Easy Glazed Apple Pie Bars

Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan/gas 4). Line an 18 x 28cm baking tin with parchment paper. Place the butter, flour, 150g of brown sugar, vanilla extract, and 1 tsp of salt into a food processor. Pulse until the mixture clumps together into a dough. Press two-thirds of this dough firmly into the bottom of the prepared tin in an even layer. Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden. Keep the remaining dough in the fridge while you prepare the filling.

Prepare the apple filling by placing the apple chunks into a saucepan with the remaining 3 tbsp of brown sugar, 1 tsp of cinnamon, and the lemon juice. Cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples have softened but still retain their shape without turning into a mushy sauce.

Spread the cooked apple mixture evenly over the pre-baked pastry base. Take the chilled dough from the fridge, break it into small pieces, and dot them over the top of the apples. Return the tin to the oven and bake for another 15-20 minutes until the topping is cooked through and golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the tin.

In a small bowl, mix the icing sugar with the remaining 1/4 tsp of cinnamon and about 2 tsp of water to create a thick, pourable icing. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled apple bars. Once the icing has set, slice into 12-16 squares. These bars can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days.