Description
Sweet memories of Midwestern comfort emerge in these Chicago-style bakery apple squares, promising a nostalgic dessert that celebrates classic American baking. Rich pastry layers and caramelized apples deliver a homemade taste that connects generations of home cooks with pure, honest flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients (Pastry):
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ cups (2 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, chilled
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) ice water, plus more as needed
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Filling Ingredients:
- 4 cups apple pie filling (canned or homemade)
Glaze Ingredients:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Create a robust pastry foundation by blending flour, sugar, and salt in a spacious mixing vessel.
- Utilize a cheese grater to delicately shred chilled butter over the dry ingredients, ensuring even distribution through gentle stirring.
- Introduce ice water incrementally, mixing until the dough forms a cohesive, non-adhesive texture.
- Transfer the dough onto a lightly dusted work surface and tenderly manipulate it into a unified mass.
- Partition the dough into two symmetrical portions, then carefully flatten each into rectangular shapes.
- Encase the dough rectangles in plastic film and allow them to rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of half an hour.
- Extract one dough rectangle and roll it out on a flour-coated surface, then carefully transfer and press into a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Distribute the apple pie filling uniformly across the initial pastry layer, ensuring complete coverage.
- Roll out the second dough rectangle and drape it over the apple filling, meticulously sealing the edges by pinching them together.
- Create strategic ventilation by cutting several slits across the top pastry layer.
- Position the pan in a preheated oven at 400°F and bake until the surface achieves a rich, golden-brown complexion, approximately 40 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack, allowing the pastry to reach room temperature.
- Craft a luxurious glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, softened butter, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth.
- Once the pastry has completely cooled, generously spread the glaze across the surface and permit it to set naturally.
Notes
- Master the art of grating chilled butter using a cheese grater for a flakier, more delicate pastry texture that melts in your mouth.
- Refrigerate dough for a minimum of 30 minutes to ensure the butter stays cold, creating layers of buttery goodness in your apple squares.
- Use a 9×13-inch jelly roll pan for even baking and perfect rectangular cuts that showcase the beautiful apple filling.
- Create strategic vents on the top crust to allow steam to escape, preventing a soggy bottom and ensuring a crisp, golden-brown finish.
- Glaze the cooled pastry with a smooth, vanilla-infused powdered sugar mixture for an extra touch of sweetness that complements the tart apples.
- Allow the glaze to set completely before slicing to achieve clean, picture-perfect squares that are as delightful to look at as they are to eat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg