Apple Pie Bars

A perfect fall dessert, these Apple Pie Bars have sweet caramelized apples layered on top of a cookie crust and then sprinkled with a buttery crumb topping. They are the perfect dessert if you are craving apple pie and are great to feed a crowd!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1 5

Servings servings

Calories 237kcal

Author Deborah Harroun

Ingredients

Filling:

3 large tart apples (I used Granny Smith)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Crust:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 egg

Streusel:

1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter cold, diced
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

Make the filling:

Peel and core the apples and cut into a 1/2-inch dice.
3 large tart apples
Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the apples and cook until they are soft, about 7-8 minutes.
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Add the sugar, lemon juice, flour and cinnamon to the apples and stir to combine.
1/2 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Cook until the mixture starts to bubble, then turn the heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes.
Remove from the heat to cool while you prepare the crust.

Make the crust:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Line a 13x9-inch baking dish with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt
In a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together unit light and fluffy. Mix in the egg, then add in the flour mixture and mix just until combined. It will be crumbly.
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 3/4 cup light brown sugar, 1 egg
Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Set the pan aside.

Make the crumb topping:

In a bowl, mix together the sugar, flour and salt. Add the butter and using a pastry cutter or a fork, cut the butter into the mixture until it is crumbly and pieces of butter are very small.
1/2 cup sugar, 2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
Add the nuts and stir to combine.
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Make the apple pie bars:

Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crust, leaving a 3/4-inch border around the sides.
Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the filling.
Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown, about 35 minutes.
Cool completely, then remove from the pan and cut into bars.

Notes

adapted from: Field Guide to Cookies

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should only be used as a general guideline.

Nutrition