Go Back

Apple Pie Bars

A delightful twist on the classic apple pie, these bars combine the sweet and tart flavors of fresh apples with a buttery, crumbly crust, perfect for sharing.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 12 pieces
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the crust
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, cold, cut into small cubes
For the apple filling
  • 2 lbs. firm Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for apple filling)
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp ground allspice
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon zest

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Butter the 13 by 9-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper.
  3. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  4. In another bowl, whisk the egg with the vanilla extract.
  5. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients along with the cold butter. Mix until the mixture is crumbly.
  6. Refrigerate the crumb mixture while you prepare the apples.
  7. Peel, core, and chop the apples. In a separate bowl, mix the chopped apples with the sugar, cornstarch, spices, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
Baking
  1. Remove the crumb mixture from the refrigerator. Press half of the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  2. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crumb base.
  3. Crumble the remaining crust on top of the apples.
  4. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes until the top is golden and the apples are soft.
  5. Allow the bars to cool for 1 hour before cutting them into squares.

Notes

Apple Pie Bars can be served warm with vanilla ice cream or drizzled with caramel sauce. They store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or can be frozen for up to three months.