APPLE CRISP MIX-IN-THE-PAN BARS

APPLE CRISP MIX-IN-THE-PAN BARS image

Categories Apple

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 11

INGREDIENTS
3 cups old-fashioned oats
1¾ cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1½ cups packed light-brown sugar
1¾ teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (2¼ sticks) unsalted butter, melted
2 pounds Granny Smith or Cortland apples--peeled, cored, halved and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from about ½ lemon)

Steps:

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 375° and place a rack in the middle position. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. 2. In the baking pan, combine the oats with the flour, brown sugar, 1½ teaspoons of the cinnamon, the salt and the baking soda. Add the butter and stir until combined. Remove 2 cups of the crumbs from the pan and set aside. Firmly press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the pan to cover. 3. Spread half the apple slices evenly over the bottom crust. Sprinkle ½ tablespoon of the granulated sugar, the lemon juice and the remaining ¼ teaspoon cinnamon over the apples. Layer on the remaining apples, then sprinkle the remaining ½ tablespoon granulated sugar over the top. 4. Scatter the reserved oat mixture over the apples and cover the pan tightly with foil. Bake for 30 minutes to begin softening the apples. Remove the foil and bake for 20 minutes longer or until the oat topping is golden and the apples are completely tender. Transfer the baking pan to a wire rack to cool. To serve, cut into rectangular bars.