Apple Pie Bars

I got the idea for this recipe out of the September Family Fun magazine. A great magazine for those of you with kids! I've made these a couple times now and we've really enjoyed them. We've eaten them for snack, dessert and breakfast! They are a really family-friendly, hand-held version of apple pie.

Apple Pie Bars


Crust: 
One recipe for a double-crust pie pastry

Filling:
1 cup cornflakes
6 cups peeled and sliced apples (about 6 apples)
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Toppings:
1 1/2 Tbs sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon, heaping
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 Tbs milk
1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix together the ingredients for a double-crust pie pastry.

Set dough aside. Peel and thinly slice cored apples into bite-size pieces. (If you don't have one of these fun Apple Peeler Corer Slicer deals, you should! Makes snack time fun for kids and whipping up this recipe is super quick!)

Mix together sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg for filling and set aside. Slightly crush cornflakes in a bag using a rolling pin or the bottom of a glass. Set aside. Take half of the pie crust dough and roll out into a rectangle slightly larger than a 9x13 cookie sheet or baking dish. Transfer into baking pan, allowing sides to stay as they are for now.

Sprinkle the cornflakes over top of the bottom pie crust layer. Add sugar mixture into prepared apples and mix.

Layer on top of the cornflakes, keeping as flat as possible.

Roll out 2nd half of pie pastry into another rectangle and place over top of apples. Use your fingers to press edges down together and slightly seal.

Mix together cinnamon and sugar for topping. Sprinkle over top of the pie pastry. Bake at 350F (180C) for 50-60 minutes. Should be browned, but not over crisp. You can loosely cover with foil if browning too quickly. Remove from oven and cool. Mix together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla for topping. Drizzle over top and serve!

Notes: I totally was skeptical about the cornflakes, but I crushed a few in there anyway the first time I made it. Then forgot about them. You don't even realize they are in there when you eat these. Then the 2nd time I made this I accidentally forgot the cornflakes. That was when I realized their purpose! They kind of soak up juice as the apples cook down and keep the bottom crust from getting soggy! Thereby making these something you can eat with your hands rather than needing a fork! I won't forget them again, but if you do, they still taste great!!