Apple Squares (Apple Pie Bars)

 

I have the best dessert for your Thanksgiving table!  These Apple Squares were a fall staple when I was growing up, but I only made them for the first time this year!  One of my co-workers had an overabundance of apples from her backyard tree and brought me a large bag of apples.

I used half the apples to make an apple pie and the others to finally tackle apple squares myself!  These make a large tray of dessert, so be sure to make them for a crowd.

Apple Squares (Apple Pie Bars)

Recipe from my grandma & my mom

Crust

2 ½ cups flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup cold butter, cut in ¼ inch pieces

1 egg yolk

⅔ cup milk

Filling

8-10 medium sized apples

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon almond extract

Icing

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2-3 tablespoon water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

To make the crust, mix together the flour, sugar, and salt.  Add the butter and mix to cut the butter into the flour.  Whisk together the egg yolk and milk.  Pour the liquid into the flour mixture and stir to combine.  Knead into a ball.

Divide the dough in two.  On a floured surface, roll 1 half of the dough to fit the bottom of a jelly roll pan.

Mix together the filling ingredients, then spread evenly over the dough.  Roll the second half of the dough and place on top of the filling.  Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour or until the crust is golden brown.

Cool to room temperature.  To make the icing, mix together the icing ingredients and drizzle over the crust.  Cut and serve.