Easy Apple Pie Bars
Buttery shortbread, tender cinnamon apples, and a crisp crumble top come together in these cozy, slice-and-serve bars. They taste like classic apple pie with a fraction of the work.
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Servings:
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2.25 cup all-purpose flour for crust and crumble
- 0.75 cup old-fashioned rolled oats for crumble
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar for crust
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar for filling
- 0.5 cup light brown sugar packed; for crust
- 0.25 cup light brown sugar packed; for filling
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted slightly cooled
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon for crust
- 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon for filling
- 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg for filling
- 0.5 tsp fine salt for crust
- 0.25 tsp fine salt for filling
- 2 lb tart apples, peeled and diced such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp
- 1.5 tbsp lemon juice
- 1.5 tsp vanilla extract for filling
- 2.5 tbsp cornstarch
- 0.75 cup powdered sugar for optional glaze
- 1.5 tbsp milk for optional glaze
- 0.25 tsp vanilla extract for optional glaze
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Heat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment, leaving overhang.
- Whisk flour, oats, crust sugars, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp salt in a bowl.
- Pour in melted butter and stir until moist crumbs form. Press about three-quarters into the pan. Reserve the rest for topping.
- Bake crust 12 minutes until set at the edges. Cool 5 minutes.
- Toss apples with lemon juice, filling sugars, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg, and 1/4 tsp salt. Stir in vanilla, then sprinkle in cornstarch and mix again.
- Spread apple mixture over warm crust. Crumble reserved topping evenly over apples and lightly press.
- Bake 35–40 minutes until the fruit is bubbling and the top is golden.
- Cool in the pan at least 1 hour. Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and a splash of vanilla; drizzle over bars. Chill 30 minutes, then slice.
Notes
Swap half the apples with pears for a fall twist, or add a handful of chopped pecans to the crumble. Serve slightly warm with vanilla ice cream. Store covered at room temperature for 1 day or refrigerate up to 4 days; rewarm briefly before serving.
This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic Easy Apple Pie Bars flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.