When it comes to classic fall treats, nothing beats the iconic apple pie. But if you’re craving something shareable (or just want an easier option than making a whole pie), apple pie bars are the way to go. With a simple press-in crust and a delicious crumbly topping, they might just become your new favorite fall dessert. Keep reading for some handy tips to make these tasty treats:
Choosing the best apples:
You can use any type of apple you like! We recommend Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for their sweet-tart flavor, but feel free to mix and match or use your favorite baking apples.
Serving suggestions:
While these bars are fantastic on their own, you can take them to the next level by drizzling them with caramel or serving them with a scoop of homemade ice cream.
Storage and freezing:
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. These bars taste great whether they’re warm, at room temperature, or cold. To freeze, wrap them tightly and store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
**For the crust:**
- Cooking spray
- 1 cup 2 sticks softened butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
**For the filling:**
- 6 apples peeled, cored, and sliced
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
**For the topping:**
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 cup 1 1/2 sticks melted butter
- Caramel for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9”x13” pan with parchment paper, then grease it with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the softened butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the flour and salt, mixing until just combined.
- Press the dough into the prepared pan, about 1/2 inch up the sides. Bake until lightly golden, around 20 minutes.
- In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Spread the apple mixture over the baked crust.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, pecans, brown sugar, and salt. Stir in the melted butter until coarse crumbs form.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping over the apples and bake until the top is golden and the apples are soft, about 1 hour.
- Let the bars cool for at least 15 minutes, then slice into squares and drizzle with caramel before serving. Enjoy!