Apple Streusel Bars

I've been on hiatus for quite some time now, I know, but nursing school has been consuming my life. Also, my apartment sucks and I have little to no kitchen. But what doesn't suck is shortbread crust, apples and cinnamon, streusal topping and sugary glaze. Hence: Apple Streusel Bars. I gave a batch to my boyfriend and his family and the other half to my classmate and her husband and got 0 back. I borrowed this recipe from Our Best Bites , however modified it just a bit (mostly because I didn't have what I was supposed to in my kitchen). Anyway, hope you like it!



apple streusel bars: crust.

2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. real butter, softened (I used 1/2 c. margarine and 1/2 c. butter because I actually ran out of butter...I wouldn't recommend this but...you gotta do what you gotta do)
1 egg, beaten

apple filling.
1/2 c. white sugar
1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon (I used 1 TBSP...mmm cinnamon)
4 c. (about 3 medium) sliced, peeled baking apples (I used fiji)

glaze.
2 c. powdered sugar
About 3 Tbsp. milk (whole milk is best)
1 tsp. almond extract

1. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Prepare crust: mix flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl.
4. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives until you have pea-sized crumbles. Gently mix in beaten egg.
5. Gently pat about 2/3 of the crumb mixture onto the bottom of the dish and set aside.

6. Prepare apple filling: combine flour, sugar, and cin namon and toss with apples.
7. Spread apples out on prepared crust.
8. Sprinkle reserved crust mixture over apples evenly and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes. When finished, allow to cool completely.

9. Prepare glaze: whisk together powdered sugar, almond extract, and enough milk to achieve desired consistency.
10. Place glaze in a Ziploc bag and cut off a very small portion of one of the corners.
11. Drizzle glaze over cooled pastry and allow to harden (you can place it in the freezer to hurry things along). Cut into bars and serve.