Tag: fall dessert

If you love apple pie but don’t always feel like making a whole pie, these Apple Pie Bars with a buttery shortbread crust are the perfect solution. They’re easy to slice, share, and serve—making them a go-to dessert for family gatherings, holidays, or just when you’re craving a cozy fall treat. Imagine tender cinnamon apples layered between a rich, melt-in-your-mouth crust and a sweet crumb topping… absolute heaven in bar form!

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Why You’ll Love These Apple Pie Bars

• ✅ Easier than making a traditional apple pie
• ✅ Buttery shortbread crust that melts in your mouth
• ✅ Sweet cinnamon apple filling
• ✅ Melted-butter crumble topping for big, crunchy clusters
• ✅ Perfect for fall baking, holidays, or bake sales

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Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Crust:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt

For the Apple Filling:

• 4 cups apples (about 4 medium, Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 2 tsp cornstarch

For the Melted Butter Crumble:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

Optional Glaze:

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tbsp milk or cream
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the Crust

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then mix in vanilla, flour, and salt until dough forms. Press evenly into the pan and bake for 12–15 minutes, just until the edges turn golden.

Step 2: Prepare the Apple Filling

Toss thinly sliced apples with lemon juice. Mix in brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch until apples are evenly coated.

Step 3: Make the Crumble

In a bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Stir in the melted butter until the mixture forms clumps.

Step 4: Assemble and Bake

Spread the apple filling evenly over the baked crust. Sprinkle the crumble topping generously over the apples. Bake for 35–40 minutes, until the topping is golden and the apples are bubbling.

Step 5: Cool and Drizzle

Let bars cool completely in the pan so they set. Once cooled, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together for a simple glaze and drizzle over the top before slicing.

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Recipe Tips

• 🍎 Use tart apples (like Granny Smith) for the best sweet-tangy balance.
• ❄️ Chill before cutting for clean, bakery-style slices.
• 🍨 Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for a pie à la mode twist.
• 🎃 Swap apples for pears or add a handful of chopped pecans to the crumble for variety.

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Storing Your Apple Pie Bars

• Room Temp: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
• Refrigerator: Keeps well for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Wrap bars individually and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before serving.

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🍏 Final Thoughts

These Apple Pie Bars with Buttery Shortbread Crust give you all the comfort of apple pie in a fuss-free, shareable dessert. They’re sweet, buttery, and bursting with cinnamon-spiced apples—perfect for fall baking or anytime you want a cozy treat without rolling out pie dough.