Apple Pie Bars Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Meymi. This post may contain affiliate links.

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These apple pie bars are delicious and easy to make! You need simple ingredients to make this yummy treat.

Apple Pie Bars Recipe (1)

Today I am sharing another recipe with apples. If you made mystrawberry bars, you know how delicious and easy to make they are. I decided to share a fall version of them.

I use my cinnamon shortbread cookie recipefor the dough. These apple pie bars with shortbread crust are crunchy and soft. You’ll use the same dough for the crust and the crumbles to make these simple and from scratch apple pie bars.

Thick crust and crumbles with cinnamon and apples are so yummy and they are perfect any time of the year, especially in fall and winter.Apple Pie Bars Recipe (2)

Can You Freeze Apple Pie Bars?

Yes! You can keep in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months. You can thaw these bars overnight in the fridge.

How to Make Apple Pie Bars with Crumb Topping

I start with apples.First I peel, core and slice the apples into small pieces. Then I place the chopped apples into a medium bowl and toss with lemon juice, sugar, flour (alternatively you can use cornstarch) cinnamon and nutmeg. I set aside the bowl.

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Next, I start to make the dough. I combine flour, cinnamon, and sugar in a large bowl.

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Then I add the cold cubed butter and cover with flour mixture soI cut the butter into the flour mixture easily with 2 forks until they look like breadcrumbs. (Alternatively, you can rub with your fingertips.)

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Later, I spread ⅔ of the mixture into the oven-proof dish with a spoon.I lightly flour the spoon to avoid it sticking to the flour-butter mixture. After that, I add the apple mixture over the dough and cover the apples with the remaining ⅓ of the dough. I make some big crumbles by squeezing the dough.

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Finally, I bake for 55 minutes until the top becomes golden brown and the crumbles are crunchy. I let it cool completelybefore slicing with a sharp knife. When it is cool, I cut it into 16 pieces.

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You can keep these bars in the fridge in an airtight container up to 4 days or you can freeze up to 3 months.

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Enjoy!Apple Pie Bars Recipe (10)

Other apple recipes you may enjoy!
  • Apple Blondies
  • Caramel Apple Bars
  • Puff Pasty Apple Turnovers
  • Apple Crisp Cookie Cups
  • Easy Apple Crumble Recipe
  • Apple Crumble Muffins
  • Dried Apples

Apple Pie Bars Recipe (11)

Apple Pie Bars Recipe

This delicious apple pie bars recipe with crumb topping is crunchy and soft. You'll use the same shortbread dough for the crust and the crumbles to make these easy and from scratch apple pie bars.

4.98 from 443 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 16 bars

Calories: 205kcal

Author: Meymi

Ingredients

Apple Filling

  • 550 g (4 and ½ cups-4 medium apples) chopped cubed apples
  • 30 g (2 tablespoons) granulated sugar
  • 25 g (2 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon) all-purpose flour*
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Crust & Crumbles

  • 280 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour (dip and sweep)**
  • 185 g (¾ cup and 1 tablespoon) unsaltedbutter, cut into small cubes, cold
  • 105 g (½ cup) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F(177C°). Grease 8 inch (20cm) square oven-proof dish and line the bottom and sides with parchment paper, about 2 inches(5 cm) of overhang on each side.

Apple Filling

  • Peel, core and slice the apples into small pieces. Place the chopped apples into a medium bowl. Toss the apples with lemon juice, sugar, flour/cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside the bowl.

Crust & Crumbles

  • Combine flour, cinnamon, and sugar in a large bowl.

  • Add the cold cubed butter and cover with flour mixture so you can cut the butter into the flour mixture easily. You can use 2 forks or a pastry blender. Alternatively, you can rub with your fingertips.

Assemble

  • Spread ⅔ of the mixture into the oven-proof dish with a spoon. Lightly flour the spoon to avoid it sticking to the flour-butter mixture. You can spread with your hand too. Add the apple mixture over the dough and cover the apples with the remaining ⅓ dough. You can make some big crumbles by squeezing the dough with your hand.

  • Bake for 55 minutes until the top becomes golden brown and the crumbles are crunchy. Let it cool completely before slicing. You can let it cool at room temperature for 1-1,5 hours and then you can keep in the freezer so it can cool faster. Once completely cool, lift the paper from the sides, remove the bars from the dish, cut into 16 pieces. You can keep in the fridge in an airtight container up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Notes

*You can use 1 tablespoon of cornstarch instead of flour.

