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Apple Shortbread Bars Recipe

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4.1 from 4 reviews

Apple Shortbread Bars are delightful layered dessert bars featuring a buttery shortbread crust, a spiced Granny Smith apple filling, and a crumbly topping baked to a perfect golden brown. These bars offer a balanced combination of tender crust, tender-cooked apples with cinnamon, and a sweet, crunchy crumble, perfect for an afternoon treat or dessert.

  • Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
  • Yield: 16 bars (based on 9x9-inch pan cut into 4x4 squares)

Ingredients

Shortbread

  • 1¾ cups (219 g) all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup (32 g) cornstarch
  • ⅔ cup (150 g) superfine sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks / 227 g) unsalted butter, cold, cubed

Apple Mixture

  • 4 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (about 3½ cups)
  • ½ cup (62.5 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Crumble Topping

  • ½ cup (62.5 g) all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup (67 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cubed

Instructions

  1. Prepare the shortbread crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, superfine sugar, and kosher salt until well combined. Add the cold, cubed butter and use your hands to rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles small crumbs and is a light yellow color.
  2. Form and bake the crust: Firmly press the shortbread mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Use a fork to pierce the dough at 1-inch intervals to prevent bubbling during baking. Bake the crust for 15 minutes to partially set it while you prepare the filling and topping.
  3. Prepare the apple mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the sliced Granny Smith apples with light brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and ground cinnamon. Stir gently to coat all apple slices evenly with the spiced sugar mixture.
  4. Make the crumble topping: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Add the cold, cubed butter and mix with your hands or a fork until the mixture forms pea-sized crumbs.
  5. Assemble and bake the bars: Remove the partially baked shortbread crust from the oven. Evenly spread the apple mixture over the crust. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apples. Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
  6. Cool and chill: Allow the bars to cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate them for at least two hours to set before cutting into bars.
  7. Serve: Optionally, drizzle the bars with caramel sauce for extra sweetness. Serve chilled or at room temperature for a delicious treat.

Notes

  • Using cold butter in both the crust and topping ensures a tender, flaky texture.
  • Granny Smith apples are preferred for their tartness and firm texture which hold up well during baking.
  • Chilling the bars after baking helps them set and makes clean slicing easier.
  • Superfine sugar can be substituted with regular granulated sugar, but superfine dissolves better for a smoother texture.
  • The optional caramel drizzle adds a rich flavor but can be omitted for a less sweet option.
  • Author: Olivia
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://iamstarved.com/apple-shortbread-bars-recipe/