Apple Pie Bars are the EASY version of Apple Pie! The beauty of this dessert is that they fit into your fingers, no fork required and the filling is homemade with your freshly picked apples. These taste even better than the original and they’re much easier to make. Delicious!
The weather is crisp and delicious! I love fall when it behaves like FALL. The beautiful fall weekend that we just had is sadly nearly over. It has involved a touch of everything…time with friends, time with family, rest time, work time, home time and getting out. I also had a complete kitchen FAIL over the weekend that I’ll have to improve upon and try again soon. It is so disappointing when something doesn’t turn out anything like I’d imagined.
THIS recipe, on the other hand, turned out way better than I ever imagined it could. These bars are Apple Pie without the hassle. Fall in a pan. Party in your tummy. Baked comfort.
HOW TO MAKE APPLE PIE BARS
Do not open a can of apple filling for this recipe – use fresh apples to make a homemade filling that creates the most amazing dessert!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
PREPARE THE PIE CRUST: In a large bowl, combine the egg, butter and sugar. Mix until creamy. Add flour and salt and stir until combined. Using your fingers (flour them, if needed), press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. You can inch up the sides of the pan a bit if you like a hearty crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
PREPARE THE FILLING: In a large bowl, combine apples, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir until combined. Pour evenly over crust.
PREPARE THE TOPPING: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and butter. Stir until mixture is crumbly. Spread evenly over filling layer. Bake for an additional 30 minutes until the top is golden brown. Let cool completely and cut into squares.
KEEP YOUR APPLES FROM BROWNING
When chopping and peeling the apples, fill a large bowl about half with cool water and squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon into it. The lemon juice will keep your apples from getting brown while you get them prepped for the recipe. Use an apple corer/peeler if you have one because they will make this process go super fast. If you don’t have one, use a potato peeler and a knife to get the job done. You’ll need to peel, core and chop the apples. Place them into the water-lemon juice mixture as you work.
APPLES TO USE FOR BAKING APPLE PIE RECIPES
I recommend using a variety of apples and at the very least, use two kinds: one sweet and one tart. My favorite combo is Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples.
Sweet/Softer Apple Brands
Fuji
Honeycrisp
Red Delicious
Golden Delicious
Cortland
Gala
Tart (or a little Sour) Apple Brands
Granny Smith
McIntosh
Ida Red
Braeburn
Empire
Jonathan
CAN I USE HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM IN THIS RECIPE
Absolutely yes! If desired, spoon a dollop or two of Homemade Whipped Cream on top!
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM
Watch this quick video tutorial for a delicious topping for your pie!
HOW MANY CALORIES IN AN APPLE
One medium apple contains approximately 95 calories.
HOW MANY CARBS IN AN APPLE
One medium apple contains approximately 25 grams of carbohydrates.
CAN DOGS EAT APPLES
Apple seeds contain cyanide, so avoid feeding apple cores to dogs. The flesh and skin are safe and even healthy for dogs!
FALL APPLE RECIPES
Easy Homemade Crockpot Applesauce – Homemade Applesauce is fun to prepare because it’s so easy to make. Use an assortment of green and red apples and you’ll have a flavorful snack you can enjoy; better than the store stuff!
Apple Pie Jam – this fall make this Amazing Apple Pie Jam! This jam tastes just like Apple Pie because it’s similar to pie filling. So get ready to be addicted. Put it on your English muffins, pancakes or with peanut butter! This is a great, DELICIOUS way to use up extra apples in the fall! Also a great gift idea!
Homemade Apple Cider – Make Homemade Apple Cider in your slow cooker! It’ll warm you from the inside out with amazing flavors and it’s so delicious. It’s a must have fall drink and tastes so much better when you make it yourself. Such a great way to use up apples in the fall. Best of all, your house will smell amazing!
Apple Coffee Cake – This is the best Apple Coffee Cake recipe you’ll find. Enjoy as an indulgent breakfast treat or an any-time snack or dessert!
Salted Chocolate Caramel Apples – sprinkling of sea salt and a bit of chocolate turns Caramel Apples into an extravagant dessert.. Salted Chocolate Caramel Apples!
Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
CRUST
- 1 egg
- 2 sticks butter softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp. salt
FILLING
- 4 large apples peeled, cored and sliced
- 4 tbsp. butter melted
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
TOPPING
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 2/3 cup flour
- 4 tbsp. butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13 pan with parchment and set aside.
- PREPARE THE CRUST: In a large bowl, combine the egg, butter and sugar. Mix until creamy. Add flour and salt and stir until combined. Using your fingers (flour them, if needed), press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
- PREPARE THE FILLING: In a large bowl, combine apples, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir until combined. Pour evenly over crust.
- PREPARE THE TOPPING: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and butter. Stir until mixture is crumbly. Spread evenly over filling layer. Bake for an additional 30 minutes. Let cool and cut into squares. Enjoy the last bits of the weekend!
This looks fantastic! I have saved the recipe to make soon. Am I seeing pecans in the topping in the photo?
These look great! I made something similar last week and it was ridiculously good. I'll have to try your version, too! 🙂
KITW: no pecans in the photos, but that would add an extra crunch! Let me know if you try it!!
Megan
Oh girl, these bars look freaking fantastic. LOVE!
YUM! The Littles in my home love apple pie, and in bar form, it's a total win-win! Thanks for sharing this drool worthy recipe 🙂
thats a lotta butta :p but I'm gonna make it anyhowz
I wanted to make this recipe for about 3 weeks, but kept stopping myself bc of all the butter. Last night I said screw the calories, and made these bars. Soooo good. I cut back on the sugar here and there for my personal taste, otherwise this recipe is perfect! Thanks!