Homemade Apple Pie Bars Recipe

Two slices of apple pie bars stacked with caramel drizzle on top.

These homemade Apple Pie Bars are made with a buttery shortbread crust and are filled with warm, cinnamon-sugar apples. They are topped off with a brown sugar streusel and taste amazing with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel. If you're looking for an easier alternative to traditional apple pie, this is the fall dessert recipe you need!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Total Time 55

Servings

Calories 292

Author Ashlyn Edwards | Belle of the Kitchen

Ingredients

For the crust

1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all purpose flour

For the apple filling

3-4 large apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

For the streusel topping

1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup unsalted butter 1/2 stick, cold and sliced

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with parchment paper and set aside. Stir together the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt until combined. Add flour and stir until a thick dough forms.
Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from oven (it will look slightly underbaked).
In a large bowl, toss the apple slices with flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until evenly coated. Spread apple mixture in an even layer over the top of the crust.
In a medium bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Use a pastry cutter or fork to cut the butter into the the streusel ingredients until the mixture is crumbly.
Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the top of the apples. Place bars in pre-heated oven and bake for 30–40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apples are tender.
Remove from oven and cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once the bars are cool, lift out using parchment paper and cut into squares or bars with a sharp knife.

Notes

My favorite apples for making apple pie bars include a combination of sweet and tart. I love Honeycrisp and Granny Smith Apples, but you could also use Fuji, Red Delicious, or any others you enjoy. I also make this with ONLY Granny Smith apples a lot, too, as I find their natural tartness and firm texture bakes up so perfectly in apple desserts.
Allow your Apple Pie Bars to cool on a wire rack for at least 1-2 hours before serving. This will allow the bars to set properly before slicing. You can also place your cooled, room temperature pan in the fridge to help the bars set even more if you want really nice, smooth slices!
For serving, these taste so good warm with a little bit of caramel sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! However, they taste amazing on their own; no toppings needed!
Preparing in advance - This is a great make-ahead dessert, and can even be frozen. Cover the pan with a layer of plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil before freezing for up to three months. Thaw the bars in the fridge overnight before reheating and serving.
Storing leftovers - any leftover apple bars can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for 1-2 days, or in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

Nutrition