Apple pie Squares

Granny Smith Apple Pie Squares

 

Double crust:

• 5 cups all purpose flour or Bob`s Red Mill Oatmeal flour and Bob`s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour Mix ( 1/2 and 1/2 of each for gluten free slices)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 cups butter (1/2 cup can be butter flavoured Crisco is you are willing to go there) We like cultured european butter for this dessert.
• 4 eggs, separated
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups crushed cornflakes or 1 & 1/4 cups crushed regular ritz crackers

Filling:

• 7-8 Granny Smith apples
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp ginger or apple pie spice ( I have even used pumpkin pie spice )

Glaze optional but my Pal loves it

• 1 1/4 cups confectioners sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste (Neilsen Massey)
• 3 tablespoons water

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2.  Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl and crumble in the shortening.  In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks and milk.  Reserve the egg whites for later.   Add the egg mixture to the flour mixure.  Mix the dough until combined, form into 2 disks and wrap tightly.  Refrigerate for at least one hour.
3.Crush cornflakes into very fine pieces.  (either with food processor or cornflakes in ziplock bag with air removed and roll with wooden rolling pin until crushed up.  Roll out the dough and place it on a 15 x10 sheet pan.  Sprinkle all of the corn flake crumbs over the dough evenly, sprinkling some of your spices on top.
4.  Peel, core and slice the apples. Toss them with the sugar and cinnamon.  Place the apples in a flat layer on top of cornflake crumbs. (you can slightly overlap apples if you want extra appley goodness, likely you will need 2 extra apples.
5.  Roll out the remaining dough,( cut out fancy vents or wait and slit dough) place on top of the apples layer, cut some slits to let the steam escape and seal the edges using your fave technique or even a simple pressing with fork tines.  Beat the egg whites until foamy and brush all over the top of the crust.
6.  Bake at 350 for 1 hour, until the crust is golden. Cool slightly.
7.  Combine the icing glaze ingredients in a small bowl. ( you can add almond extract or maple at this point if you would like to add depth to your slices)  Drizzle the icing evenly over the crust.  Cool completely before cutting into squares.