APPLE CRUMB BARS

Makes 24.

INGREDIENTS

For crust and crumb topping: 21/2 cups unbleached allpurpose flour 11/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup unsalted butter, cold, cut into small cubes

For the filling:

4 medium apples, cored and chopped or sliced (use Honey Crisp, Pink Lady or Jonagold) 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13by-2-inch baking pan. 2 Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. Add butter, and mix with a pastry blender until mixture is combined and crumbly. The mixture should hold together when pinched. Reserve about a cup of the crust mixture for the topping. Press the remaining crust mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Set aside. 3 To make filling, place the apples, brown sugar, butter and cinnamon in a skillet and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until the mixture is soft and bubbly. Spread the filling evenly over the partially baked crust. Sprinkle the reserved crust mixture over the top of the filling. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until the edges and topping are golden brown. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before cutting into bars. Source: “Quick-Shop-&-Prep 5 Ingredient Baking” by Jennifer McHenry