If you are a fan of classic apple pie, you’ll love this vintage recipe for apple pie bars. These apple bars capture all of the deliciousness of a traditional apple pie but in a convenient bar form that’s perfect for sharing with friends and family.
Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
- 4 cups All purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup shortening
- 3 med egg yolks
- 10 tbsp ice cold water
Filling
- 8 cups finely cut apples the thinner the better
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Glaze
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsp milk
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in the shortening until the mixture starts to come together and there is pea sized crumbs. Mix together egg yolk and water. Slowly add to the flour mixture, carefully mixing until the dough comes together. Using your hand fold the dough over a few times. Let the dough rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. Cut off a 1/4 of the dough and set aside. Lightly sprinkle flour on your counter top. Roll out the remaining dough into a large rectangle. Transfer the rolled dough onto a 11×15 inch cookie sheet.
Filling
- Peel the apples and cut them in small pieces. Add the sugars, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg to the apples and mix well. Pour the apple mixture onto the crust and spread out evenly.
Top crust
- Lightly sprinkle flour on your counter top. Roll out the remaining dough. Tear of pieces of the rolled dough and place on top of apples. Continue this until all the dough is used.
Baking
- Place a piece of tinfoil on the bottom of your oven to help with spills. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 45-50 minutes. Let cool.
Glaze
- Dip a fork into the glaze and drizzel over top of the crust. Let cool.
making apple pie bars
- Cut your apples thin. This makes baking quicker and cutting the bars easier.
- Use apples that not over ripe
- Using cold butter and ice cold water is best when making the crust
- You can roll out your crust between 2 pieces of wax paper
- Place some tinfoil on the bottom of the oven to catch dripping if the apple slab pie boils over
what kind of apples are best for baking?
Granny smith, haralson and braeburn are my favorite for baking. You can mix one or two different varities. Granny smith apples are firm and hold their shape when baked. Adding a softer apple like breburn adds some sweetness to the mixture.
There’s something about the aroma of fresh baked apple pie that can transport you to a simpler time, where the world seemed a little less hectic and the small pleasures in life were treasured.
vintage recipes
Here are some more vintage recipes that you are sure to enjoy
These Finnish pancakes are a household hit!
Knock the socks off your next family get together with these easy to make chocolate bars
what is the best cookie sheet?
Nordic ware aluminum baking sheets are fabulous. This one here is a favorite.
Circulon also has a great baking sheet that I use often.