Apple Pie Bars Recipe

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These Apple Pie Bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, tender cinnamon apples, and irresistible crumb topping. They’re an easy make-ahead dessert that’s perfect for fall gatherings and holiday parties!

Prep Time15

Cook Time1 10

Total Time1 25

Course: Dessert, Sweets

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Calories: 372kcal

Author: Marcie

Equipment

Parchment Paper

Ingredients

For the crust and topping:

1.5 cups unsalted butter 3 sticks; softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

For the apple filling:

3 lbs. Honeycrisp apples peeled, cored and sliced into 1/4" thick slices; see note 1
1/2 cup granulated sugar see note 2
1.5 tablespoons cornstarch see note 3
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Prepare the crust (and crumble):

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 13x9" baking dish with parchment paper.
Place the softened butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar and vanilla in a large bowl and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Add the flour, cinnamon and salt and beat on low speed until the dry ingredients are just incorporated. Reserve 1/3 of the dough for the crumble topping.
Press 2/3 of the shortbread evenly into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes until light golden brown and fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.

Prepare the filling and assemble the bars:

Place the sliced apples, 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and cinnamon in a large bowl and stir until well combined. Pour the filling
Pour the filling over the shortbread crust and spread evenly. Sprinkle over the reserved crumble topping and bake for 40-45 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. Insert the tip of a knife into the apples to make sure they're tender. If the topping begins to brown too quickly, cover with aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking time.
Remove the apple pie bars from heat and cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into bars, serve and enjoy!

Notes

Pro tip: Honeycrisp apples are my favorite baking apples, but I also love using a combination of Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples for a sweet-tart flavor.
If your apples are very sweet, you can decrease the amount of sugar to 1/3 cup or even 1/4 cup. This is totally a personal preference!
Cornstarch is used to thicken the apple filling. If you prefer to use all purpose flour, use 3 tablespoons.
Make ahead: Prepare the bars up to 2 days in advance, or freeze for up to 3 months wrapped tightly in foil and placed in a zip top bag. If frozen, texture may vary slightly.
Store the bars up to 1 day at room temperature or refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition