Are you craving a warm, comforting dessert that's surprisingly easy to make? Look no further! These Apple Strudel Bars offer all the deliciousness of classic apple strudel in a convenient, bar-style format. Perfect for a quick dessert, a bake sale, or even a sophisticated brunch, these bars are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Forget complicated pastry techniques; this recipe is designed for even the busiest home cooks, offering a delightful homemade taste without the fuss. This easy recipe is perfect for adding to your collection of healthy meals and quick dinner ideas.
Ingredients:
- For the Crust:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- ¼ cup ice water
- For the Filling:
- 4 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- For the Topping:
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions:
Making the Crust:
- Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
- Cut in butter: Add the cold butter cubes and use a pastry blender or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add water: Gradually add the ice water, mixing until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix.
- Chill the dough: Form the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Preparing the Filling:
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, gently toss together the sliced apples, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and lemon juice.
- Add melted butter: Stir in the melted butter to coat the apples evenly.
Assembling and Baking the Bars:
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
- Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough into a 12x15 inch rectangle.
- Transfer to pan: Carefully transfer the dough to the prepared baking pan.
- Spread the filling: Evenly spread the apple filling over the dough.
- Make the topping: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, nuts (if using), and cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture over the apple filling.
- Bake: Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Cool and serve: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares.
Tips and Variations:
- For a flakier crust: Use a food processor to cut in the butter.
- Add raisins or cranberries: For extra sweetness and texture, add ½ cup of raisins or cranberries to the apple filling.
- Use different spices: Experiment with other spices like cardamom or ginger.
- Make it gluten-free: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend.
- Individual servings: Use muffin tins to make individual apple strudel cups.
Nutritional Information (per bar, approximate):
Calories: Around 250-300 (depending on ingredients and portion size)
These Apple Strudel Bars are a delightful addition to your repertoire of delicious dishes and best recipes. They are a perfect example of how homemade cooking can be both simple and satisfying. Enjoy!