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These apple pie bars are delicious and easy to make! You need simple ingredients to make this yummy treat.
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.
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.
Next, I start to make the dough. I combine flour, cinnamon, and sugar in a large bowl.
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.)
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.
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.
You can keep these bars in the fridge in an airtight container up to 4 days or you can freeze up to 3 months.
Enjoy!
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
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 444 votes
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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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Reader Interactions
Comments
Mrs
These look delicious! Is it possible to use
canned apple pie filling? Thank you.Reply
Meymi
Thank you! I haven’t tried but I believe you can use canned apple pie filling.
Reply
Kathleen Anne Cole
First time on this site. Thank you for this delicious recipe. I have made many apple desserts. In a way, this reminds me of a New York crumb coffee cake I made a few years ago, minus the apple. For time’s sake, I decided to use a canned apple filling and it turned out superb :). Don’t forget the ice cream!
Reply
Meymi
Hi Kathleen, I am so happy that you enjoyed these bars! Thank you for your feedback!
Reply
Linda
Do you use one or two cans of pifilling?
Reply
Meymi
Hi Linda, I use 4 medium apples not apple pie filling. You can find the recipe at the bottom of my post in the recipe card.
Brenda
Hi, do you press down the crust or just sprinkle it in? I’m think it would be pressed down but wanted to check!
Reply
Meymi
Hi Brenda, I press down the crust. Enjoy!
Romi
Hi. Looks amazing. Should the apples be peeled or can you leave the skin on?
Reply
Meymi
Thank you! They should be peeled.
Reply
Lisa
Made them tonight, fabulous! I used honey crisp. I’ll keep and remake often. I used pumpkin pie spice because I didn’t have nutmeg. Thank you for the recipe
Reply
Meymi
Hi Lisa, I am so glad you loved these bars. Thank you for your comment and feedback!
Reply
Jen
Hi! Making these tonight. Should we use salted or un-salted butter? The recipe doesn’t specify. Thanks!Reply
Meymi
Hi Jen, It is unsalted butter. Enjoy!
See AlsoScotch Whiskey Cake RecipeReply
Elaine
Weighed sugar, flour, butter, and apples exactly. Measured all other ingredients. Used fresh honeycrisp apples. Crust and apples were in perfect ratio. I was concerned about the lack of liquid ingredients in the recipe, but the juice from the apples provided ample moisture, and it was not dry. I needed to bake it for about 65 minutes at 350 degrees for the crust and crumbs to begin to become light brown. It wasn’t sweet enough for my taste, but we have a few family members who don’t like very sweet desserts, and this was perfect for them. I’ll make it again and add more sugar to the crust ingredients. Thanks for this recipe.Reply
Meymi
Hi Elaine, I am so glad you and your family members enjoyed these apple bars! Thank you for your comment!
Reply
Enid
Perfect for a dessert served with ice cream or custard thank you
Reply
Meymi
Hi Enid, I am so glad you enjoyed these bars. Thank you for your comment!
Reply
Ruth Talford
Great texture and easy to make, but I thought the filling was bland…I’d add/substitute 1-2 Tbls Brown Sugar and 1/2 tsp Salt to accentuate the apple taste.Reply
Linda
Is this for a 9×13” baking dish?
Reply
Meymi
It is an 8-inch square dish. You can find all the information in the recipe card.
Reply
Trina
This recipe was fantastic, I use granny apples. Some family wanted carmel on theirs and so I drizzled it on top after it came out of the oven and they loved it!!!
Thank you!!!Reply
Meymi
Hi Trina, I am so happy you all loved these bars. Thank you for your comment!
Reply
Chris B
These were really good! My hubby loved them. I used Granny Smith and honey crisp apples two of each. I did chop my apples super small and these were fully cooked in 55 min.Chris
Reply
Meymi
Hi Chris, I’m so glad to hear that you both enjoyed these bars. Thank you for your feedback!
Reply
Susan Younce
I made this today and my husband LOVED it. I like to make fruit desserts for him because they often have less sugar than cakes and cookies. He is a food critic so a compliment from him should be valued!Reply
Meymi
Hi Susan, I’m happy to hear that your husband loved these bars so much. Thank you so much for letting me know!
Reply
Maria Mannella
Made these bars for the second time tonight. The recipe is so easy and the bars are delicious. Thank you for sharing the recipe.Reply
Meymi
Hi Maria, I’m so glad you enjoyed these bars so much. Thank you for your comment!
Reply
Meka
Tried the recipe, it was excellent! I ended up making a cinnamon, nutmeg sugar glaze on top as a drizzle. Awesome!Reply
Meymi
Hi Meka, I’m so glad you loved these apple bars. The sugar glaze sounds delicious. Thank you for your feedback!
Reply
Lynne
I made these apple bars and added the glaze. Took the recipe with me to our church dinner and not a crumb was left!Reply
Meymi
Hi Lynne, I’m so glad everyone enjoyed these bars so much. Thank you for your comment!
Reply
Anita Roberts
I tried this recipe yesterday and everyone loved it.Thanks so much for a quick and easy recipe, definitely a keeper.Reply
Meymi
Hi Anita, I’m so happy to hear that everyone enjoyed these bars so much. Thank you for your comment!
Reply
Shirley
Can these bars be eaten with your fingers or to messy, need a fork.
Reply
Meymi
Hi Shirley, Once they are completely cool, you can enjoy as you like!
Reply
Mikki
I would like to make a 9×13 pan instead of 8″ square. The increments still show 4-1/2 cups of apples. Would I actually double the apples?
Reply
Meymi
Hi Mikki, You should double each ingredient including the apples.
Reply
Debby
Not nearly enough apple or spice. Mainly a shortbread cookie. Tasted good but I’ll add more apple next time as well as liquid.Reply
Jules
Really simple to do and tastes nice. I’m amazed some people are saying it isn’t sweet enough it definitely is. Personally I’d double the amount of apple filling.Reply
Meymi
Thank you so much for your feedback, Jules!
Reply
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