My great-grandmother wrote “Apple Nut Dessert” at the top of this recipe card. I’m sharing it as Apple Nut Squares, which is exactly how she tells you to serve it: bake it in a square pan, cut it into pieces, and add whipped cream or ice cream.
The ingredients are simple—chopped apple, walnuts, sugar, vanilla, one egg, and a little flour. There’s no separate crust, crumble topping, or frosting to make. Everything goes into an 8×8-inch pan and bakes at 350°F for about 30 minutes.
This is the kind of recipe I want to bring back through my vintage baking project: not a completely redesigned version, just an old family dessert with the handwritten directions made easier to follow.
Try These Next
For another apple dessert to put on your fall baking list, try my Gluten-Free Apple Crisp. These squares use regular all-purpose flour, so the crisp is a separate option when you need a gluten-free recipe.
About My Vintage Recipe Project
I’m working through my great-grandmother’s handwritten recipes and sharing them alongside other old-fashioned desserts in my Vintage Recipes collection.
For this one, I wanted to keep both names: Apple Nut Squares describes how it’s served, while Apple Nut Dessert preserves the name on her card.
Why You’ll Love These Apple Nut Squares
- A short ingredient list: Eight ingredients, plus whatever you choose to serve on top.
- No separate layers: The apple and walnuts are folded directly into the batter.
- A small-pan dessert: One batch makes nine squares, without baking a large cake.
- An easy fall option: I’d serve these after a family dinner or alongside other desserts at Thanksgiving.
Ingredients and Notes
You’ll need an egg, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, sifted all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, chopped apple, and chopped walnuts. The complete measurements are in the recipe card below.
Chopped apple: Measure 1 cup after chopping, rather than assuming one apple is the right amount. The handwritten card specifically allows the apple to be left unpeeled, so peeling is optional.
Walnuts: Use ½ cup chopped walnuts. They go into the batter with the apple—not just over the top.
Flour: The recipe calls for only ½ cup all-purpose flour, sifted. That small amount is intentional; there isn’t a missing second cup.
Vanilla: There’s no cinnamon or other spice listed. I’m keeping the original apple, walnut, and vanilla combination rather than automatically turning it into an apple-spice cake.
Why This Recipe Stays Simple
There’s no butter or oil listed in the batter, although the pan is greased before baking. The card begins by combining the egg, sugar, and vanilla, then adding the dry ingredients and folding in the apple and nuts.
Equipment
- An 8×8-inch baking pan
- Two mixing bowls
- A whisk
- A silicone spatula or spoon
Tools I Use for This Recipe
Nordic Ware 8×8-Inch Square Pan
A suggested aluminum square pan matching the size specified on the handwritten recipe card.
Amazon Grocery Chopped Walnuts
A suggested chopped-walnut option for folding directly into the apple batter.
OXO Silicone Spatula Set
A suggested flexible spatula set for folding in the apple and walnuts and spreading the thick batter into the corners.
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How to Make Apple Nut Squares
1. Prepare the Pan
Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8×8-inch baking pan.
2. Mix the Egg, Sugar, and Vanilla
Beat the egg, granulated sugar, and vanilla together until well combined. The card calls this step “cream together,” but there’s no butter involved. You’re simply combining those three ingredients.
3. Add the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the sifted flour, baking powder, and salt. Add them to the egg mixture and stir just until combined.
4. Fold in the Apple and Walnuts
Stir in the chopped apple and walnuts, distributing them throughout the batter. Spread the mixture evenly in the greased pan, including the corners.
5. Bake
Bake for about 30 minutes, until the top is lightly golden and the center is set. The handwritten instruction is “30 min or till done,” so use the time alongside those doneness cues rather than treating it as an exact finish for every oven.
6. Cut and Serve
Let the dessert cool slightly, then cut into nine squares. Serve plain or with whipped cream or ice cream, just as the original card suggests.
Tips for Following the Original Recipe
Keep the measurements as written. The recipe uses one cup of chopped apple and half a cup of walnuts. Adding substantially more would be a different version.
Distribute the fruit and nuts evenly. Stir them through before spreading the batter into the pan so they aren’t concentrated in a few squares.
Let it cool slightly before cutting. That step is included in the written-out method; you don’t need to serve it straight from the oven.
Serving Options
I’d keep the finish simple: a square on a plate with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream. Both options come directly from the handwritten card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Apple Nut Squares and Apple Nut Dessert the same recipe?
Yes. Apple Nut Dessert is the name on my great-grandmother’s card. Apple Nut Squares describes the way it’s cut and served.
Do I need to peel the apple?
No. The card says the apple can be unpeeled. Peel it or leave the skin on according to your preference, then measure one cup chopped.
Is butter missing from the ingredients?
No. There’s no butter or oil listed in the batter. You still grease the baking pan before adding the mixture.
What kind of apple should I use?
The card doesn’t name a variety, so I’m not assigning a particular apple to my great-grandmother’s recipe. It simply calls for one cup of chopped apple.
How many servings does it make?
The handwritten card gives 6–9 servings. I’ve written this version for nine squares from the same 8×8-inch pan.
Can I use different nuts or gluten-free flour?
Those substitutions aren’t included in the recipe you see here. This version keeps the chopped walnuts and all-purpose flour from the written-out recipe.
How should I store or freeze it?
The handwritten card doesn’t include storage or freezing instructions, and a tested storage window hasn’t been supplied for this version.
You Might Also Like
For another old-fashioned dessert you can cut into squares, try my Chewy Vintage Cherry Coconut Cookie Bars.
My Grandma’s 7-Layer Cookies are another bar-style recipe to add to a family dessert table.
Final Thoughts
What matters to me about this recipe is keeping the connection to the card. The name, the small pan, the chopped apple and walnuts, and the suggestion to serve it with ice cream are all still here.
If your family made something similar, leave a comment with what you called it. I’d love to know how many names this little apple dessert has traveled under.
BAKE THIS NEXT
Apple Nut Squares (Apple Nut Dessert)
Ingredients
- 1 large egg beaten
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour sifted
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup apple chopped; peeling is optional
- 1/2 cup walnuts chopped
- whipped cream or ice cream
Equipment
- Spoon or silicone spatula
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the egg, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract together until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the sifted flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and stir until just combined.
- Fold in the chopped apple and walnuts.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, until the top is lightly golden and the center is set.
- Let cool slightly, then cut into nine squares.
- Serve plain or with whipped cream or ice cream, as suggested on the handwritten recipe card.
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