APPLE PANCAKE BARS WITH BROWN BUTTER CRUMBLE TOPPING AND APPLE SYRUP

Apple Pancake Bars with Brown Butter Crumble Topping and Apple Syrup image

Provided by Bobby Flay

Categories dessert

Time 1h30m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 25

Ingredients

7 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch fine sea salt
Nonstick baking spray, for spraying the parchment
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 3/4 cups buttermilk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups apple-cinnamon granola
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 Gala apple, peeled, cored and finely diced
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
4 cups unsweetened apple juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 medium Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and diced
Splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice

Steps:

For the brown butter crumble topping: Put the butter in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until amber brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in the butter. Refrigerate the mixture for 15 minutes, then squeeze it to make crumbles.
For the apple pancake bars: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with a parchment paper overhang on the long ends and spray with nonstick baking spray.
Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together the buttermilk, butter, vanilla and eggs in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the wet mixture to the dry along with the granola, lemon zest and juice and apples and mix until just combined. Lumps are ok. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and let it rest for 15 minutes.
Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the batter and bake until lightly golden brown and the top springs back when touched, 15 to 20 minutes (see Cook's Note). Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove to a baking rack.
For the apple syrup: Meanwhile, combine the apple juice, granulated sugar and apples in a shallow skillet, bring to a boil and cook until the mixture is thickened and reduced by half. Add a splash of lemon juice, strain the syrup through a fine strainer and keep warm.
Dust the top of the apple pancake with the confectioners' sugar, cut into bars and transfer to a platter. Drizzle the warm apple syrup over the bars or pass it for dipping.