Brown Butter Apple Pie Bars

First, get out a large 10-inch pan with deep sides and heat the butter in it over medium heat. Let it melt and then bubble until it turns golden brown and nutty. It turns quickly, so keep an eye on it. Then let it cool for about 10 minutes or so. Meanwhile, while it cooks and cools get out a stand mixer and set it up with the paddle attachment and also liberally grease a 9 x 13 pan with either more butter or cooking spray. Add the two sugars and vanilla to the stand mixer bowl. Combine the flour, salt and cinnamon together in another bowl and whisk them together well. Then pour the cooled brown butter into the stand mixer bowl with the sugars and vanilla and beat them together thoroughly. Keep the pan you used for the brown butter though, don’t put it in the sink. Then slowly pour in the dry ingredients until you have a lovely dough.

Take 2/3 of the dough and press it firmly into the prepared baking dish to form a bottom crust, with it coming up the sides a bit too to help hold the filling. Let the bottom crust chill for 20 minutes. While it chills, take the walnuts and beat them into the remaining dough and set it aside. This will be the top crust.

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Bake chilled bottom crust for 20 minutes until it is set and golden brown. While it bakes, make the filling. Melt the butter in the same pan you used for the brown butter. Add the apples, sugar, orange juice and cinnamon. Let it all gently simmer for about 15 minutes to bring out the flavors and cook off almost all of the liquid.

Reduce the oven heat to 350ºF. Take the crust and spread the filling out evenly on it. Then take the remaining dough and crumble it evenly all over the top. It may not necessarily cover it completely. Bake the bars for about 25 to 30 minutes, until bubbly and completely golden brown on top. Let them cool completely, then cut into 16 bars by making 3 even cuts horizontally and vertically. Serve and enjoy!!