Oh my! Apple Pie!....in a BAR!

It's apple season ya'll! Every weekend this month is the Apple Harvest at Carter Mountain Orchard. It's from 8am to 7pm. Loads of time to get apples. I don't know if it's every weekend, but sometimes they have face painting for the kiddos. So much fun. I can't believe we used to live only 10 minutes from this place. Oh how I miss it! We definitely are going to start a tradition of going every year during this time. We love apples in so many things, and there's nothing in the world like fresh apple butter!
I decided on starting out apple baking season with something different than the traditional, always loved pie. Why not make it into a bar? Yes. And more please!


Here you are. You're welcome. Now get some apples!

Apple Pie Bars
Crust:

1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 heaping cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 cup finely crushed pecans
1 cup flour

Apple Filling:

2-3 apples, peeled, and sliced (I use Granny Smith, but you use what you like)
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp cloves
splash lemon juice

Streusel:

1/2 cup quick oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup crushed pecans
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup butter, cold and cubed



1. Preheat oven to 300. Line 8 inch pan with foil, draping it over the sides for easy lifting once you're finished baking.
2. Make the crust. Combine everything until mixed, and press into the pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden brown.
3. While the crust is baking, mix the filling. Toss gently until all the apples are evenly coated. Layer on top of the crust.
4. Turn oven up to 350.
5. Then, make the streusel. Mix everything except the butter until incorporated. Then using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until it forms coarse crumbs.
6. Sprinkle streusel on top of apples. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the streusel is a beautiful golden brown.
7. At this point you can either eat it warm, or pop it in the fridge and eat it cold. I'm a right-out-of-the-oven-burn-your-tongue kinda girl, but you do what tickles your toes.
8. Top with ice cream, or the salted caramel. I found a good recipe for it here. It's yummilicious.