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Home » BARS

Apple Pie Bars Recipe

Published: Nov 18, 2018 · Modified: Jun 18, 2021 by Meymi. This post may contain affiliate links.

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Pin for apple pie bars
Apple bar with text overlay.
Apple pie bars with text overlay.
Apple crumble bars with text overlay.
Apple crumble bars with text overlay.
Apple crumble bars with text overlay.
Sideview and overhead view of apple pie bars with text overlay.
Apple pie bars with text overlay.
Pin for apple crumble bars from different angels.
Overhead and side view of apple pie bars
Apple bars with crumbles on top.
Side and overhead view of apple bar.
Collage of apple bars with text overlay.

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

Apple pie bars with crumble topping with apple in the background.

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.Apple pie bars next to each other on a white surface.

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.

Collage for peeled, cored, chopped apples stirred with lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar and flour.

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

Collage for combining sugar, cinnamon and flour in a 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.)

A three-photo collage showing the process of cutting the butter into flour.

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.

Collage showing the process of spreading the dough, adding apples and covering apples with excess 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.

Apple Pie Bars recipe after baked.

Apple pie bars cut 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.

Apple Pie Bars stacked, red apple behind the bars.

Enjoy!Apple pie bars on a white surface.

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 with crumble topping with apple in the background.

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.
5 from 350 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) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes, cold
  • 105 g (½ cup) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
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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
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @PastryandBeyond or tag #PastryandBeyond!

 

Apple crumble bars with text overlay.
Apple bars with crumble topping.
Collage for apple pie bars with text overlay.
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mrs

    August 25, 2019 at 9:37 pm

    These look delicious! Is it possible to use
    canned apple pie filling? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Meymi

      August 26, 2019 at 5:09 pm

      Thank you! I haven’t tried but I believe you can use canned apple pie filling.

      Reply
      • Kathleen Anne Cole

        September 18, 2021 at 10:50 pm

        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

          September 19, 2021 at 7:41 pm

          Hi Kathleen, I am so happy that you enjoyed these bars! Thank you for your feedback!

          Reply
        • Linda

          April 30, 2022 at 11:35 pm

          Do you use one or two cans of pifilling?

          Reply
          • Meymi

            April 30, 2022 at 11:41 pm

            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

          October 20, 2022 at 9:03 pm

          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

            October 20, 2022 at 11:46 pm

            Hi Brenda, I press down the crust. Enjoy!

  2. Romi

    May 14, 2020 at 5:43 pm

    Hi. Looks amazing. Should the apples be peeled or can you leave the skin on?

    Reply
    • Meymi

      May 14, 2020 at 7:45 pm

      Thank you! They should be peeled.

      Reply
  3. Lisa

    October 08, 2020 at 3:07 am

    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

      October 08, 2020 at 5:47 pm

      Hi Lisa, I am so glad you loved these bars. Thank you for your comment and feedback!

      Reply
  4. Jen

    October 21, 2021 at 6:52 pm

    5 stars
    Hi! Making these tonight. Should we use salted or un-salted butter? The recipe doesn’t specify. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Meymi

      October 22, 2021 at 6:50 am

      Hi Jen, It is unsalted butter. Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. Elaine

    November 01, 2021 at 4:39 am

    4 stars
    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

      November 01, 2021 at 11:22 am

      Hi Elaine, I am so glad you and your family members enjoyed these apple bars! Thank you for your comment!

      Reply
    • Enid

      September 22, 2022 at 6:36 am

      Perfect for a dessert served with ice cream or custard thank you

      Reply
      • Meymi

        September 22, 2022 at 10:03 am

        Hi Enid, I am so glad you enjoyed these bars. Thank you for your comment!

        Reply
  6. Ruth Talford

    December 19, 2021 at 3:27 pm

    4 stars
    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
  7. Linda

    April 30, 2022 at 11:37 pm

    Is this for a 9×13” baking dish?

    Reply
    • Meymi

      April 30, 2022 at 11:44 pm

      It is an 8-inch square dish. You can find all the information in the recipe card.

      Reply
  8. Trina

    October 09, 2022 at 6:37 pm

    5 stars
    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

      October 09, 2022 at 7:21 pm

      Hi Trina, I am so happy you all loved these bars. Thank you for your comment!

      Reply
  9. Chris B

    November 11, 2022 at 7:28 am

    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

      November 12, 2022 at 7:17 am

      Hi Chris, I’m so glad to hear that you both enjoyed these bars. Thank you for your feedback!

      Reply
  10. Susan Younce

    January 17, 2023 at 1:55 am

    5 stars
    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

      January 17, 2023 at 11:17 am

      Hi Susan, I’m happy to hear that your husband loved these bars so much. Thank you so much for letting me know!

      Reply
  11. Maria Mannella

    January 19, 2023 at 5:52 am

    5 stars
    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

      January 19, 2023 at 5:37 pm

      Hi Maria, I’m so glad you enjoyed these bars so much. Thank you for your comment!

      Reply
  12. Meka

    February 19, 2023 at 8:17 am

    5 stars
    Tried the recipe, it was excellent! I ended up making a cinnamon, nutmeg sugar glaze on top as a drizzle. Awesome!

    Reply
    • Meymi

      February 21, 2023 at 6:20 am

      Hi Meka, I’m so glad you loved these apple bars. The sugar glaze sounds delicious. Thank you for your feedback!

      Reply
  13. Anita Roberts

    March 26, 2023 at 12:34 pm

    5 stars
    I tried this recipe yesterday and everyone loved it.Thanks so much for a quick and easy recipe, definitely a keeper.

    Reply
    • Meymi

      March 27, 2023 at 7:15 am

      Hi Anita, I’m so happy to hear that everyone enjoyed these bars so much. Thank you for your comment!

      Reply
  14. Shirley

    June 01, 2023 at 3:59 pm

    Can these bars be eaten with your fingers or to messy, need a fork.

    Reply
    • Meymi

      June 01, 2023 at 8:18 pm

      Hi Shirley, Once they are completely cool, you can enjoy as you like!

      Reply

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