Grandma’s Fall Apple Bars

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (use a mix of sweet and tart varieties)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to blend the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
4. In a small bowl, beat the egg and vanilla extract together. Add this mixture to the flour-butter mixture, stirring until just combined. The dough will be crumbly but should hold together when pressed.
5. Press about two-thirds of the dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form a firm crust.
6. In a separate bowl, combine the sliced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Toss until the apples are evenly coated.
7. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crust in the baking dish.
8. Crumble the remaining one-third of the dough evenly over the apples. If desired, sprinkle chopped nuts on top.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until the top is golden brown, and the apples are tender.
10. Allow the apple bars to cool completely in the baking dish on a wire rack before cutting into squares.
11. Serve and enjoy these delightful Apple Bars that are sure to bring back memories of fall at Grandma’s house!

Feel free to experiment with the recipe by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra indulgent treat.