Easy Apple Pie Bars (Slab Pie Recipe)- The Bossy Kitchen (2024)

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Easy Apple Pie Bars (Slab Pie Recipe) is a traditional dessert from Transylvania, Romania, baked in a jelly roll pan, cut in squares, and dusted with powder sugar.

Easy Apple Pie Bars (Slab Pie Recipe)- The Bossy Kitchen (1)
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  • Enchanting Flavors
  • Ideal for Gatherings
  • More recipes to love and make
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Enchanting Flavors

October is here, and apples are in season and a little cheaper, which means it is time to bake an apple pie, Romanian style.

I have to confess that writing this recipe, as easy as it looks like, kind of kicked my butt.

I always try to do the best work I can when bringing my own culture into the American one with my recipes.

American apple pie is not the same as the Romanian version; therefore, I had to research and figure out how to name the pie.

Most Romanian pies are baked in trays, cut into squares, and served with powder sugar on top. They look more like bars.

However, it came out that the proper English term for this kind of pie is a slab pie.

For those who do not know what a slab pie is:A slab pie is simply a shallow pie made in a rimmed baking sheet, usually a jelly roll pan.

It feeds a crowd, and it takes less time to prepare, as you don't have to hand shape a bunch of pies.

However, as the slab pies are very traditional and standard in Romania and most Eastern European countries, I guess this is the right name for my recipe.

This recipe comes from my German grandmother, who lived in Transylvania. The apple filling is slightly sweet and also cooked before assembling the pie.

We cook the apples first, with butter, sugar, and spices, until the apple juices are reduced to almost nothing.

There is no cornstarch, flour, or other ingredients to thicken the filling. We sometimes add raisins and walnuts, as I did in this recipe.

It is not mandatory, but that makes the pie delicious and different.

The slab pie can be filled with anything, farmer's cheese, apples, berries, quinces, or pumpkin. We take advantage of what fruits are in season and make a pie.

Ideal for Gatherings

These pies are excellent for potlucks, parties, and other events with lots of people.

Call them rustic. I think this is a good word for them.

There are many recipes out there to make a pie crust, but this one, in particular, was very interesting to me because of the ingredients required.

My grandmother writes that you can use different combinations of liquids for the dough: 6 tablespoons wine, OR 1 tablespoon rum (yum!) and five tablespoons water, OR 1 tablespoon vinegar and five tablespoons water.

Basically, you have three versions of the same recipe that will taste slightly different. I tried all of them, but I loved the one with the wine.

There is no alcohol left after you bake the pie, but the crust had a subtle taste which I liked a lot.

You can make the dough by hand or use a food processor. Make your life easier if you can! Also, use any apples you want.

I remember the women in my family making apple pies with leftover apples, cheap ones, small and slightly ugly.

Nothing was wasted, and the pies were great! Also, you can keep the skin on the apples if you like!

There is a lot of nutritional value in the skin, but feel free to peel the apples before grating them if you don't like them unpeeled.

PIN THIS FOR LATER:

Easy Apple Pie Bars (Slab Pie Recipe)- The Bossy Kitchen (5)

Have fun making this apple pie version. Call it bars, slab pie, or placinta cu mere (in Romanian), and let me know what you think! See you next time!

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Ham Cheese And Onion Puff Pastry Slab Pie

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Easy Apple Pie Bars (Slab Pie Recipe)- The Bossy Kitchen (6)

Easy Apple Pie Bars (Slab Pie Recipe)

Easy Apple Pie Bars (Slab Pie Recipe) is a traditional dessert from Transylvania, Romania, baked in a jelly roll pan, cut in squares, and dusted with powder sugar. You will need a 9x13 pan.

4.85 from 13 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Pies

Cuisine: Romanian

Prep Time: 45 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Inactive Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 18 servings

Calories: 182kcal

Author: Gabriela

Ingredients

Pie Crust:

  • 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons lard/cold butter
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • a pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • Choose one option for the liquid:
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar + 5 tablespoons water
  • OR 1 tablespoon rum plus 5 tablespoons water
  • OR 6 tablespoons white wine

Apple filling:

  • 2 pounds apples any type you like, coarsely grated(use a food processor if you have)
  • 4-5 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Optional:
  • ¼ cup raisins
  • ¼ cup chopped walnuts
  • To finish: 2 tablespoons milk or 1 egg beaten
  • 1-2 tablespoons of powder sugar to sprinkle on top before serving

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder. Cut in lard/butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

  • Incorporate the egg and the sour cream.

  • Add the liquid and incorporate. The recipe requires six tablespoons of liquid that can be: 1 tablespoon white vinegar + 5 tablespoons water, OR 1 tablespoon rum plus five tablespoons water, OR 1 tablespoon vinegar plus five tablespoon water. Use the combination of ingredients you have available.

  • Shape dough into a ball; chill for 30 minutes.

