Description
These Apple Pie Bars combine a buttery, crumbly crust with a tender, spiced apple filling for a delightful twist on traditional apple pie. Perfect for serving as a dessert or a sweet snack, they offer the warm flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg beneath a golden baked topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Topping
- 2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Apple Filling
- 4 medium-sized apples (preferably Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Optional
- 1/4 cup caramel sauce for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients for Crust: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and salt. Set this mixture aside for use in the dough.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract to add flavor.
- Form Dough: Gradually add the flour and salt mixture to the creamed butter and sugar, blending well until a crumbly dough forms.
- Press Dough for Crust: Press about two-thirds of this dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to create the base crust. Reserve the remaining dough for the topping.
- Prepare Apple Filling: In another bowl, combine the thinly sliced apples with 1/3 cup granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss until the apples are evenly coated with the mixture.
- Layer Apple Mixture: Spread the apple filling evenly over the crust in the baking dish.
- Add Topping: Crumble the remaining dough over the top of the apple layer, covering the filling as best as possible.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes until the bars are golden brown on top and the apples are tender underneath.
- Cool: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool in the baking dish for at least 30 minutes before slicing into bars to let the filling set.
- Serve: Optionally, drizzle the apple pie bars with caramel sauce before serving to add a rich, sweet finish.
Notes
- Use Granny Smith apples for a tart flavor that balances the sweetness well, but you can substitute with other firm apples if desired.
- Allow the bars to cool completely to ensure clean slices and prevent the filling from being too runny.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute the butter with vegan butter or margarine.
- You can prepare this recipe a day ahead and store it covered in the refrigerator, reheating slightly before serving.
- Drizzling with caramel sauce is optional but highly recommended for extra decadence.
