Fresh Apple Squares

From EatingWell: October 1998 — Subscribe Now!

You'll love how simple these apple squares are to make. The dough does double-duty as the crust and streusel topping. Try them topped with cinnamon ice cream.

READER'S COMMENT:

"I've made these four times in as many weeks. They are great! (The lemon zest is what makes them.) Everyone I've made them for has asked for the recipe, and been thrilled and surprised to learn they are semi-virtuous. "

16 squares

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons canola oil
1/4 cup apple juice concentrate, thawed
2 tart medium apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.
Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, lemon zest, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl. Work in oil and apple juice concentrate with your fingers until coarse crumbs form.
Firmly press 2 cups of the oat mixture into prepared pan. Arrange apples over crust in three rows. Mix walnuts into remaining oat mixture. Sprinkle walnut mixture evenly over apples and pat firmly into an even layer.
Bake until top is golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with a sharp knife, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into squares.

Nutrition

Per serving: 159 calories; 4 g fat (0 g sat, 2 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 29 g carbohydrates; 2 g protein; 1 g fiber; 98 mg sodium; 116 mg potassium.

2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 2 other carbohydrate