Print

Irresistible Apple Pie Bars Recipe

Irresistible Apple Pie Bars Recipe
Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 26 reviews

Delight in these Irresistible Apple Pie Bars featuring a buttery, crumbly crust and a sweet, warmly spiced apple filling. Perfectly balanced with tart Granny Smith apples and a classic blend of cinnamon and nutmeg, these bars are an easy-to-make dessert that captures all the flavors of traditional apple pie in a convenient bar form.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Crust and Topping

  • 2 1/2 cups (310g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 cup (2 sticks or 226g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Apple Filling

  • 5 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced (preferably Granny Smith)
  • 1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar, packed (light or dark)
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 tablespoon (8g) cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal. Peel, core, and dice the apples if not done already.
  2. Make the Crust: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Cut the cold, cubed butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve about one cup of this crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form an even crust layer.
  3. Prepare the Apple Filling: Toss the diced apples with brown sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until all pieces are well coated. Allow the mixture to rest for a few minutes to let the flavors meld and the cornstarch begin thickening.
  4. Assemble the Bars: Spread the apple filling evenly over the crust layer in the pan. Then sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly on top of the apples to form the crumble topping.
  5. Bake and Cool: Bake the bars in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. Remove from oven and let cool for at least one hour before cutting into squares and serving.

Notes

  • Use Granny Smith apples for a tart, balanced flavor; other firm apples like Honeycrisp or Fuji can also work well.
  • Make sure the butter is very cold when cutting into the flour mixture for a crumbly, tender crust and topping.
  • Lemon juice not only adds brightness but also prevents the apple pieces from browning.
  • Allowing the bars to cool completely helps the filling set, making it easier to slice clean bars.
  • Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple pie bars, apple dessert bars, apple crumble bars, easy apple bars, homemade apple bars, spiced apple bars

Find it online: https://leofoster.com/irresistible-apple-pie-bars-recipe/