Apple Harvest Bars

By srumbel

I used some of the apples to make these lovely bars. They taste like all things fall – simple buttery crust, cinnamon apples, chopped walnuts, and sweet coconut.
from thebestblogrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted chilled butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 4 cups peeled and chopped apples (5-6 medium apples)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray a 13x9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, 1/3 cup sugar, and salt. Pulse once quickly to combine. Add the butter pieces and pulse again until the butter is fully incorporated and you have a fine, dry crumb mixture.

Pour the crumb mixture into the prepared baking pan and press into an even layer in the bottom of the pan.

In a bowl, combine the chopped apples and lemon juice and stir to combine. Spoon the apples - and any remaining lemon juice in the bowl - over the crumb mixture.

In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup sugar with the cinnamon. Mix well and then sprinkle the mixture over the apples.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium sized bowl, mix together the remaining 1/3 cup sugar, egg, milk, vanilla, walnuts, and coconut until well combined. After the apple mixture has baked for 20 minutes, pull it out of the oven and spoon this mixture across the top - smoothing it out as evenly as possible.

Bake for another 20-25 minutes or until the topping is lightly golden brown.

Allow to cool slightly, then cut into squares while still warm. Allow to cool completely before serving.