This Cheddar Apple Pie Bars recipe will make you forget about pie

While apple pie might be a classic dessert, this Cheddar Apple Pie Bars recipe might be a more flavorful and easy idea that will impress on any holiday table. If you haven’t tried apples and cheddar off the cheese board, this recipe is a tasty reason to get baking.

As seen in the most recent Holiday Baking Championship, apples and cheese are a classic combination. While everyone thinks of that apple pie, it isn’t the only dessert on the table. From a tart to a twist on a pate a choux, the options are many.

For this Cheddar Apple Pie Bars recipe, the ease invites even novice bakers to turn on the oven. Similar to the classic crisp recipes that many people enjoy during the warmer months, this recipe has just a few modifications.

By using the shredded cheddar cheese to the crust, the flavor becomes more robust. While it never gets that gooey factor, the creaminess of the cheese makes it luscious. Add to that, the sharpness adds that punch of flavor.

Check out this Cheddar Apple Pie Bars recipe.

Ingredients

• three cups and four teaspoons of all-purpose flour (divided)
• 1.5 cups (3 sticks) of cold butter (cubed)
• 2.5 cups of sugar (divided)
• four or five tablespoons of ice water
• six ounces of Hook’s One Year Sharp Cheddar cheese (shredded)
• six medium tart apples (peeled, cored and thinly sliced)
• one tablespoon of apple pie spice
• vanilla ice cream

Instructions

Heat oven to 350°F.

• Place three cups of flour and cold butter in a food processor; cover and pulse just until the mixture resembles pea-sized crumbs. Add 1.5 cups of sugar: cover and pulse until combined. Add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, pulsing after each addition until the dough holds together when punched. Add cheddar; cover and pulse until dough is crumbly.
• Press half of the dough in the bottom of a greased 13 x 9-inch baking sheet.
• Place apples in a large bowl. Combine the apple pie spice, remaining flour and sugar in a small bowl; sprinkle on fruit and toss lightly. Spoon apple mixture over the crust.
• Sprinkle with remaining dough. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the fruit is bubbly and topping is golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into the bars. Serve with ice cream.

This recipe takes approximately 30 minutes to prep. It yields around two dozen bars.

The key to this recipe’s success is the dough. It is imperative to keep the dough cold. To get that flaky texture, it is important to keep it chilled.

While this recipe recommends serving with ice cream, a little whipped cream is just as tasty. Or, even a little caramel drizzle is a lovely option. Or, like Holiday Baking Championship, a little honey is a perfect choice.

This holiday season, skip the pie and serve this Cheddar Apple Pie Bars recipe. It might be the dessert that has everyone asking for seconds.