Granny Smith Harvest Bars
Granny Smith apples are a baker’s dream, especially in this easy-as-pie dessert. The apples are crisp and tart and hold their shape even after baking. Further, the crunchy pecans, cinnamon, and nutmeg make these Granny Smith Harvest Bars a Fall Favorite. So good!
Want your kitchen to smell amazing? You’ve got to try this recipe. Seriously!
It’s a tried-and-true dessert you’ll love making, as it guarantees a success every time.
It’s much easier than making a pie, plus it serves more people. Boom!
Making Granny Smith Harvest Bars
First, mix your dry ingredients together (flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg).
Set aside for now.
Next, in a large mixing bowl, beat the butter for 30 seconds, then beat in the sugar. Easy, right?
After this becomes light and fluffy, add the eggs and vanilla.
Time to add the dry ingredients; stir until combined, but do not over mix. You’ve got this.
Over mixing means you activate the gluten proteins too much, which means you could end up with little bricks.
That’s never good.
You’re done with the beaters now, so grab a spatula and stir in the apples and pecans. (I love this part; the simplicity of hand mixing.)
NOTE: there are pecans in the bars AND in the topping, but the topping requires you to toast the pecans.
If you want all the pecans toasted, you just need to toast them at the beginning.
Toasting the pecans for the topping is plenty of flavor, though.
Toasting Pecans
If you’re not familiar with toasting pecans, you’ll love how easy it is.
Take a dry sauce pan and heat it on medium-low. Add a single layer of pecans and stir after a minute, then stir every 30 seconds.
After about 4 minutes, the pecans begin to darken. Remove them from the heat and let cool on a plate.
In other words, don’t let them cool in the pan, they will burn.
Ok, now spread the batter into a 13 x 9″ baking dish that you either greased, or sprayed with non-stick spray.
Bake in a preheated oven set at 350° for 55 – 60 minutes.
You’ll know it’s done when it turns a beautiful golden brown and the center appears set.
Meanwhile…
While the bars are baking, make the topping.
In a small bowl, mix all the topping ingredients together (toasted pecans, brown sugar, melted butter, flour, water, and oats).
Have this ready for when the bars are done baking.
Once the bars are done, remove them from the oven and close the oven door. In other words, keep the oven hot.
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the bars, then return the bars to the oven for another 5 minutes. Almost there.
Ok, this time they’re really done baking, and you can turn the oven off.
Allow the bars to completely cool on a wire rack, then dig in. About time!
More apple inspired recipes:
- Spiced Apple Raisin Bread
- Upside Down Apple Cake
- Apple Pecan Snack Cake
- Carmel Apple Spice Cupcakes
- Apple Spice Butter
- Apple Pear Cream Cheese Tart
- German Apple Cheesecake
- Apple Salsa with Cilantro
Granny Smith Harvest Bars
Ingredients
Bars:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 4 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
Topping:
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped and toasted
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp. water
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. quick-cooking oats
Instructions
Bars:
- Preheat oven to 350° and spray a 13 x 9" baking dish with non-stick spray.
- In a medium bowl, stir together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter for 30 seconds on medium. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, mix until combined.
- Add flour mixture, beating until just combined. Do not over mix. Stir in apples and pecans with spatula.
- Spread batter into baking dish. Bake for 55 - 60 minutes. The center should be set, color a golden brown.
Topping:
- Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix together all topping ingredients. Sprinkle over hot bars and return to oven for another 5 minutes.
- Cool completely on wire rack. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Granny Smith Harvest Bars
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