Chicago-Style Bakery Apple Slices

This looks like a glazed apple slab pie / apple bars with a flaky crust and soft cinnamon-apple filling 🤍

Here’s a simple, reliable recipe to recreate it at home.

🍎 Glazed Apple Pie Bars (Apple Slab Pie)

🧈 Ingredients

Crust (top & bottom)

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup cold butter, cubed
• ¾ cup cold water (add gradually)

Apple Filling

• 5–6 medium apples (Granny Smith or Golden), peeled & thinly sliced
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Egg Wash

• 1 egg + 1 tbsp milk

Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tbsp milk or cream
• ½ tsp vanilla

🥧 Instructions

1️⃣ Make the Dough

1. Mix flour, sugar, and salt.
2. Cut in cold butter until crumbly.
3. Add cold water gradually until dough forms.
4. Divide dough into 2 portions, wrap, and chill 30 minutes.

2️⃣ Prepare Apple Filling

• In a bowl, combine apples, sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and vanilla.
• Mix well and set aside.

3️⃣ Assemble

1. Preheat oven to 190°C / 375°F.
2. Roll out first dough and press into a 9×13 inch pan.
3. Spread apple filling evenly.
4. Roll out second dough and place on top.
5. Brush with egg wash and cut small slits.

4️⃣ Bake

• Bake 40–45 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
• Cool at least 30 minutes.

5️⃣ Glaze

• Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.
• Drizzle over warm (not hot) bars.

✨ Tips

• Slice apples very thin for that soft, creamy texture.
• Let bars cool fully for clean slices.
• Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for café-style perfection ☕🍨