The Freshman Cook: Apple Harvest Bars

I made these luscious Apple Harvest Bars as a gift for a special friend of the family. They are full of apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, pecans and they are just, oh so good. I was looking to send a gift that said “Autumn”, but I wanted a little change from my usual baked goods. These Apple Harvest Bars are exactly what I was looking for!

Apple Harvest Bars

Crust

11/2  cup Flour 1/3 cup Sugar 11/2 teaspoons Cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon Salt  1/2 cup Butter 2 tablespoons Apple Cider

Apple Mix 

4 cups peeled, chopped Apples 1 large Egg 11/2 cups sour Half and Half 2 teaspoons Vanilla 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup Flour 1/2 teaspoon Salt

Topping

1/2 cup Flour 1/3 cup Brown Sugar 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon Salt 1/2 cup Butter 1 cup chopped Pecans
~Set your oven at 350 degrees. Use a 13X9″ pan.
To make the crust, mix together the flour, sugar,  cinnamon, and salt. Cut in 1/2 cup of the cold Butter with a pastry blender or use 2 forks. To cut in you should cut the stick of butter into very small pieces. Then mix in the butter until the pieces become very small,  and your mix resembles cornmeal. Add your apple cider and mix together. Press the crust mixture into your pan. Evenly cover the bottom. Set aside. Peel, core, and chop your apples.
 The pieces should be bite size.
Mix together the egg, sour half and half, vanilla, lemon juice, sugar, flour and salt. Mix at medium speed until combined. Add apples and stir thoroughly.
Spread over the crust. Bake for 30 minutes. While the bars are baking, we will put the topping together. Mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
Cut in your butter, just as you did when you made your crust.
Chop your pecans, and add to your mix. Put the topping in the fridge until your crust  and apple filling are finished cooking for the 30 minutes. Sprinkle the topping over the filling, and bake for 10-15 minutes more. Remove from oven and cool for 45 minutes.
Cut into 20-30 bars. Store in refrigerator. Enjoy! Thanks for joining me today! I hope you make these yummy bars. You will love them!!

Leave a Comment