Mom’s Apple Squares

From EatingWell: September/October 2009 — Subscribe Now!

Traditional recipes for apple squares often use plenty of trans fat-laden shortening in the crust. We replaced it with a mixture of canola oil and butter and swapped out half the all-purpose flour for whole-wheat pastry flour for a little fiber. They are best enjoyed slightly warm. Gently reheat any leftovers in the oven or toaster oven to recrisp the crust.

READER'S COMMENT:

"This is the first recipe from EatingWell that I was not at all pleased with. The crust was heavy and dry, the apples were just okay. No stellar flavors here. I cook and bake nearly everyday for various people in the neighborhood, many of...

12 servings

Active Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 3 1/2 hours (including cooling time)

Nutrition Profile

Low cholesterol | Low sodium | View Complete Nutrition Guidelines»

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar, plus 3/4 cup, divided
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
5 tablespoons canola oil
1/3 cup ice water
1 large egg, separated
4 cups thinly sliced firm tart apples, such as Granny Smith, Empire or Cortland, peeled if desired
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparation

Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, salt and baking powder in a large bowl. Cut butter into small pieces and quickly rub them into the dry ingredients with your fingers until smaller but still visible. Add oil and toss with a fork to combine. Whisk water and egg yolk in a small bowl. Add to the flour mixture and stir until it begins to come together. Knead the dough with your hands in the bowl a few times until it forms a ball. Divide the dough in half and shape into 5-inch disks. Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line the bottom and sides with parchment paper.
Combine apples, the remaining 3/4 cup sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl.
Roll one portion of dough between sheets of parchment or wax paper into a 9-by-13-inch rectangle. Peel off the top sheet and invert the dough into the prepared pan. Peel off the remaining paper. Trim the dough so it covers just the bottom of the pan. Spread the apple filling evenly over the dough. Using the parchment or wax paper, roll out the remaining dough, invert it over the filling and trim the edges so it just covers the filling. Whisk the egg white in a bowl until frothy and evenly brush over the top crust. Lightly sprinkle the crust with additional sugar, if desired.
Bake until golden brown and bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool for at least 1 hour before cutting into 12 squares.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Prepare the crust (Step 1), wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 6 months. | Equipment: Parchment paper

Nutrition

Per serving: 253 calories; 10 g fat (3 g sat, 4 g mono); 28 mg cholesterol; 37 g carbohydrates; 3 g protein; 2 g fiber; 163 mg sodium; 49 mg potassium.

2 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 1/2 other carbohydrate, 2 fat