Apple Bars with a Walnut Crumble

Ready for one of the best recipes for apple bars EVER?

Ingredients:

Apple Mixture:
4 medium size apples, cored and peeled, small rough chopped
3 Tbs. butter
1/2 c. sugar
2 Tbs. lemon juice
2 Tbs. flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Crust Mixture:
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
6 Tbs. butter, softened
3/4 c. dark brown sugar
1 egg

Crumble Mixture:
1/2 c. sugar
2/3 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
6 Tbs. butter, cold, diced
1/4 c. chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In an electric mixer, combine the sugar and butter together until a paste forms. Add the egg and mix until well combined. With the mixer off, add the dry ingredients on top. Turn the mixer on slow and gradually increase speed as the ingredients mix. Line a 13x9 pan with tinfoil and spray with non stick cooking spray. Pour the crust mixture into the pan and press on the entire bottom and 1/4 inch up the sides. Set aside.

In a medium size saucepan, melt the 3 Tbs. butter. Add the apples and sugar and cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the lemon juice, flour and cinnamon and let cool slightly.

Meanwhile, using the same mixing bowl, combine the sugar, flour, salt, butter and walnuts together until small crumbs form.

Pour the apples on top of the prepared crust, leaving half of an inch from the edges in case the apples and liquid expand while baking. Use your hands to grab a handful of the crumble, warming it slightly, and sprinkle on top of the apples. Bake in the oven for 35-38 minutes until the edges are golden brown. Let the bars cool fully before trying to cut them into squares (if they aren't cooled, they will not hold shape).