:

Ingredients:

* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
* 1/4 cup ice water
* 6 cups apples, peeled and sliced
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the butter and use your fingers to work it into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Add the ice water one tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 12x8-inch rectangle. Transfer the dough to a 9x13-inch baking dish and trim the edges.
5. In a large bowl, combine the apples, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Pour the filling into the prepared crust.
6. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
7. Let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Tips:

* For a crispier crust, pre-bake the crust for 10 minutes before adding the filling.
* You can use any type of apples you like in this recipe.
* If you don't have fresh apples, you can use frozen apples that have been thawed and drained.
* Serve apple pie bars with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Apple pie bars are a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that is perfect for any occasion. They are a great way to use up leftover apples, and you can also use different types of apples to create different flavors. So next time you are looking for a sweet and satisfying dessert, give apple pie bars a try!