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Streusel bars filled with chopped apples | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper
Posted on: Wednesday, January 4, 2006

TASTE
 Streusel bars filled with chopped apples

By Elaine Magee

Apple almond streusel bars drizzled with almond-spice glaze is a nice and simple dessert.
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Q. Do you have a light and easy dessert or snack using apples? If so, please share!

A. Winter is definitely the time to bake anything with apples, probably because not much else is available. But these bars are so nice and easy and even a little elegant with its almond-spice glaze drizzled on top, that you won't even miss those other summer fruit desserts.

I use half whole-wheat flour in these bars and canola oil, plus low-fat buttermilk takes the place of melted butter. I decreased the sugar by a fourth, but you can decrease it by another 25 percent using a Splenda or Equal baking substitute for the granulated sugar. I doubled the amount of unpeeled apples stirred into the batter and kept the 1/3 cup of chopped almonds for fiber and nutrients.

The original recipe contains 140 calories, 6.5 grams fat, 2.5 grams saturated fat and only .7 grams of fiber per bar.

APPLE ALMOND STREUSEL BARS

  • 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour

  • 1/2 cup unbleached white flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 3 tablespoons canola oil

  • 2 tablespoons low-fat buttermilk

  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (or use a Splenda or Equal baking substitute if desired)

  • 1 large egg

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 1 1/4 cups chopped unpeeled apple

  • 1/3 cup chopped almonds

    Almond-Spice Glaze:

  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar

  • 1/8 teaspoon almond extract

  • 1/8 teaspoon apple-pie spice, pumpkin-pie spice or ground cinnamon

  • 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons fat-free half-and-half or low-fat milk

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-by-9-inch baking dish with canola cooking spray.

    Add flours, baking powder, salt and 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon to medium bowl. Stir and set aside.

    In large bowl, beat together canola oil, buttermilk, brown sugar and 1/4 cup granulated sugar with a wooden spoon, or mixer on medium-low speed, until smooth. Beat or stir in the egg and vanilla extract.

    Beat or stir in the flour mixture just until combined. Stir in the apples. Spread mixture evenly into the prepared pan, sprinkle chopped almonds over the top and bake for about 25 minutes (until top springs back when lightly touched). Cool in pan.

    In small bowl, add almond-spice glaze ingredients and stir until smooth. Add more half-and-half if needed for drizzling consistency. Drizzle glaze over the top and cut into bars.

    Makes 16 bars.

  • Per serving (1 bar): 114 calories, 2 g protein, 17.5 g carbohydrate, 4.4 g fat, .4 g saturated fat, 2.6 g monounsaturated fat, 1.2 g polyunsaturated fat, 13 mg cholesterol, 1.5 g fiber, 73 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 34 percent.

    For information about Elaine Magee's books and to join the free Recipe Doctor Club, see www.recipedoctor.com.
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