**You can click here for dip and sweep method if you use cup measurements.

This is the knife I used to cut the apple pie bars.

This is the measuring cup set I used for the baking conversion chart.

The calorie information above is an estimate that is provided by an online nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Calories: 205kcal

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Apple Pie Bars Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do I have to peel apples for baking? ›

Peeled apples will give you a delicately soft pie with no tough surprises, but some people argue that you lose the apple's nutritional value once the peel is removed. Making sure you are using the correct apples – peeled or unpeeled – is a more important part of crafting the perfect apple pie.

How do you keep apple pie from falling apart? ›

Gently precook the apples, which drains them of liquid and shrinks their bulk. They'll shrink no more once they're added to the pie, which means there'll be no gap between the filling and the top crust.

What apples stay firm in pie? ›

Which kind of apples are best for baking apple pie—and why? Ree Drummond's favorite is Granny Smith for her Caramel Apple Pie. Since the caramel sauce is ultra-sweet, she likes the fact that Granny Smiths have a bit of tartness. "They're firm and hold their integrity through the baking process.

Should you soak apples before baking? ›

Making a dessert with baked apples doesn't automatically mean they will turn mushy and more closely resemble applesauce than sliced apples. In fact, there's a simple trick that can help you preserve the shape of the fruit for a dessert that even Jacques Pépin would be proud of: pouring hot water over your apple slices.

Can I cut apples the night before for apple pie? ›

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you're going to cook apples, it's fine to prep them a day or two in advance.

Why is my apple pie full of liquid? ›

One of the chief reasons bakers end up with apple soup under the crust is failure to bake their pie long enough. There's almost no such thing as over-baking an apple pie; I've baked apple pies for 2 hours and longer, and they turn out just fine.

Why did my apples turn mushy in my pie? ›

When apples are cooked, this pectin breaks down, and the apples turn mushy. However, there are ways to control this pectin breakdown, helping you to ensure that your apple slices are tender, but still hold their shape in the pie.

How do you keep the bottom crust of apple pie crisp? ›

Crust dust is a 1:1 mixture of flour and granulated sugar. When baking a pie, especially a fruit pie, a couple of teaspoons of crust dust sprinkled into the bottom of the crust will help prevent the crust from becoming saturated with juicy filling as it bakes.

Should I soften my apples or leave them uncooked for apple pie? ›

Should you cook the apples before baking apple pie? You don't have to pre-cook the filling before spooning it into the pie crust, but it's a quick step I recommend. Just 5 minutes on the stove begins the softening process, and also helps the flavors start to mingle.

Why did my apples turn to applesauce in my pie? ›

Picking the wrong apples

But not all of them are right for apple pie. Softer apples like Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, or Macintosh break down too much in the heat of the oven, basically turning into applesauce. So avoid those, and opt for a variety that's firm and crisp like Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp.

What are the three best apples for apple pie? ›

The best apples for making apple pie
  • Braeburn. This apple is a descendant of Granny Smith, but slightly sweeter. ...
  • Cortland. ...
  • Crispin (Mutsu). ...
  • Golden Delicious. ...
  • Granny Smith. ...
  • Honeycrisp. ...
  • Jonagold or Jonathan. ...
  • Northern Spy.
Oct 8, 2021

What is the best thickener for apple pie? ›

Cornstarch has thickening power similar to Instant ClearJel. Like flour, it lends a cloudy, semi-transparent look to filling. It can also give filling a starchy taste. For full effectiveness, make sure the pie filling is bubbling up through the crust before removing your pie from the oven.

Can you can apples with the skin on? ›

Making and canning your own home-canned apple slices, leaving the peels on is easy with these complete instructions in easy steps and completely illustrated.

Are apples better peeled or unpeeled? ›

To your specific question: By peeling apples you miss out on powerful nutritional pluses. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, one medium (three-inch-diameter) unpeeled apple has nearly double the fiber, 25 percent more potassium and 40 more vitamin A – just to choose a few important nutrients.

Can you use normal apples for baking? ›

Pink Ladies and Granny Smiths are our go-to baking apples, but you can choose any kind you like as long as it has a firm texture and a good bit of acidity.

Can you boil apples with skin on? ›

You can peel the apples, or you can leave the skin on for a little extra texture. Either way, chop your apples into small pieces and place them into a boiling pot of water. Boil the apples in the pot until they start to soften. This should take no longer than 15 minutes.

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