Walnut Apple Crisp Bars
makes 16 bars
Recipe from Jess Thomson
These are bars for those who like to pick the top crust off a good apple crisp. Be sure to use fresh, tart apples. All-purpose flour can be used in lieu of white whole wheat.
Read more about this recipe at hogwash.
ingredients
For the crust:
Vegetable oil or spray, or butter for greasing the pan
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar (straight from the package)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
For the filling:
3 pounds Honey Crisp apples (about 6 large), peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup white whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the topping:
3/4 cup white whole wheat flour
3/4 cup whole oats
3/4 cup (packed) brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
timer
prep: 35 minutes
total: 1 hour 15 minutes
tools
9 x 13-inch (preferably square-sided) pan
food processor
2 mixing bowls
instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Grease a 9 x 13-inch (preferably square-sided) pan with vegetable oil or butter, and set aside.
3. Make the crust: In the work bowl of a food processor, whirl the flour, confectioners’ sugar, walnuts and cinnamon until the nuts are finely chopped.
4. Cut the butter into cubes, add to the dry mixture, and pulse 20 times.
5. Dump the dough into the baking pan, spread into an even layer, and use the palms of your hands to press the crust into the bottom of the pan.
6. Bake for 20 minutes on the middle rack, or until firm and just barely beginning to brown.
7. Meanwhile, make the filling: In a mixing bowl, stir all the filling ingredients together until the apples are evenly coated, and set aside.
8. Make the topping: Mix everything but the butter together in another mixing bowl. Add the melted butter, and use your hands to work it into the dry ingredients until everything is moistened. Set aside.
9. When the crust has baked, remove it from the oven, spread the apples over it in an even layer, and bake 20 minutes.
