Description
Irresistible apple pie bars showcase classic American dessert flavors in a convenient handheld treat. Buttery pastry and sweet cinnamon-spiced apples create a delightful experience you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit Base:
- 4 cups apples, peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Crust:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Flavor Enhancer:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350°F (175°C) and line a rectangular baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage for easy removal.
- Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, incorporating flour, sugar, and salt. Use a pastry cutter or cold fingers to integrate butter until the mixture resembles coarse, uneven crumbs.
- Transfer approximately two-thirds of the crumbly dough into the prepared pan, gently pressing and creating an even, compact base layer for the crust.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine sliced apples with brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch, and fresh lemon juice, thoroughly coating the fruit to ensure even seasoning.
- Distribute the apple mixture uniformly across the prepared crust, creating a thick, even layer that covers the entire surface.
- Scatter the remaining dough crumbs over the apple layer, creating a rustic, textured topping that will transform into a golden, crispy streusel during baking.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, watching for a rich golden-brown color and slightly bubbling edges indicating complete cooking.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan, which helps the filling set and makes cutting into clean, precise squares easier.
Notes
- Choose firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and balanced sweetness in your bars.
- Ensure butter is cold when cutting into the flour mixture to create those signature flaky, crumbly layers in the crust.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain the same delicate texture.
- Prevent soggy bottoms by patting the crust mixture firmly and evenly into the pan, creating a solid foundation for the apple filling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 234 kcal
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 65 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 22 mg