Chicago “Slab” Apple Slices
These are traditionally finished with a thin, crackly white icing that shatters when you bite into it.
| Category | Details |
| Prep Time | 30 minutes |
| Cook Time | 45 minutes |
| Total Time | 1 hour 15 mins (plus cooling) |
| Yield | 15–18 slices |
🍴 Ingredients
The Crust:
- 3 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks) Unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 Large egg yolk
- ½ cup Ice water
- 1 tbsp Granulated sugar
The Filling:
- 6 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced thin
- ¾ cup Granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp Cornstarch
- 2 tsp Cinnamon
- ¼ cup Apple juice or water
The Icing:
- 1 cup Powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp Milk
- ½ tsp Vanilla extract
👩🍳 Instructions
1. The Short Crust
- Pulse flour, sugar, and cold butter in a food processor until it looks like coarse meal.
- Whisk the egg yolk and ice water, then drizzle into the flour while pulsing until a dough forms.
- Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic, and chill for 30 minutes.
2. The Thickened Apples
- In a large pot, combine apples, sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch, and juice.
- Cook over medium heat for 8–10 minutes until the apples are slightly tender and the liquid has turned into a very thick, gooey syrup. Let it cool completely.
3. The Assembly
- Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F). Roll out one half of the dough to fit the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan.
- Spread the cooled apple mixture over the crust.
- Roll out the second half of the dough and place it over the top. Use a fork to crimp the edges and poke several holes in the top to let steam escape.
4. The Bake
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the crust is a light golden brown.
5. The Bakery Finish
- While the bars are still slightly warm, whisk the icing ingredients together and drizzle over the top. Spread it thin with a spatula.
- Crucial: Wait until they are completely cold to slice them. This is how you get those perfect, sharp bakery edges.
The “Egg Wash” Trick: For a deeper golden color and a “sturdier” top crust, brush the top layer of dough with a beaten egg white before putting it in the oven. It adds a slight sheen that looks beautiful under the icing.