Description

These Easy Apple Pie Bars are a cozy, crowd-pleasing dessert with a buttery crust, juicy cinnamon-spiced apple filling, and crumbly topping. Perfect for fall, they deliver classic apple pie flavor in a simple, shareable bar.

Ingredients

Scale

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend for GF option)
1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
5 medium apples (about 1 1/2 lbs), peeled, cored, and diced (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji)
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
1/4 cup dried cranberries or raisins (optional)
Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)

Instructions

Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a large bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp cinnamon. Add 1 cup cold, cubed butter and blend with a pastry cutter or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Press about 2/3 of the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan for an even layer about 1/2 inch thick. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until just set and lightly golden.
While crust bakes, peel, core, and dice 5 medium apples. Toss apples in a bowl with 2 tbsp flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg (if using), 1/4 tsp salt, and 2 tsp lemon juice. Stir until evenly coated.
Spread apple mixture evenly over the baked crust. Sprinkle nuts or dried fruit on top if using. Press down gently.
Sprinkle remaining crust/crumble mixture over apples, pinching some into larger clumps for a chunky crumb. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until top is golden and apples are bubbly. Tent with foil if topping browns too quickly.
Remove from oven and cool in pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes. Use parchment overhang to lift bars out, then cut into squares.

Notes

For best results, use a mix of tart and sweet apples. Pre-bake the crust to prevent sogginess. Let bars cool fully before slicing for neat squares. Customize with nuts, dried fruit, or extra spices. For gluten-free or vegan, substitute flour and butter as needed. Bars freeze well for up to 2 months.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar (1/16 of recipe)
Calories: 210
Sugar: 18
Sodium: 90
Fat: 9
Saturated Fat: 5
Carbohydrates: 30
Fiber: 3
Protein: 3

Keywords: apple pie bars, fall dessert, easy apple bars, homemade apple pie, apple squares, cinnamon apple bars, gluten-free apple bars, vegan apple bars, autumn baking