Apple Pie Squares

Apple Pie Squares with Crumb Crust Recipe

This apple pie squares recipe makes a large (15x10-inch) pan of crumb crusted apple squares. You can cut the recipe in half and make on 8-inch square pan instead. Or if you think it will be too hard to roll out a crust large enough to fit in a 15x10-inch pan, you can always use two 8-inch square pans instead.

For the Bottom Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 2 egg yolks, beaten
• 4 tablespoons water

For the Applie Pie Squares Filling:

• 8 large tart apples - peeled, cored and cut into thin slices
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter

For the Crumb Topping:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cold cup butter, cut into small chunks

Make the Crust:

1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Set aside a 15x10-inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder with a whisk or fork until well blended.
3. Cut in shortening with a pastry cutter or two forks until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Mix egg yolks and water together and then stir into the flour with a wooden spoon until it forms a ball.
5. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to fit the bottom of the pan.
6. Place the dough into the bottom of the pan.

Make the Apple Pie Squares Filling:

1. In a large bowl, combine apples, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons flour, sugar and cinnamon.
2. Spread the apple filling evenly into pie crust.
3. Dot with the 2 tablespoons of butter.

Make the Crumb Topping:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2/3 cup brown sugar until well combined.
2. Cut in the butter with 2 forks or a pastry blender until crumbly.
3. Sprinkle topping over the apples.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until topping is golden brown.

Double Crust Apple Pie Squares Recipe

For the Pastry Crust:

• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups shortening
• 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup cold water

For the Apple Filling:

• 8 to 10 large tart apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Milk for brushing on top
• Sugar for sprinkling on top

1. Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Set aside a 15x10-inch baking pan or 2 8-inch square pans.
2. Make the crust. In a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder until blended.
3. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender or two forks until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Combine the egg yolks and water and sprinkle over the flour mixture.
5. Stir with a fork or wooden spoon until the mixture forms a ball. (You may need to add additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture is wet enough to form a ball.)
6. Divide the dough in half.
7. On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the pastry dough until it's large enough to line the baking pan and then gently fit it into the pan.
8. In a large bowl stir together the apples, lemon juice, sugars, flour, spices, and salt.
9. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the pastry dough in the pan.
10. Roll out the remaining dough until it's large enough to cover the apples.
11. Place the pastry dough over the apples and seal the edges.
12. Brush the top with milk and sprinkle with sugar.
13. Cut vents in the top pastry dough.
14. Bake until the crust is golden brown and apple filling is bubbly, about 45 to 50 minutes.
15. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
16. Cut into desired size and shape bars.

This recipe makes one 15x10-inch pan of Apple Pie Squares.