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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Apple Shortbread Bars

I found this recipe on Lovin In The Oven blog. It is fantastic (the blog and the recipe)! You really can't go wrong with any dessert made with apples. I picked up some fresh Pippin apples from the Portland Farmers Market (SO excited it's open!) and used them in the filling. They weren't too sweet or juicy so they were perfect for these bars. I took Kim's advice and used a smaller pan (8x8) so the bars came out thick, I also followed her suggestion to make less of the icing. She recommends leaving off the icing all together, as the bars are quite sweet. But when it comes to dessert sweet is a-ok with me so I left it on. The flavors are reminiscent of apple pie, but the shortbread gives the bars a sweet crunch that really takes these bars to the next level of decadent dessert! You should absolutely make these, now, you will NOT be disappointed!

Apple Shortbread Bars
Shortbread Crust Ingredients
2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. real butter, softened (no substitutions!)
1 egg, beaten

Apple Filling Ingredients
1/2 c. white sugar
1/4 c. flour
2 tsp. apple pie spice, or cinnamon
4 c. (about 3 medium) sliced, peeled baking apples (I used 3 pippin apples)

Glaze Ingredients
1 c. powdered sugar
About 2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

To prepare crust, mix flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl.
Cut in butter with a pastry blender or use your hands to mix in until you have pea-sized crumbles.
Gently mix in beaten egg. Spray an 8x8 pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Gently pat about 2/3 of the crumb mixture onto the bottom of the dish. Preheat oven to 350 and set aside.
To prepare apple filling, combine flour, sugar, and apple pie spice.
Toss with apples and spread apples out on prepared crust. I actually forgot to toss apples with flour and sugar and had to pick them off the crust and toss them. Apparently I can't watch TV and bake at the same time ☺
Pat reserved crust mixture over the apples, it's ok if there are some uncovered parts, its supposed to be like a streusel. I just tore off bits of batter with my fingers and patted it into place. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until lightly browned. When finished, allow to cool completely. To prepare glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. My tip, to make less of a mess, combine all glaze ingredients in a Ziploc bag and smoosh together with your hands. Be sure not to leave any powdered sugar lumps. When glaze is desired consistency, cut off a very small portion of one of the corners of the Ziploc.
Drizzle glaze over cooled pastry and allow to harden (you can place it in the freezer to hurry things along).
Cut into bars and serve.
What's your favorite fruit dessert? I think these might be mine!

20 comments:

  1. you have some wonderful desserts on your blog, happy I stumbled across it
    dallas
    http://dillydallas.blogspot.com

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  2. This looks like the perfect thing to make for company - of course, we should experiment with our own family rather than wait for a special occasion. My husband loves anything with apples - this looks wonderful.

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  3. That looks truly delicious! So good! Your sidebar is tempting me with all those sweet treats!

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  4. Goodness GRACIOUS these bars look GOOD!!! :-)

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  5. These bars look like heaven! I can't wait to try these!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm your newest follower and hope you will pop back and follow me, as well! Also, feel free to link up every Sunday with So Sweet Sundays. Your recipes would be perfect! :)

    morrowsunshine.blogspot.com

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  6. This looks delicious and comforting. I think food bloggers are having apple fever lately, I've seen so many awesome recipes the past few days with apples. :) I'd love for you to add this to the Hump Day Hoorah link party. I hope to see you there! :)

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  7. I would love this!

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  8. These look really wonderful. I love anything apple!

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  9. This recipe has me dreaming of fall. Yum!

    I'd like to invite you to share this recipe on my linky, Sweet Tooth Friday. I hope to see you there. http://alli-n-son.com/2011/04/14/chocolate-birds-nests/

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  10. Oh my gosh, these sound amazing!

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  11. This looks absolutely wonderful! I forgot the Farmer's Market was opening. The weather has been so horrible. I always wait for the Beaverton Farmer's Market in May. It's my fav!

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  12. YUM! This looks delicious! I love anything apple! Thanks for sharing! :)

    http://lifeofasoutherncouple.blogspot.com/

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  13. Just had to let you know I made the Apple Shortbread Bars this evening and OH MY! I will definitely make these again...I have made a lot of variations on apple bars but they didn't even come close to this. Thank you so much for posting this recipe!

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  14. I have to make these! Those Apple Shortbread bars look so good! Thank you for sharing the recipe, and your gorgeous pictures, with Let's Do Brunch. Chaya is celebrating the Passover for a few days so she asked me to post the linky and it is now up on my site. We would love it if you would come along and join in again.

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  15. I made this for Easter. I used Granny Smith apples. The crust has a nice buttery flavor. I think next time I would use a little bigger pan, spread the bottom crust a little thinner & use one more apple.

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  16. Thank you so much these are now my favorite dessert. Apple and shortbread, what was not to love! It was so good I just had to share.
    Thank you,
    http://www.smallwalletbigappetite.com/2011/06/apple-shortbread-bars-is-match-made-in.html

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