UKRAINIAN APPLE SQUARES

"This elegant apple dessert is particularly rich and suited for holiday occasions. Rich pastry made with butter and sour cream. Half the batter is spread and baked then apple filling is added and topped with the other half of the pastry and baked."

FOR THE BATTER:
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup butter or hard margarine
2 eggs
1 cup dairy sour cream, not low fat
1 teaspoon vanilla
Apple Filling follows
FOR THE APPLE FILLING:
1 1/2 pounds cooking apples, finely chopped
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
Powdered sugar (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x9x2-inch baking pan.

TO MAKE THE BATTER:
Stir together flour, sugar, and baking powder. Cut in butter till pieces resemble small peas.

Combine eggs, sour cream, and vanilla; add to flour mixture. Stir till well mixed. Spread half of the batter into prepared baking pan. Set aside remaining batter.

Place pan with batter in oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.

MEANWHILE, MAKE THE APPLE FILLING:
Peel, core, and finely chop 1 1/2 pounds cooking apples. In a bowl combine the finely chopped apples, raisins, 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Spread Apple Filling over the baked layer in pan. Carefully spoon remaining batter atop.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes.

When cool sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into 16 squares.