  • TIP: If you use a food processor, start the same, pulsing 1-2 times together flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder. Add lard/butter and pulse a few times until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the egg, sour cream, and liquid and pulse until a dough is formed. Shape it into a ball and chill for 30 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, grate the apples. You can peel them first, but it is not necessary if, for example, you buy organic ones that do not have the skin waxed. I prefer to leave the skin on—it contains most of the apple's nutrients, but if you don't like the skin, feel free to peel the apple before you grate it.

  • In a cooking pan, melt the butter and add the apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar. Mix and cook the apples for about 10 minutes until the juices are reduced.

  • Set aside to cool.

  • Preheat oven to 350F/180C.

  • Grease and flour the baking pan. Set aside.

  • On a floured surface, divide the dough into two parts.

  • Roll one piece of dough the size of the pan. Place it on the bottom of it.

  • Add the apple filling and spread evenly.

  • Roll the other half of the dough to the pan's size and cover the apples with it.

  • To finish, brush the surface of the pie with milk or an egg wash.

  • Use a fork to pinch the surface of the pie.

  • Bake at 350/180C for about 45-50 minutes or until the top crust is golden brown.

  • Remove from the oven, place the pan on a metal rack and let it cool for an hour.

  • The traditional Romanian way is to sprinkle powder sugar on top. It is served cut in squares.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 53mg | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 166IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @thebossykitchen or tag #thebossykitchen!

Easy Apple Pie Bars (Slab Pie Recipe)- The Bossy Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep the bottom of apple pie from getting soggy? ›

Brush the Bottom with Corn Syrup or Egg White

Coating the inside surface of the bottom crust will create a barrier to prevent sogginess.

How do you keep apples from getting mushy in a pie? ›

Flour or cornstarch might seem like an odd addition to your pie filling, but it's there for a reason, people! These ingredients work to thicken the juices from the fruit, helping them gel together instead of staying thin and runny. For the love of all things delicious, do not forget them.

Should I bake the bottom pie crust first? ›

Pre-baking is a must if you're looking for a flaky pie crust. It's especially helpful for recipes with a wet center. Recipes for most tarts, pies, and quiches call for pre-baking to ensure that the final product doesn't end up soggy.

What is the best thickener for apple pie filling? ›

Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency. Tapioca starch is preferable for products that will be frozen because it will not break down when thawed.

What apples not to use for pie? ›

For more on all these apples, including what they look and taste like, see our baking apple guide below. There are a few apples that don't make the cut. While great for snacking, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious are the most common apples that won't hold up in the oven and will give you a watery-mushy pie, tart or cake.

What thickens apple pie filling? ›

The best way to thicken runny apple pie filling before baking it is to add some cornstarch, tapioca starch, or flour to your mix. To fix a runny pie that's already been baked, simply let it cool to see if it will congeal naturally. If not, you can stick it back in the oven for a bit longer.

Are Honeycrisp apples good for pie baking? ›

Using a combination of tart and sweet apple varieties will create the right flavor balance for the best apple pie. The 7 best apples for baking pie: Our favorite apple pie recipe calls for Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Golden Delicious apples, or a mix of all three.

Is McIntosh apples good for apple pie? ›

Macintosh or Granny Smith apples are the best choices for apple pie because they are the least mushy apples.

What is the sweetest apple for pie? ›

Honeycrisp apples are known for their intense sweetness and crisp snap. They're a delicious apple to incorporate into either pie or crisp filling because they pack a bold punch in the flavor department and are neither too wet nor too firm when cooked.

Should I soften my apples or leave them uncooked for apple pie? ›

Should I precook apples in a pan or just put raw apples in the oven for Apple crumble? Just remember, the secret to a great apple pie filling is to precook the apples. This will ensure perfect consistency and balanced sweetness. You'll also avoid that gap between the crust and the filling.

Why is my apple pie full of liquid? ›

One of the chief reasons bakers end up with apple soup under the crust is failure to bake their pie long enough. There's almost no such thing as over-baking an apple pie; I've baked apple pies for 2 hours and longer, and they turn out just fine.

How do you keep the bottom crust of apple pie crisp? ›

Crust dust is a 1:1 mixture of flour and granulated sugar. When baking a pie, especially a fruit pie, a couple of teaspoons of crust dust sprinkled into the bottom of the crust will help prevent the crust from becoming saturated with juicy filling as it bakes.

Should I egg wash the bottom pie crust? ›

One of my very favorite kitchen tricks is to brush a bottom pie crust with an egg white wash before filling. This keeps the filling from seeping into the crust and creating a soggy bottom. I like to avoid soggy bottoms at all costs. Egg white and water is also perfect for sealing edges, like when making a pie.

How do I make sure my bottom pie crust is cooked? ›

If you have plenty of time, blind bake the bottom crust for 10–15 mins and then brush with egg white while still hot. Allow to cool 5 mins before filling and adding top crust. Put pie dish on a pre-heated baking sheet as above.

How do you cook the bottom of a pie? ›

Bake: For a pie that you will cook further, like a quiche, bake the crust until it's dry and just beginning to brown, but still pale in color, 45-50 minutes. For a pie that will need no further baking, like a chocolate cream pie, bake the crust until it's evenly browned and crisp-looking, 60 to 75 minutes.

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