Apple Mazurek

I'm posting this in response to a request. It's one variation of a delicious Polish pastry that can be topped with a variety of toppings.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Yields: 72 bars

Ingredients

• For Mazurek base

• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 1  cup sugar
• 3  tablespoons heavy cream
• 2  cups flour
• 1  egg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt

• For apple topping

• 2  cups sugar
• 1  cup water
• 12  peeled cored and sliced apples
• 1  lemon, juice of
• 1  lemon, zest of

Directions

1. Apple topping: Boil sugar, water, and lemon juice to thick syrup.
2. Add apple slices and boil slowly until glossy.
3. Add grated rind.
4. Cool while baking pastry base.
5. Mazurek base: Sift together all dry ingredients.
6. Cut butter into flour until crumbly.
7. Mix beaten egg with cream and add to flour mixture.
8. Mix together lightly with hand and spread on buttered cookie sheet.
9. Bake for 20 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.
10. Remove from oven and cover with apple topping.
11. Bake 20 minutes longer.
12. When cool can be decorated with powdered sugar glaze and chopped nuts, if desired.
13. Cut into 1x2 inch pieces.