Apple pie bars are a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that you can enjoy any time of year. With just five ingredients, these bars feature a buttery crust filled with an apple filling made from fresh apples, cinnamon, and sugar. They're the perfect combination of sweet and tart flavors that will leave your kitchen smelling amazing! Not only do they taste great, but they make for a great snack or after-dinner treat too.
Why this apple pie bars recipe works
I am always looking for and creating baked desserts that are simple and require as few ingredients as possible. These apple pie bars require just 5 ingredients!
The recipe is easy to follow along, and I am pretty sure you have all the ingredients in your kitchen now.
The combination of apples and cinnamon is perfect, and the buttery crust ties everything together. I used green apples (granny smith) that have a tart flavor; I prefer using this kind of apple because they turn out delicious once you bake them!
When I made these apple pie bars, my family couldn’t stop raving about them and immediately asked me to bake another batch while they were scarfing one down!
Note: Another bar recipe I shared last year was lemon bars, be sure to check it out. They are so, so good. But don’t just take my word for it; make a few yourself!
Tips for making the best apple pie bars
Here are some of the best tips for making these delicious apple treats...
Cube the apples into small, even pieces
The smaller pieces of apple mean that the flavors will be evenly distributed throughout the bars, giving you a delicious bite every time.
Use vegan butter
For those looking for a vegan-friendly option, you can use vegan butter instead of regular butter in this recipe. It works just as well and will still provide you with the same delicious flavor.
Make it Parve
If you want to make the recipe only non-dairy (parve) then just switch the butter to coconut oil or other butter substitutes.
I don’t like using margarine, so I don’t recommend it. But if that's all you have on hand, go for it!
Add salted caramel
For extra sweetness and a delicious contrast, try drizzling some salted caramel sauce over the top of the apple bars. It's an optional step, but it's sure to take your bars to the next level!
Let the bars cool completely before cutting
For neat and even slices, it's best to let your apple pie bars cool completely before slicing into them. This will help the flavors have time to set, and the crust can absorb the juices.
If you cut them too early, the bars may crumble.
FAQs
Here are some questions people often ask about how to make these apple bars...
Which is the best apple to use for apple pie bars?
The best apples for apple pie bars are tart and sweet varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady. These apples hold up well during baking and have a delicious flavor that pairs perfectly with the cinnamon and sugar in the filling.
Can I make these bars gluten-free?
You can easily substitute the all-purpose flour for your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour to make the dough.
Can I use canned apple pie filling instead of making my own?
Yes, you can use canned apple pie filling if you'd like to save time. Just make sure to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe if it's already sweetened.
Can I freeze these apple pie bars?
Yes, you can freeze these apple pie bars for up to 3 months. Just be sure to let them cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer bag.
Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and serve at room temperature.
Make these easy apple pie bars today!
Making apple bars is easier than you may think. With just five simple ingredients and a few steps, you can have delicious homemade apple pie bars ready in no time.
The recipe and instructions are below, so get baking!
More apple recipes:
Want to try a few more dessert recipes at home? Check out some of these delicious treats:
- Apple Oat Cake
- Baked Apple Pie Rice Paper Rolls
- Parve Apple and Honey Cake
- Blueberry Apple Crumb Squares
- Apple Cinnamon Rosh Hashanah Challah
Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup (250 grams) melted butter
- ⅔ cup sugar
For the filling:
- 4 cubed apples
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C or 350°F with the fan setting.
- In a large bowl, combine all dough ingredients and knead together until thoroughly combined. Grease a 9x13-inch pan before pressing half of the dough onto it in an even layer.
- Bake for 15 minutes, and while that's cooking, mix up all filling ingredients in another bowl until it's all mixed together.
- Once done baking, spread the apple filling over the partially baked bottom layer. Continue by crumbling the remaining dough on top of the filling as evenly as possible.
- Bake once more for 40 minutes.
- Allow them to cool completely prior to slicing them into bars.
- Grab one (or three) and enjoy these delicious apple pie bars!
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