Tasty Fall Treats: Apple Pie Bars

The air is chilling down and Mother Nature is causing the apples to fall from the trees.  It must be time to make a "Tasty Fall Treat: Apple Pie Bars".

This time of year offers the opportunity to create a number of goodies. Lets get started!

Gather the needed ingredients together.

First, hop on over to your oven and preheat it to 375* F. Next, grease a 15" x 17" rimmed cookie sheet. DON'T USE PARCHMENT PAPER! We can tell you from experience that you will spend a lifetime pulling it off the bottom of your bars. Set this aside for the crust.

After you've gathered all the ingredients you can begin preparing the crust, In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter with the sugar at medium speed until it is light and fluffy (This should take a little less than 2 minutes).

Next, at low speed, beat in the flour until a soft dough forms (It should stick to the paddle).

After it has been made, press the dough evenly onto the bottom of your pan.

Next is the filling.  To start you need to fill a sink full of water and add just a couple pinches of salt. Then wash 12 apples and get out a potato peeler, knife, an apple corer, and a cutting board.

Next, core and peel the apples and put them into the sink.  This will keep the apples from turning brown.  Now cut the apples into even slices and throw them back into the sink.

Take out a dutch oven and put all of the apple slices into the pan. Add 6 oz. of butter and 1/2 cup of brown sugar. Mix it all in with the apples.  Cook until the apples are soft and the juice has evaporated.

When the apples are tender and the juice is evaporated, spread the apple slice evenly over the prepared crust.

For the topping, start out by gathering all of your ingredients and measuring supplies. In a LARGE bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients: flour, oats, baking soda, brown sugar, and cinnamon. On top of that, slice the chilled butter into small cubes, so it is easy to break it up and mix it all together. Use a pastry blender or a fork to cut the butter into pea sized pieces and create a course meal.

Sprinkle the mixture over the apples until completely covered and lightly press down into the pan.

Place the pan into the preheated oven for about 45 minutes. The original recipe said to bake for an hour but ours finished 10-15 minutes before that! Keep an eye on it and when it's deep golden brown, it's ready!

Let cool or eat it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream - yum!

Apple Pie Bars
(modified from original source - My Baking Addiction)

Prep Time: 45 minutes    Cook Time: 45 - 50 minutes    September 15, 2014

Crust

3 sticks butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Filling

6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
6 lbs. firm apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup water, if necessary

Topping

3 cup quick-cooking oats
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 sticks (12 ounces) butter, cut into 1/2" cubes and chilled

Preheat the oven to 375* F.  Grease a 15 x 17 inch jelly roll pan. Cream butter and sugar together at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Stir in the flour and salt until a soft dough forms.

Press the dough over the bottom of the prepared baking sheet evenly.

In a Dutch oven, melt 6 tablespoons of butter with 1/2 C of brown sugar.  Add the apples and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until softened. Stir in cinnamon.

Cook until the apples are caramelized and apples are tender.  Let cool slightly.

Topping:
In a large bowl, mix the oats with the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.  Using a pastry blender,  cut in the butter until it resembles course meal. Set aside.

Assemble and Bake:
Spread the apple filling over the crust. Scatter the crumbs on top, pressing them lightly into an even layer. Bake in the center of the oven for 45 minutes, until golden brown; rotate the pan halfway through baking time.  Cool.