Chewy Apple-Pecan Bars

These bars are delicious topped with vanilla or butter-pecan ice cream.

Makes 2 Dozen 2 1/2 by 3-inch Bars

Crust
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unslated butter, softened
12 ounces cream cheese, softened

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Lightly grease a 17 by 12 by 1-inch baking pan and set aside

3. Mix the flour, oats, confectioners’ sugar, and salt in a bowl and set aside.

4. Cream together the butter and cream cheese in a separate bowl with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix by hand just until it forms a soft ball.

5. Flatten the dough with lightly floured hands and press evenly into the bottom and 1/4 inch up the sides of the prepared pan. The dough will be about 1/4 inch thick. Prick the crust with a fork 8 to 10 times.

6. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, until liight brown but not quite done. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

Filling
6 large eggs
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
2 cups dark corn syrup
2 cups Easy Applesauce (recipe below)
1/4 cup dark rum
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
1 cup Granny smith or other tart apples, peeled, cored, and diced

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Whisk the eggs and sugar in a bowl until well blended. Add the butter, corn syrup, applesauce, rum, and vanilla and stir to mix. Fold in the pecans and apples.

3. Pour on top of the crust and bake 45 to 50 minutes, until the filling is firm around the edges; the center will be slightly loose. Remove from the oven and cool several hours before cutting. Trim the edges and cut into 2 1/2 by 3-inch bars. (For a smaller bar, cut the bar in half down the center or on the diagonal.)

Related recipe(s):

Easy Applesauce