An old-fashioned apple squares recipe typically features diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, flour, baking soda, salt, and sometimes sour cream or pecans. The taste resembles apple pie, with a sweet and slightly tangy flavor from the apples and spices. Some versions include a creamy apple layer or a sweet brown sugar crust. These squares are often enjoyed dusted with powdered sugar or served with vanilla ice cream for a delightful dessert.
Old-Fashioned Apple Squares Ingredients
Peeled Apples, Diced : The diced apples served as the sweet, flavorful, and textured center of the dessert.
Granulated Sugar : I added the sugar to the apples to enhance their natural flavor while balancing any tartness.
Cinnamon : By including cinnamon, I imparted warmth and depth to the apple filling for a classic taste.
All-Purpose Flour : The flour structured both the crumbly topping and filling, binding everything together in the oven.
Baking Soda : This helped the squares rise subtly and achieve a fine consistency once baked.
Salt : A dash of salt elevated flavors without overwhelming other components.
Brown Sugar : Brown sugar enriched the crumb topping with deep caramel notes.
Quick Oats : Oats gave a nutty crunch through the topping, pleasing the palate.
Margarine : Margarine created buttery richness to cohere the dry ingredients into a crisp, flavorful topping.
Ingredients
- 4 cups peeled apples, diced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup quick oats
- 1/2 cup margarine
How I Made Old-Fashioned Apple Squares
First, I peeled and diced apples into small, equal pieces for even cooking. Next, I combined them with sugar and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium heat. Stirring occasionally, I let the apples soften and caramelize to build a rich flavor.
Once the apples were tender, I moved on to preparing the crumbly topping. In a bowl, I mixed flour, baking soda, salt, brown sugar and oats. Then I cut softened margarine into the dry ingredients using a pastry cutter until crumbly.
After greasing a baking dish, I began assembling the dessert. First, I spread half the crumb mixture over the bottom as a base. Following that, I distributed the cooked apple filling evenly atop.
Finally, I sprinkled the remaining crumb topping over the apples. Then I placed the dish in the preheated oven. Around 30 minutes later, the top was a beautiful golden brown.
After letting it cool slightly, I cut the baked squares for serving. I enjoyed their deliciousness both warm and at room temperature. The right steps resulted in the most satisfyingly nostalgic treat!