With a buttery shortbread crust, warm spiced apples, and crunchy brown sugar streusel, these apple bars have all the flavors you love in pie, with a fraction of the work!
Satisfy your sweet tooth with this easy-to-make recipe for Apple Pie Bars.
1. Info for Apple Pie Bars
- Cook Time: 1 hr 5 min
- Total Time: 1 hr 5 min
- Servings: 8
- Calories: 377.36 kcal
2. Ingredients for Apple Pie Bars
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract (divided)
- 1/2 tsp. salt (divided)
- 1 1/2 cup, plus 2 Tbsp. (199g) all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon (divided)
- all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup (30g) quick-cooking oats
- 1/3 cup (70g) light brown sugar
- 3 Tbsp. (37g) granulated sugar (divided)
- ground cinnamon
- 1/3 tsp. ground nutmeg (divided)
- 1/16 tsp. allspice
- 1/3 tsp. ground cloves (divided)
- salt
- 1/4 cup (57g) unsalted butter (melted)
- 3 Granny Smith apples
- 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
- vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour
- granulated sugar
- ground cinnamon
- ground nutmeg
- ground cloves
3. Directions:
3.1 Preheat
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
3.2 Prep
Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
To make the crust, place the softened butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl. Use a fork to combine. Add the flour and cinnamon, and continue mixing until a soft dough forms. Transfer the dough to the baking pan.
Using a tamper, clean hands, or the bottom of a heavy glass, press the dough into an even layer.
3.3 Oven
Bake the crust on the middle rack of oven until slightly golden at the edges, 15-18 minutes. While the crust bakes, prepare the streusel.
3.4 Prep
Place the flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, spices, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Pour the melted butter over the mixture and stir with a fork until large crumbs form. Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator to chill while making the filling.
Peel and core the apples. Cut the apples into 1/8-inch thick slices, and cut the slices in thirds crosswise.
Place the apples in a large mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice and vanilla and stir to combine. Sprinkle the flour, sugar, and spices over the apples, and toss until the apples are evenly coated.
Carefully remove the baking pan from the oven. Spoon the apples on top of the crust and arrange them into an even layer, gently pressing down. Sprinkle the apple layer evenly with the chilled streusel.
3.5 Oven
Return pan to oven and continue baking until streusel is golden brown and the apple juices bubble slightly at the edges of the pan, 30-35 minutes.
3.6 Check
Check to see that bars are done. Remove from oven or add time as needed.
3.7 Prep
Allow the bars to cool for 20 minutes at room temperature, then transfer them to the refrigerator. Chill for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving.
3.8 Serve
Lift the bars from the pan by pulling up on the edges of the parchment paper. Slice into squares and serve.