Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups (192g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (1 stick / 113g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 4 tablespoons (60ml) ice water
  • 6 medium apples (about 3 pounds/1.36kg), peeled, cored, and diced (Gala, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn)
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ cup (64g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (50g) packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (28g) chopped pecans
  • ¼ cup (½ stick / 57g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Crust: Combine flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add ice water and mix until dough comes together. Press half of the dough into the prepared pan.
  2. Pre-bake the Crust: Bake the crust at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden.
  3. Make the Apple Filling: In a large bowl, combine diced apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and lemon juice. Toss to coat.
  4. Assemble the Bars: Spread the apple filling evenly over the pre-baked crust.
  5. Prepare the Streusel: In a small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, pecans, and salt. Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in maple syrup.
  6. Add Streusel Topping: Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the apple filling. Crumble the remaining crust dough over the streusel.
  7. Bake: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45 minutes, or until the streusel is golden brown and the apples are tender.
  8. Cool and Cut: Let cool completely in the pan before cutting into bars.