Description
These Apple Pie Bars offer a delightful twist on the classic apple pie, featuring a buttery, crumbly crust and a sweet, cinnamon-spiced apple filling layered between. Perfect for sharing, these bars are easy to make and bake to a golden perfection, delivering all the flavors of apple pie in convenient bar form.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Topping:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Filling:
- 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter and mix with a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture becomes crumbly. Stir in the beaten egg and vanilla extract, reserving one cup of the dough mixture separately for the topping.
- Form the base layer: Press the remaining dough evenly into the bottom of a greased or parchment-lined baking dish to form the crust layer. Ensure it is firmly packed and level.
- Make the apple filling: In another bowl, toss together the thinly sliced apples with lemon juice, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon until the apples are evenly coated with the spices and sugars.
- Assemble the bars: Evenly spread the prepared apple mixture over the pressed crust. Then, crumble the reserved dough over the top of the apple layer to create the crumble topping.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Cool and serve: Allow the apple pie bars to cool for at least 15 minutes in the baking dish before slicing into squares to serve. This cooling time helps the bars set and hold together.
Notes
- Use firm apples such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji for the best texture and flavor.
- Chilling the butter and using cold butter pieces helps create a flaky crust texture.
- For a richer flavor, you may add a teaspoon of nutmeg to the apple filling along with the cinnamon.
- These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an extra indulgent dessert.
