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{glazed apple bars} and a friendly family feud

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I found this {glazed apple bar} recipe at Meg’s blog. I will repost it here for the ease of my readers but please visit her site and be amazed and inspired. I am posting it for two reasons. One is because they are absolutely delicious—made with a short bread crust, then a layer of apples, sugar and cinnamon, and then topped with shortbread crumbles. Divine, I tell you. Divine.

But a little family feud {I think I said ‘violent conversation’ on facebook} ensued about whether or not these bars are better than apple pie. To be fair to my husband, he was reared by a woman who makes the best pies I have ever tasted in my life. This woman knows the temperamental nature of pie crust {and dough in general} like nobody’s business. She has a sixth sense about all baked things. She makes comments about the humidity is affecting her crust and the tapioca pearls are not quiet the right size. She is the pie whisperer. So, for the sake of our argument, I think I’m going to have to exclude her pies from this discussion. Because we can only get her pies about once or twice a year. Unfortunately for me, in this battle of the baked goods, he just had her pie a few weeks ago.

Here’s a snippet of a recent conversation about the apple bar/apple pie showdown:

Me: Honey, did you taste the apple bars I made today?

Stevie: {engrossed in his iPhone and watching Glen Beck and therefore doesn’t look up to answer} Um-hum.

Me: Well?

Stevie: They’re alright. {looks up at me, thinking that the ‘alright’ might get him in trouble}. Yeah, they’re pretty good.

Me: Whaaaaatt? Pretty good? Really? Because I think they’re possibly the best non-chocolate baked good I’ve ever tasted. Even better than apple pie.

Stevie: {he laughs uncontrollably} Better than apple pie? Are you kidding me? That’s outright blasphemy.

Me: Okay, well maybe not your mother’s apple pie but it’s better than every other apple pie.

Stevie: Iiiiiii don’t think so.

Me: What bite did you taste?

Stevie: What do you mean, what bite did I taste?

Me: I mean, was it a bite from the edge where there were not as many apples? Did you try a whole piece or just a bite? Did your ‘bite’ have the shortbread crumbles on it or was a stripped down bite?

Stevie: {looking at me and realizing that I’m armed for battle here—-and hoping to pacify me, put this all behind him and finish watching his news in peace} You know what, it was just a bite from the edge. I’m sure the rest of it is just as wonderful as you say.

And to be fair, he did love it once he had the complete apple bar experience. But I wouldn’t let it go. So, I took a plateful of them to the dance studio {where my girls dance and I sit and knit and chitty-chat} and passed them out to get the response of the public at large.

The results of my intense double blind study: woman prefer them to apple pie and men do not.
In fact, one of the men ate the bar, said it was ‘good’ and then proceeded to eat a whole, raw apple. That would not be my first inclination after eating these buttery delicious bars but whatever. Marcus {Steve’s son and self-proclaimed foodie} responded to my facebook update about this ongoing apple battle and said he would be the judge when he comes to visit this weekend. I’m a little nervous. Because Marcus just had the best apple pie in the known world too. But I’ll report the results to you without bias.

I think you should make them and weigh in. {although don’t literally ‘weigh in’ because they have 3 sticks of butter)

Here’s the recipe:

{glazed apple bars}

First you combine 4 C. flour, 1/2 t. salt and 2 C. sugar.
Then, cut in 3 sticks of butter. The mixture will be crumbly and Meg recommends you use your hands. I wholeheartedly agree. I first tried my mixer and it didn’t work well. Press about 2/3’s of this crumbly mixture into a jelly roll pan.

Peel, core and slice 4-5 Granny smith apples and layer over the shortbread mixture.
Combine 1/3 C. sugar and 1 t. cinnamon, sprinkle it over the apples.
Crumble the remaining flour/sugar/butter mixture on top of the apples.
Bake it at 350 degrees for 50 – 60 minutes…until it is crispy on the bottom.

After it bakes, let it cool.
Make a glaze with 1 C. powdered sugar, 1 t. vanilla, 1 T. water.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenn says

    I haven't even tasted them and can already tell you I like them better than apple pie! Mmm…glaze…mmmmmmm!!! Can't wait to try the recipe!

    Reply

  2. Darla says

    they look amazing! i hope to make them and let you know the honest truth. by looking at them, they are better than apple pie, but my husband would probably disagree with me.

    Reply

  4. Love Being a Nonny says

    I had already printed this recipe out and planned to make them this weekend. I promise to let you know! Great post!

