Apple Pie Bars
Updated
Updated
These Apple Pie Bars are dessert squares that resemble apple pie, featuring a crumble bottom and top, with shredded cinnamon apples layered in between. I can’t think of a better no-fuss portable treat. I always add these bars to my list for fall baking!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItThis post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
5 STAR REVIEW
Easy Apple Pie Bars Recipe
I got married in October in an apple orchard, so the fall season has a special place in my heart! We head back up there every year…not to renew our vows, but more importantly to load up on fresh apple cider, donuts, pie, and lots of apples so I can make all my favorite apple recipes like applesauce, a batch of baked apple fritters, and, of course, these apple pie bars. Pink Ladies and Honeycrisp tend to be my favorite varieties to bake with, but any type of apple will work in these recipes.
I basically take my absolute favorite pie crumble topping and make a top and bottom layer out of it, and then layer shredded apples in the middle.
These recipes are great for fall, Thanksgiving, or just to celebrate apples being in season. They are also amazing at making my house smell like a cinnamon apple pie!
Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar, divided
- 2 tsp cinnamon, or use apple pie spice
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 4 medium apples, cored and grated, no need to peel
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang on the two longer sides. (Alternatively, lightly coat the pan with nonstick cooking spray.)
- In a medium bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, ¼ cup of the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Work in the egg and butter with a pastry blender (or your hands!) until pea-sized clumps form and virtually no loose flour remains. Press half of mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
- In another bowl, stir together the remaining ½ cup granulated sugar and cornstarch. Squeeze out any excess liquid from the grated apples with your hands, then mix them into the sugar until thoroughly combined. Sprinkle the apple mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble the remaining dough over the top of the apples.
- Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the top is slightly golden.
- Cool completely before cutting into squares and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How to Make Apple Pie Bars Step by Step
Get the oven going and prepare a baking dish: Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper with a slight overhang on the two longer sides.
Make the crumble layers: Mix 3 cups flour, ¾ cup brown sugar, some of the granulated sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, and ¼ tsp salt in a bowl. Work in the egg and 1 cup butter with a pastry blender (or your hands!) until pea-sized clumps form and virtually no loose flour remains. Press half of the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
Prep the apple layer: Stir together the remaining granulated sugar and 2 tsp cornstarch. Using your hands, squeeze out any excess liquid from the grated apples and then mix them into the sugar/cornstarch until thoroughly combined. Sprinkle the apple mixture evenly over the crust.
Finish the top layer and bake: Crumble the remaining dough over the top of the apples. Bake at 375°F until the top is slightly golden, 25 to 30 minutes.
Cool and enjoy. Cool completely before cutting into squares and enjoy!
How to Store Apple Bars
Allow bars to cool completely, then store in an airtight container or wrap individually in plastic wrap and place on the kitchen counter. They will keep on the counter for 2 days.
You can store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Bring them closer to room temperature before serving again, if preferred.
These also freeze well in a freeze-safe container up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bring to room temperature before serving.
Serving Suggestions
These are a great portable dessert and don’t require a fork or plate, but you certainly could serve them as you would a slice of apple pie if you want. I love serving these bars with vanilla or rocky road ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Made these today very easy and delicious will definitely make them again. Great with a little whipped topping on them!
Wife has asked me to make it again for her, she loves it. Ty for the recipe.
Wife loves this . Very easy to make. One scoop of ice cream with this is good.
Really enjoyed these. We live near an apple orchard and am always looking for ways to use up the apples!
Made them today, delicious, thinking a little caramel drizzled over would be fantastic also
These were simple and just delicious. I chose to peel my apples, but I probably won’t next time.
I use a combination of granny smith and gala. Loved these!
I made these today and they were delicious!! I even took some to my husband’s work while still a little warm and he said they got rave reviews! Definitely a keeper! Thanks for sharing.
Awesome! Thanks for the comment!
Made these for a ladies lunch and we all loved them!
Thanks for re-posting, Amy!!!
I made these yesterday and oh boy do we LOVE them. It’s apple season here so I know I’ll be doing a few more batches of these this fall. Into my “Favorite Recipes File” it went!
Thanks so much!
Carol
Easy and wonderful. We took your suggestion and swapped the cinnamon with apple pie spice. The house smelled amazing as these baked and they came out so delicious.
Happy Anniversary & these are definitely on my “to-do” list!
I’m dying for these just reading all the comments. What can be better than a double dose of the delicious topping! I love apples whether whole, chopped, in dessert or applesauce. I can actually taste these just as I’m reading the blog.
I saw the recipe yesterday and made them last nite. My family and myself LOVED them. OMG. Easy and delicious. I am still debating if I am bringing them to work, or just eating the rest of the pan…
oh yum! i need some sweetness in my day and that looks amazing! Good idea for a morning tea for my work place too. thanks amy!
I have 3 apple trees in my back yard and loads of apples this year, so I made 2 batches of these. Great recipe, thanks!
I am so making these this weekend! I love apple crisp, dutch apple pie, apple dounuts……OK I just love apples! YUM YUM YUM! I also wanted to let you know that I got a starter for friendship bread……….guess what I am going to put in it? APPLES……Oh yeah baby!
We’re lucky enough to live right by an apple orchard, so I’m always looking for new ways to use them. These Apple Crumble squares were perfect!
Happy Anniversary Amy and Paul!
These look really, really, really good to me. And I’m not a big fan of cooked apple desserts. But yeah.
P.S. Yumminosity? Sounds like a made up word around our house…
Apples in the upper Midwest are a big deal. The University of Minnesota developed the Honey Crisp and SweeTango varieties. Bayfield, Wisconsin holds a huge festival each year in honor of the apple. http://bayfield.org/festivals_events_apple_festival.php
But there’s nothing like watching a beautiful wedding taking place in a California apple orchard!
Happy Anniversary Amy & Paul– these recipes look so yummy! Have you ever had a “honey crisp” apple? It’s our all time favorite apple in the Campbell household.
I love that your family is commenting on this! These bars look delicious. I love crumbly topping. So much. So this may need to be made sometime soon. I must say that I am jelous of people with apple orchards nearby. This part of Texas doesn’t have apple orchards, so unfortunately, no apple picking for me!
I can vouch for the yumminess of these. So worth making…or getting from your sister. ;o)
We’re picking apples this weekend so I’m putting this on the to do list. Oh and I’m also making that applesauce. I can already smell how wonderful they are.