Description
These Apple Pie Bars combine a buttery, crumbly crust with a warm, spiced apple filling, creating a delicious twist on classic apple pie. Perfect for a dessert or snack, they are easy to prepare and bake into golden, tender bars that can be topped with caramel sauce for extra indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust & Topping
- 2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Apple Filling
- 4 medium-sized apples (preferably Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Optional Topping
- 1/4 cup caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and salt thoroughly, then set this aside as the base for your dough.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In another large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and 1/2 cup granulated sugar together until the mixture is fluffy. Then mix in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Combine Flour Mixture with Butter Mixture: Gradually add the flour and salt mixture into the creamed butter blend, stirring until a crumbly dough forms.
- Press Dough into Pan: Take about two-thirds of the dough and press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared 9×13-inch dish, creating a firm, even crust layer. Reserve the remaining dough for later use.
- Prepare Apple Filling: In a separate bowl, toss the thinly sliced apples with 1/3 cup granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch until all slices are well-coated with the spices and cornstarch.
- Layer Apples over Crust: Spread the apple mixture evenly over the pressed dough layer in the baking dish.
- Add Crumble Topping: Crumble the reserved dough over the apple layer evenly to create a crumb topping.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender and bubbly.
- Cool: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely for at least 30 minutes so they set properly before slicing.
- Serve: Optionally, drizzle the cooled bars with caramel sauce before cutting into squares and serving to enhance the flavor.
Notes
- Use Granny Smith apples for the best tart flavor that balances the sweetness of the topping.
- Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for easier mixing.
- Let bars cool completely before slicing to maintain structure.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend.
- Caramel sauce is optional but adds a rich, sweet finishing touch to the bars.
