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!

Granny Smith Harvest Bars

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!

A tray of apple-filled pecan-topped dessert.

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.

Granny Smith Harvest Bars

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.

Before and after baking pictures of an apple dessert.

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.

Granny Smith Harvest Bars

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:

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5 from 2 votes

Granny Smith Harvest Bars

A delicious dessert bar using crisp, hard Granny Smith apples and crunchy pecans.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 20 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apples, comfort food, Fall Favorites, pecans
Servings: 24 bars
Calories: 256kcal
Author: Sweet Ordeal

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

Calories: 256kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 145mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 334IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetordeal or tag #sweetordeal!

Granny Smith Harvest Bars

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In the meantime, happy baking and have a blessed day.

A dessert square made with apples, pecans, cinnamon, and brown sugar.Granny Smith Harvest BarsCopyright © Sweet Ordeal. All content and images are copyright protected. Do not use any images without prior permission. If, however, you want to republish this recipe, re-write the recipe in your own words, then link back to this post for the original recipe and directions.

5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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