Apple Crumb Bars with Salted Maple Glaze

I've come to the conclusion that I don't bake crumb bars nearly as often as I should. They have all the goodness of buttery pastry and fruity pie-style filling with the added bonus of a crumble topping and the fact that they're very easy to make. You almost can't even mess it up.

Yup, perfectly imperfect, with crumb topping, is a great way to describe these bars. I love the thick dough on the bottom and the soft apple filling in the middle. And that salted maple glaze over the crumb topping is next level. I can usually restrain myself, enjoy a slice of whatever and then share the rest. But I have to admit that these bars didn't exactly make the rounds. It was more like - hmm...just one more for me. I have no regrets. Enjoy!

Yield: 16 Servings

Author: Anita Schecter

Apple Crumb Bars with Salted Maple Glaze

prep time: 30 Mcook time: 50 Mtotal time: 80 M

Recipe for shortcrust dessert bars filled with cinnamon apples and topped with maple glaze.

ingredients:

• For the Pastry:
• 2 Sticks (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1" pieces
• 3/4 Cup granulated sugar
• 3 Cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Teaspoon salt
• 1 Teaspoon baking powder
• 1 Egg
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla
• 
  
• For the Filling:
• 4 Apples, peeled, cored and diced
• 1/3 Cup granulated sugar
• 1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 Teaspoon salt
• 
  
• For the Glaze:
• 1/2 Cup powdered sugar
• 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
• 2 Tablespoons whole milk
• Pinch of sea salt

instructions:

How to cook Apple Crumb Bars with Salted Maple Glaze

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 9" square baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Add the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, salt, baking powder and butter to a food processor. Pulse a few times until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg and vanilla and continue pulsing until the mixture almost forms a dough.
3. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and pat it together. Pat about 2/3 of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan.
4. Add the diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, salt and flour to a bowl and toss to combine. Pour the mixture over the dough in the pan and spread it out into an even layer.
5. Using your hands, crumble the remaining dough into big chunks and drop it over the apple layer. Bake for approximately 45 - 50 minutes or until the dough is a light golden brown. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.
6. Add the powdered sugar, maple syrup, milk and salt to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Pour over the bars.

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