I LOVE this Apple Pie recipe from Ina Garten I enjoy it served warm with ice cream. Image/ApplePieBars_016_Crop-copy-edited.jpg?mtime=20161006104226' alt='Ina Garten Apple Pie With Crumb Topping' title='Ina Garten Apple Pie With Crumb Topping' />Try this recipe for Perfect Pie Crust from Food Networks Ina Garten. Ina Gartens Apple Pie Bars Recipe. All December long, were bringing you the recipes, tips and tricks you need to Feast your way through the holidays, no matter how you celebrate the season. The holiday season is upon us, which means the inevitable cookie swap looms. This year, weve decided to hit the bars instead. The red headed stepchild of the cookie family, dessert bars have a special place in our hearts easier to make than cookies, but even more delicious. All week, well be sharing our favorite bar recipes and are kicking things off with none other than Ina Garten, a holiday entertaining guru. These bars are really like apple pie but so much easier to make Garten tells us. If Im serving other pies for the holidays, these change it up a little bit. A buttery shortbread crust is topped with two types of sauted apples before getting loaded with a crumble. Garten likes the combination of tart Granny Smiths with sweet Golden Delicious apples, but advises that you can use whichever variety you like. As for the dough, it doesnt get any easier than using the same mixture for the crust as the crumble. Ina Garten Apple Pie CrustThe addition of walnuts and cinnamon to the crumble adds the perfect crunch to these tender bars. Expired Pasta. Gartens dough making pro tip Many cooks think that at room temperature means to leave the butter out for 3. I leave butter at room temperature overnight to be sure its truly at room temperature before I use it. In addition to offering an alternative to the same old holiday cookie, bars have another perk They travel well. Ina Garten Apple Pie CrumbleSimply wrap up the baking pan and cut the bars when you get to your destination. As for optimal portion size, Garten advises, I cut the bars in fairly large three by three inch squares if Im serving them on a plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. If Im serving them on a platter of small petits fours to pick up with your fingers, Ill cut them in smaller bite size pieces. Now that youve mastered Gartens apple pie bars, stay tuned for four more recipes, and your holiday baked good arsenal will be, ahem, loaded. Check out our favorite cookie and bar recipes. Sift the flour and salt together in a medium bowl. Cream the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Slowly add in the flour and mix until a smooth dough forms. Press two thirds of the dough into a 9 by 1. Press the dough so it comes up inch on the sides to make the outer crust. Mix the walnuts and cinnamon into the remaining dough to make the crumble. Add the lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg to the apples. Toss well to fully coat the apples. Cook down the apples in the butter until softened, 1. Bake the crust until golden brown, 1. Spread the apples in an even layer over the cooled crust. Pinch pieces of the crumble over the apples to cover the whole surface. Your bars are ready for the oven Recipe from Cooking for Jeffrey, by Ina Garten. Prep Time 1. 5 minutes, plus chilling and cooling time. Cook Time 5. 5 minutes. Total Time 1 hour and 1. Ingredients. For the Crust 1 pound 4 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature cup granulated sugar cup light brown sugar, lightly packed. For the Apple Filling 1 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, quartered, cored, and sliced inch thick 3 large1 pounds Golden Delicious apples, peeled, quartered, cored, and sliced inch thick 3 large2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice cup granulated sugar. Directions. 1. Preheat the oven to 3. For the crust, place the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, until light and creamy. Sift the flour and salt together and, with the mixer on low, slowly add to the butter sugar mixture, beating until combined. Scatter two thirds of the dough in clumps in a 9 1. Refrigerate for 2. Bake for 1. 8 to 2. Meanwhile, put the mixing bowl with the remaining dough back on the mixer, add the walnuts and cinnamon, and mix on low speed to combine. Set aside. 4. Reduce the oven to 3. For the filling, combine the Granny Smith and Golden Delicious apples and lemon juice in a very large bowl. Add the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and mix well. Melt the butter in a large 1. Spread the apples evenly over the crust, leaving a inch border. Pinch medium pieces of the remaining dough with your fingers and drop them evenly on top of the apples they will not be covered. Bake for 2. 5 to 3. Cool completely and cut into bars.