    Reply

  5. Angie says

    It sounds fantastic! But I don't think I can be biased. After all It's not Steve's mother's blog i'm obsessed with! 😉

    Reply

  6. Love the Decor! says

    Since shortbread is one of my favorites, I am already sure they are better than apple pie!! I just chuckled during your conversation… It is so familiar( guess it is a universal "hubby" thing)

    Reply

  8. Mandi Shandi says

    Wow. This is why I am never successful at weightloss in the fall and winter months. I will be making this tonight and let you know my results, however I guarantee I am gonna like this better than apple pie because I am a crust girl, and this sounds like it has a lot of crusty goodness. YUM!

    Reply

  9. Amber says

    Wow! Super yummy looking! Perfect for the crisp fall weather we've been having here in PA. Perfect with a warm, creamy cup of coffee. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

    Reply

  10. Carol says

    My husband comes from a "pie baker for a mom" family, too. I think he would side with your husband. I guess I will only know his verdict if I make your recipe. It seems these days that I bake a lot, so why not one more recipe, right?

    Yesterday, I made a coconut cream pie at the request of my girls after they saw one on "I Carly." And since I have had a craving for a coconut custard pie, I made one of those just to compare the two. I also made it because it was one of my dad's favorites when I was growing up.

    Hands down, a coconut cream pie is way better. The other 6 members of my family did not like the custard because it was too eggy.

    Reply

  11. Candice Schwartz says

    can't wait to try these, they sound really yummy… By the way I made that delicious looking blueberry coffee cake and it was wonderful!!! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  12. Denise says

    Did you eat those all before I arrived yesterday? What's with that? I can't get too mad though since you bought my whole family donuts last week. 🙂 My guys are huge apple pie fans, so I do think it may be a gender thing. They sound yummy to me–butter and all!

    Reply

  14. Traci says

    We have pie men too. Like as in when you ask them what kind of birthday cake they want for their birthday they say "Apple Pie please".

    But I dare say that these bars are delicious and I will be trying the recipe for myself. And it seems that the bars would make an easier dish-to-pass than a pie would.

    Reply

  16. Gina Williams says

    Well, I will have to try these out on Mark as well. He is an apple pie kind of guy, but he hasn't had Evadne's, so I might be in luck. He has had yours though Sis, so maybe not. I will let you know how it turns out. Thanks for sharing and I loved the conversation. I could just hear Steve saying those things….too funny!

    Reply

  17. Michelle, Queen of Everything says

    Thanks! I have a Halloween potluck coming up at work and I think I'm going to make these.

    Reply

  20. Jenn says

    I made them last night and then handed them out. I've got two "apple pie is better" votes (both guys), and 3 "apple bars are better" votes (all women) and 1 undecided (woman). 🙂 I used half white sugar/half brown sugar though because I didn't have enough white sugar at home. 🙂

    Reply

  22. Musings of a Homeschooling Mom says

    I have them in the oven now at almost 2AM! to take to a tailgating party at church today. I'll let you know the verdict! They look and smell delicious!

    Reply

  23. Julie says

    These are fantastic!! I made them this morning to take along to a bonfire this afternoon! Made my house smell fantastic!!!

    Reply

  24. Ridenour Family says

    wow! I whipped up a batch of these this afternoon, and we had them a la mode for dessert tonight. Yummy! Our home is messing up your hypothesis, because when I asked my husband if he liked it better than pie, he didn't hesistate to answer with a hearty yes. I loved them dearly, and ate until I couldn't eat one more bite-but I still hang with the apple pie. Is there something wrong with us?!! (:

    Reply

  26. meg duerksen says

    that is so funny! men and apple pie – crazy!
    i haven't been here for a bit…shame on me…and here are the bars! i am currently laying in bed and my stomach is growling! i need to go to sleep so i can stop thinking about apple bars!
    mmmmm….

    but i am bookmarking you so i don't lose you for so long again!
    happy monday!!

    Reply

  27. denice says

    Just wanted to thank you for that article that you emailed me. It was just what I expected: clear, to the point, unabashed, and funny. You were so kind to get it to me so fast!
    Love the bars, but not the side bar. I loved the previous simplicity….but its not going to stop me from coming here if you keep it this way! Blessings and hope you feel better!

    Reply

  28. Alisonchristian37 says

    I know this is a little late for the “official apple bar vs. apple pie” debate but I just found your blog and made this recipe for a camping weekend.  I found them to be absolutely delicious and easy to eat…holding one in each fist ;).  My husband, on the other hand, responded in, what appears to be the typical response, “Well, they are good….but not as good as your apple pie.”  He did have the good grace to add, “But you DO make the best apple pie in the world!”  All is forgiven :).

    Reply

  209. vKfX says

    182149 516790Good read. I just passed this onto a buddy who was performing some research on that. He just bought me lunch since I identified it for him! Thus let me rephrase: Thanx for lunch! 383971

    Reply

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