Sweet Sunday // Apple Streusel Bars

I recently got a new cookbook and I am in love. The reason being, it's all pictures. And I'm kind of a visual learner, so, you know how that goes...

Anyway, the first recipe that caught my eye was for apple streusel bars. Yes, yummy, delicious, apple-filled, brown sugar-covered, easytomake, streusel bars. (Keep in mind this is a book on baking.)

I found myself chasing after the cookbook's look with preset ingredients and such and, well, lets just say it took me much longer than planned to do so.

While using our vintage sifter, I realized, love is everywhere.

 Then, after an hour of "patiently" waiting, they were done. And boy, were they worth it.

Apple Streusel Bars (via)
makes 14 bars

ingredients
generous  1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
2 crisp apples, peeled, cored, and diced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2/3 cup superfine/granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
generous 2 cup self-raising flour

topping
1/3 cup finely chopped, blanched almonds (optional)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease and line an 11 x 7-inch sheet cake pan. Sprinkle the apples with lemon juice.
2. Cream together the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract until pale. Gradually add the eggs, beating thoroughly.
3. Sift over the flour and fold in evenly, then stir in the apples. Spread evenly in the pan.
4. For the topping, mix all the ingredients to a crumbly texture and sprinkle over the cake. Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes until firm and golden.
5. Cut into bars and serve warm or cold.