3 tablespoons butter unsalted cold cut into 1-in pieces
Equipment
bowl
frying pan
oven
whisk
wire rack
aluminum foil
stand mixer
Directions
For the filling:Peel, core, and chop the apples into 1/2-inch cubes. Set aside in a bowl.Melt butter in a sauté pan over medium heat.
Add the apples and sauté for about 8 minutes until the apples are semi-soft.
Add sugar, lemon juice, flour, and cinnamon to the apples and stir to combine.Cook until mixture begins to bubble, then turn heat to low and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
Transfer filling to a bowl and let cool while you make the crust.For the crust:Line a 9 by 13 inch pan with aluminum foil, leaving enough to hang over the edge and act as handles to remove bars after baking. Grease foil.
Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl and set aside.In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar together on medium speed for several minutes until light and fluffy.
Add egg and mix to combine.
Add flour mixture and mix to combine.
Pour about half the dough into the prepared pan and gently press into the bottom of the pan, making sure it is level.
Add in more dough as necessary to cover the bottom of the pan, but you will probably not use it all. (You can use it all if you want a thicker base for your bars. Set pan aside while you make the streusel.For the streusel:In a stand mixer, combine sugar, flour, and salt and mix to combine.
Add butter and mix until crumbly and the butter pieces are very small.
Add pecans and mix just to combine.To finish the bars:Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spread cooled apple filling evenly over the crust, leaving about 3/4” between the pan sides and the filling.
Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the filling.
Bake for about 35-40 minutes until the top layer is golden. Cool completely on wire rack before removing.
