This weekend I finally came to terms with the fact that I will not get my June back and that I am a part-time college instructor. As a result I’ve finally been embracing fall. It’s a good thing too because it’s my favorite season so it’s sad to think of spending it pining away for summer. I love everything fall entails: visiting local orchards for fresh-off-the-tree apples, shopping for cozy new sweaters (although oddly I don’t actually enjoy wearing sweaters, just buying them), and of course, fresh crayons. I love that it’s still warm enough to eat al fresco, but chilly enough to call for comfort foods like stews, casseroles, and pastas. It’s also cool enough to crank up the stove and spend an afternoon inside baking, which is precisely what I did on Sunday. I had a substantial bag of baking apples from a local orchard so I decided to whip up a variation on a recipe I make each fall: Apple Squares. The original recipe is posted here at Allrecipes.com but most often I switch it up depending on what I have on hand. This version swaps out melted butter for walnut oil and half all purpose flour for whole wheat. The result is a subtle nutty flavor the compliments the apples well. I also included cinnamon chips which add nice pops of gooey cinnamon flavor throughout the bar, but you could easily add an additional 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to the dry ingredients instead. I also like shredding the apples rather than chopping them because the apples practically melt into the batter when cooked and create a uniform texture throughout.
Yields 16 squares Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sifted whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup walnut oil
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup shredded apple
- 1/2 cup cinnamon chips
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×9 inch pan. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the walnut oil, brown sugar, and 1/2 cup of white sugar with a wooden spoon until smooth. Stir in the egg and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture until just combined, then stir in the apples and cinnamon chips. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. In a cup or small bowl, stir together the remaining cinnamon and sugar; sprinkle over the top of the bars.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in preheated oven; finished bars should spring back when lightly touched. Cool in the pan, and cut into squares.
**Note: the picture is actually of a previous batch made a couple of years ago and features a vanilla glaze, which is different from the variation above. It was yummy, but this glaze-less batch also holds its own.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Yummy apple squares, love the cinnamon chips here!
Natasha – I did too. It was actually my first time using the King Arthur Flour brand cinnamon chips. I have to say, I was nervous about how it would work out because straight out of the bag they tasted awful: very waxy and fake. But they were perfect in the bars.
Sounds like a great fall treat. I can’t wait for apple picking season!
So ready to feel like baking in my kitchen wouldn’t be a particularly inhumane form of torture! Oh Fall… **Guava skips through leaves…**
What wonderful treats these are! Apples are one of the best things about fall!
Elina – Thanks. Once you start feeling better you should definitely make time to go. Cider Hill is my absolute favorite.
Guava – Hahah.
Reeni – I agree. Apples are among my favorite things associated with fall.
I’m with you, I love the cooler weather and flavors of fall! Your apple bars look delicious – I SO need to go apple picking this year!
Definitely worth making time for apple picking. I didn’t actually get a chance to pick last weekend, just pick some apples up at the farm store, so the boyfriend and I have talked about doing a proper trip and actually picking this weekend. That’s if a) the weather holds out and b) I don’t end up spending the whole weekend working. I strongly hope its not the latter because that is so soul crushing.
What a yummy looking treat! I bet it would be great crumbled over yogurt too!
In response to the chia seed post, they actually taste quite bland when you eat them plain–just like a seed I suppose, but they do add a little extra to recipes. I totally agree with all your statements and I personally would not go out and buy them again–but it was a free sample, and I am not one to turn down healthy(and free!)stuff.
CaSaundra – I completely know what you mean. Freebies are such a great perk of being a blogger. I think you did a great job of being objective but you should always feel comfortable giving and honest and objective review. I think companies realize when they give things out to bloggers that there are no guarantees they will get a good review. That said, now I am curious about them. If they had a little flavor to them it seems like they would be interesting as a topper for bagels or buns in place of sesame seeds.
ooh, i was thinking of trying to organize a picking adventure! i will have to try the shredding of apples, i usually dice
I usually dice too, but the shredding was nice. It lead to a moister texture overall and more apples in every bite.
Cinnamon and apple in a baked good sounds fantastic to me, they look great!
Mandee – It really is one of those classic combos that is hard to mess up.