Name: Apple Streusel Bars
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup real butter, softened (no substitutions!); 1 egg, beaten; 1/2 cup white sugar; 1/4 cup flour; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 4 cups (about 3 medium or 2 large) sliced, peeled baking apples like Granny Smith; 2 cups powdered sugar; About 3 tablespoons milk (whole milk is best); 1 teaspoon almond extract

Description

Easier (and tastier!) than pie, these apple streusel bars will find a permanent place on your dessert or brunch table!

Ingredients

SWEET PASTRY

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup real butter, softened (no substitutions!)
1 egg, beaten

APPLE FILLING

1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 cups (about 3 medium or 2 large) sliced, peeled baking apples like Granny Smith

GLAZE

2 cups powdered sugar
About 3 tablespoons milk (whole milk is best)
1 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

To prepare crust, mix flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives until you have pea-sized crumbles. Gently mix in beaten egg.
Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Gently pat about 2/3 of the crumb mixture onto the bottom of the dish. Preheat oven to 350 and set aside.
To prepare apple filling, combine flour, sugar, and cinnamon and toss with apples.
Spread apples out on prepared crust. Sprinkle reserved crust mixture over apples evenly and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes.
When finished, allow to cool completely.
To prepare glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, almond extract, and enough milk to achieve desired consistency.
Place glaze in a Ziploc bag and cut off a very small portion of one of the corners (or just use a fork) to drizzle glaze over cooled pastry and allow to harden (you can place it in the freezer to hurry things along). Cut into bars and serve.