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 my strawberry 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 recipe for 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 so I 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 completely before 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
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) unsalted butter, 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
Nutrition
Mrs
These look delicious! Is it possible to use
canned apple pie filling? Thank you.
Meymi
Thank you! I haven’t tried but I believe you can use canned apple pie filling.
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!
Meymi
Hi Kathleen, I am so happy that you enjoyed these bars! Thank you for your feedback!
Linda
Do you use one or two cans of pifilling?
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!
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?
Meymi
Thank you! They should be peeled.
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
Meymi
Hi Lisa, I am so glad you loved these bars. Thank you for your comment and feedback!
Jen
Hi! Making these tonight. Should we use salted or un-salted butter? The recipe doesn’t specify. Thanks!
Meymi
Hi Jen, It is unsalted butter. Enjoy!
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.
Meymi
Hi Elaine, I am so glad you and your family members enjoyed these apple bars! Thank you for your comment!
Enid
Perfect for a dessert served with ice cream or custard thank you
Meymi
Hi Enid, I am so glad you enjoyed these bars. Thank you for your comment!
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.
Linda
Is this for a 9×13” baking dish?
Meymi
It is an 8-inch square dish. You can find all the information in the recipe card.
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!!!
Meymi
Hi Trina, I am so happy you all loved these bars. Thank you for your comment!
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
Meymi
Hi Chris, I’m so glad to hear that you both enjoyed these bars. Thank you for your feedback!
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!
Meymi
Hi Susan, I’m happy to hear that your husband loved these bars so much. Thank you so much for letting me know!
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.
Meymi
Hi Maria, I’m so glad you enjoyed these bars so much. Thank you for your comment!
Meka
Tried the recipe, it was excellent! I ended up making a cinnamon, nutmeg sugar glaze on top as a drizzle. Awesome!
Meymi
Hi Meka, I’m so glad you loved these apple bars. The sugar glaze sounds delicious. Thank you for your feedback!
Anita Roberts
I tried this recipe yesterday and everyone loved it.Thanks so much for a quick and easy recipe, definitely a keeper.
Meymi
Hi Anita, I’m so happy to hear that everyone enjoyed these bars so much. Thank you for your comment!
Shirley
Can these bars be eaten with your fingers or to messy, need a fork.
Meymi
Hi Shirley, Once they are completely cool, you can enjoy as you like!