Shelly's Recipe

APPLE PIE SQUARES

Category: Fruit Desserts

Streusel Topping
1 cup flour
1 cup walnuts -- chopped
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter -- softened
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Shortbread Crust
3 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup cold butter -- cut up

Apple Filling
3 tbsp butter
3 pounds Golden Delicious apples -- peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup seedless raisins
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp cornstarch – plus 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 375. Lightly grease jelly-roll pan.

Prepare Streusel Topping: In medium bowl, with hand, mix all topping ingredients until mixture comes together. Shape into a ball; cover and refrigerate.

Prepare Shortbread Crust: In large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt. With pastry blender or 2 knives used scissor-fashion, cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Sprinkle crumbs evenly in prepared pan. With hands, firmly pat crumbs onto bottom of pan to form a crust. Bake crust 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned (crust may crack).

Meanwhile, prepare Apple Filling: In 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add apples, raisins, sugar and cinnamon, and cook 15 minutes or until apples are tender, stirring occasionally. In cup, mix cornstarch and lemon juice; stir into apple mixture until thickened (it will thicken almost immediately). Remove skillet from heat.

Spoon hot apple mixture over warm crust. Break Streusel Topping into 1/2-inch chunks and scatter over apple mixture. Bake 30 minutes or until streusel is golden. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. When cool, cut lengthwise into 3 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 6 pieces. Use wide metal spatula to lift and serve squares.

TO FREEZE: Make this buttery cookie-like dessert up to 1 month ahead; wrap it well, and freeze right in the pan. Allow to thaw for a few hours in the refrigerator before serving.