Apple Crumb Bars

Recipe inspired by Smitten Kitchen

3 cups All-purpose Flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, cold, cut into pieces

1 large egg

4 apples (I used Granny Smith), peeled and diced into small pieces

1/4 cup brown sugar

Juice of 1 lemon

4 tsp cornstarch

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, divided

1/4 tsp ground cloves

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a 9x13 pan with baking spray or butter and flour. In a large bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and salt. Combine finely chopped apples in a separate bowl with brown sugar, lemon juice, corn starch, 1 tsp cinnamon and cloves. Stir to combine. Add butter and egg to flour mixture and use a pastry cutter, fork or your hands to combine. Mix until crumbly. Add about half of the crumb mixture to the 9x13 pan and press down firmly to form the bottom crust. Add apple mixture and spread evenly. Top with remaining crumble topping and bake for about 45 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned. When cooled, cut into squares. I was able to get 28 squares.