From our kitchen to yours!

Apple Betty Squares

A dessert that combines the flavors of a classic apple crisp with a bar-style treat.

Ingredients:

For Shortbread Base:

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3 slices firm white sandwich bread, torn into quarters

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1 1/2 sticks (3/ 4 cup) cold unsalted butter

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2 cups all-purpose flour

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1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

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1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Apple Filling:

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1 1/ 4 sticks (1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter

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2 lb tart apples (buy a medium bag, which is 3 lbs)

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2/3 cup granulated sugar

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2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F & prepare bread crumbs

Grind bread to fine crumbs in a food processor. Spread in a shallow baking pan and toast in middle of oven, stirring once, until golden, about 5 minutes. Leave oven on.

Step 2: Make shortbread base

Cut butter into 1/2-inch pieces, then pulse in a food processor with flour, brown sugar, and salt until it begins to form small lumps. Sprinkle base into a 13- by 9-inch baking pan and press evenly onto bottom. Bake in middle of oven until golden, about 20 minutes.

Step 3: Prepare filling while shortbread is baking

Melt butter and keep warm. Peel, quarter, and core apples and thinly slice quarters crosswise. Stir together sugar and flour in a small bowl.

Step 4: Assemble and bake squares:

Sprinkle half of sugar mixture over hot shortbread, then top with apples and sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture. Top with bread crumbs and drizzle all of butter over them.

Bake in upper third of oven, pressing down on filling with a metal spatula halfway through baking, until apples are very tender and bread crumbs are golden, 50 minutes to 1 hour total. Cool 20 minutes in pan on a rack.

Note: Makes 12 Bars

Squares keep, covered and chilled, 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving. Can place parchment in 13×9 pan to make for easier clean-up.