Apple Crumb Squares

Crumb Topping

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup pecans or walnuts, coarsely chopped

1â„2 cup butter or margarine (1 stick), slightly softened

1â„2 cup light or dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Crust

3 cups all-purpose flour

1â„3 cup granulated sugar

1â„4 teaspoon salt

3â„4 cup cold butter or margarine (11â„2 sticks)

Apple Filling

4 pounds green cooking apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and cut into 1â„2-inch pieces

4 tablespoons butter or margarine

3â„4 cup raisins or dried currants

1â„2 cup packed light or dark brown sugar

3â„4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons cornstarch

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Prepare topping: In medium bowl, with fingertips, mix flour, pecans, butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon until mixture comes together. Shape into a ball; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Preheat oven to 375Â°F. Lightly grease sides of 151â„2" by 101â„2" jelly-roll pan.
Prepare crust: In large bowl, with fork, mix flour, granulated sugar, and salt. With pastry blender or two knives used scissor-fashion, cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. With hand, press crumb mixture evenly onto bottom of prepared pan.
Bake crust until golden brown (crust may crack slightly), 20 to 24 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare filling: In nonstick 12-inch skillet, cook apples, butter, raisins, brown sugar, and cinnamon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until apples are very tender and most of liquid from apples has evaporated, 25 to 30 minutes. In cup, mix cornstarch and lemon juice. Stir lemon-juice mixture into apple mixture and cook, stirring, until mixture thickens. Remove skillet from heat.
Spread apple mixture over hot crust. Break crumb topping into chunks and scatter over apple mixture. Bake until topping browns, about 40 minutes. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
To serve, cut lengthwise into 4 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 6 squares. Makes 24 squares.

Prep: 1 hour plus cooling Bake: 1 hour