Apple pie bars
- Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:
- Cook:
- plus cooling
- Easy
- Makes 12-16
Ingredients
- 250g cold butter, cut into cubes
- 350g plain flour
- 150g light brown soft sugar, plus 3 tbsp
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 4 medium Bramley apples (around 900g), peeled, cored and cut into chunks
- 1¼ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 75g icing sugar
Method
- STEP 1
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 18 x 28cm baking tin with baking parchment. Put the butter, flour, 150g of the brown sugar and the vanilla extract into a food processor with 1 tsp salt, and blitz until the mixture comes together. Press two-thirds of the dough into the tin in an even layer, then bake for 12-15 mins until golden. Keep the remaining dough chilled while you prepare the apples.
- STEP 2
Tip the apples into a pan with 3 tbsp of the brown sugar, 1 tsp of the cinnamon (if using) and the lemon juice. Cook over a medium heat for 15-20 mins until the apples have softened but not broken down.
- STEP 3
Tip the apples over the pastry base, then break up the remaining dough and dot it over the top. Bake for 15-20 mins until the topping is cooked and golden. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin.
- STEP 4
Combine the icing sugar and remaining ¼ tsp cinnamon with enough water to create a thick icing (you need around 2 tsp). Drizzle the icing over the apple pie bars, then slice into 12-16 squares. Will keep in an airtight container for up to three days.
