Print

Delicious and Easy Apple Pie Bars with Brown Sugar Crumble

A close-up of one square of delicious & easy apple pie bars showing the thick apple filling and crumb topping.
Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Prepare simple, delicious apple pie bars featuring a buttery shortbread base, a sweet-tart apple filling, and a crisp brown sugar crumble topping. This recipe avoids the fuss of a traditional pie.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats (not instant)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 medium apples (like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and diced small
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides for easy removal.
  2. Prepare the crust: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in 2 cups of flour, salt, oats, and vanilla extract until a crumbly dough forms.
  3. Press about two-thirds of the dough mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the base. Set the remaining one-third of the dough aside for the topping.
  4. Prepare the filling: In a separate bowl, toss the diced apples with the brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice until the apples are evenly coated.
  5. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crust layer in the pan.
  6. Prepare the crumble topping: Take the reserved one-third of the dough mixture and crumble it loosely over the apple layer using your fingers. Do not press it down.
  7. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
  8. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang. Cut into squares.

Notes

  • For a firmer filling, you can microwave the diced apples with the sugar and spices for 2 minutes before spreading them on the crust.
  • If you prefer a less sweet bar, reduce the granulated sugar in the crust by 2 tablespoons.
  • These bars keep well stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://savoryskies.com/delicious-easy-apple-pie-bars-recipe/