Apple Pie Bars
A homestyle dessert thats a cross between classic fresh apple pie and crumb cookie bars. Sweet, cinnamon spiced apples are sandwiched between two layers of a tender, buttery crumb crust and oven baked to create the ultimate fall treat!
Servings: 15
Ingredients
Crust and Crumb Topping
- 2 3/4 cups (390g) all-purpose flour (scoop and level to measure)
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed light brown sugar (break up any clumps)
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold, cut into small cubes
Apple Pie Filling
- 2 lbs. firm golden delicious apples, at room temperature, peeled, cored and chopped (about 6 cups)
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp each ground nutmeg and allspice
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest (1/2 medium lemon)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 13 by 9-inch baking dish (preferably metal pan), line with two sheets of parchment paper leaving a 1-inch overhang on all sides. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the baking powder, and salt until combined.
- In a small bowl whisk together egg with vanilla extract.
- Add butter and egg mixture to flour mixture and cut into mixture with a pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs (a food processor would work for this step as well). Transfer to refrigerator.
- Peel and cut apples as directed. In a mixing bowl toss together apples with 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
- Remove crust mixture from fridge and press half the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
- Add apple mixture in an even layer over the top of the crust layer (evenly pouring out accumulated juices from the bowl if there are some).
- Crumble remaining crust mixture over the apples, pressing together and breaking it into small crumbles as you sprinkle it over.
- Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and apples have softened (you can test with a toothpick), about 40 minutes.
- Let cool 1 hour on a wire rack before cutting into squares. Store in the fridge up to 2 days (note that they will soften after the first day but does still taste delicious).
Notes
Other apples to try: In place of golden delicious apples you can use thinly sliced and chopped gala apples or shredded Granny Smith apples. If using granny smith increase sugar in apple filling to 1/2 cup.
Recipe adapted from Blueberry Crumb Bars.