Apple Pie Bars Recipe (2024)

Apple Pie Bars Recipe (1)

4.77 from 34 reviews

Prep: 45 minutes mins

Resting time: 1 hour hr

Cook: 30 minutes mins

Total: 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings: 12 large bars

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These Apple Pie Bars are made with a buttery shortbread crust, a perfect apple pie filling and finished off with a delicious oatmeal streusel topping. Highly recommend to serve with vanilla bean ice cream!

Ingredients

Shortbread Crust:

  • 1 1/4 cup softened, unsalted butter
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Apple Pie Filling:

  • 6-8 apples (~3 lbs.) Mix of Granny Smith + Pink Lady (cored, peeled, thinly sliced (~1/4 inch thick))
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. nutmeg (optional)
  • 1 lemon, juiced (~ 2 Tbsp.)
  • 2 Tbsp. cornstarch* (see notes)
  • 1/2 cup water, as needed

Streusel Topping:

  • 1 cup Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats (not quick cook or 1-minute)
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark is fine!)
  • 3/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup chilled, unsalted butter cut into cubes

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Instructions

  • Make the streusel topping first: In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, brown sugar, flour, salt and cinnamon.

    1 cup Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats (not quick cook or 1-minute), 1 cup brown sugar, packed, 3/4 cup All-Purpose Flour, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

    Apple Pie Bars Recipe (2)

  • Cut in the chilled, cubed butter or mix with fingertips until the mixture comes together in clump

    1/2 cup chilled, unsalted butter cut into cubes

    Apple Pie Bars Recipe (3)

  • Cover the streusel and place in refrigerator to chill while you prepare the shortbread crust and apple pie filling.

    Apple Pie Bars Recipe (4)

  • Make the shortbread crust: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.

    2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour, 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

    Apple Pie Bars Recipe (5)

  • In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the softened butter, white sugar and brown sugar together until creamy.

    1 1/4 cup softened, unsalted butter, 2/3 cup granulated sugar, 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed

    Apple Pie Bars Recipe (6)

  • Add in the vanilla and then with the mixer on low gradually add in the dry ingredients.

    1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

    Apple Pie Bars Recipe (7)

  • Press this into a 9×13 oven safe baking dish and refrigerate for 20 minutes (don't skip this step!).

    Apple Pie Bars Recipe (8)

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Once chilled, bake for 18 minutes in the oven. Remove and let cool while you prepare the filling. Decrease the oven temperature to 350°F.

    Apple Pie Bars Recipe (9)

  • Place the sliced apples in a large mixing bowl and mix in the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg.

    6-8 apples (~3 lbs.) Mix of Granny Smith + Pink Lady, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg (optional)

    Apple Pie Bars Recipe (10)

  • Whisk together the lemon juice and cornstarch and add to apples. (This is the thickener). Pour the apple mixture into a large saucepan over medium heat and cook for 5-8 minutes or until apples soften. Stir occasionally and add water as needed so apples don't burn or scorch pan.

    1 lemon, juiced (~ 2 Tbsp.), 2 Tbsp. cornstarch*, 1/2 cup water, as needed

    Apple Pie Bars Recipe (11)

  • Layer the apples over the shortbread crust.

    Apple Pie Bars Recipe (12)

  • Top the apples with the streusel.

    Apple Pie Bars Recipe (13)

  • Bake for 30-35 minutes. Let apple pie bars cool. Slice and serve as is or with vanilla bean ice cream!

    Apple Pie Bars Recipe (14)

Video

Notes

  • This recipe is adapted from Ina Garten. I’ve made a few small changes but nothing too significant.
  • Streusel Topping can be prepared 1 day ahead to save time; keep chilled.
  • Cook the apples on the stove until apples are soft and use a thickening agent like flour or cornstarch to transform the cooked fruit’s juices from runny mess to luscious, slice-able filling. Do not add too much thickener to your apple pie filling because it will turn it cloudy and pasty. Only need to cook for 5-8 minutes since apples will continue to cook in the oven.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1large bar, Calories: 629kcal (31%), Carbohydrates: 94g (31%), Protein: 5g (10%), Fat: 28g (43%), Saturated Fat: 17g (106%), Cholesterol: 71mg (24%), Sodium: 214mg (9%), Potassium: 208mg (6%), Fiber: 4g (17%), Sugar: 59g (66%), Vitamin A: 873IU (17%), Vitamin C: 4mg (5%), Calcium: 59mg (6%), Iron: 2mg (11%)

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

© Author: Tawnie Graham of Kroll’s Korner

Apple Pie Bars Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best apple mix for pie? ›

The exact ratio is up to you. If you prioritize a more puckery pie, use mostly Granny Smiths and toss in a Honeycrisp and a Jonagold. If you like your apples to slump and soften, use mostly Golden Delicious with a Braeburn thrown in.

How many apples are needed to make 25 pies? ›

Equation: 1 apple pie = 10 apples + 2 crusts + 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. You will need 250 apples to make 25 pies.

What are the best apples for apple tarts? ›

If you don't have a local market, in the U.S., Braeburn, Granny Smith, Jonagold, and Winesap are flavorful apples that are good for baking. The tart is called “Normande” because it uses heavy cream and Calvados, two staples of the hearty cuisine of Normandy.

What are the top 5 apples for baking? ›

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

What apples not to use for apple pie? ›

There are a few apples that don't make the cut. While great for snacking, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious are the most common apples that won't hold up in the oven and will give you a watery-mushy pie, tart or cake.

What is the best thickener for apple pie? ›

All-purpose flour is an easy solution, as you're sure to have it in your pantry. Since it's lower in starch, you'll use more of it than you would higher-starch thickeners. Quick-cooking tapioca makes filling bright and clear, but also gives it a stippled and somewhat sticky texture.

How many apples is 2 pounds? ›

Since we know that three medium-sized apples (or four small ones) make a pound, you can use this as a guide to know how many large apples make up a pound. In general, 2 large apples can often make up a pound, with large apples that are close in size to a softball.

How many apples is 3 lbs? ›

This recipe calls for three pounds of crisp apples, which we now know are about eight medium-sized apples. Choose from Gala, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or your favorite variety.

How many apples does it take to make 5 cups of apples? ›

About 3/4 of an average sliced or cubed apple equates to a single cup. However, it really depends on the size of your apple and how you'll be cutting it. In a perfect world, you'll start with a medium apple.

What is the sweetest apple? ›

While there is an extremely wide variety of apples, all with varying flavors, the sweetest-tasting apple is fuji, followed by gala, honeycrisp, and Red Delicious apples. These apples are great for snacking and eating as is. Granny Smith, McIntosh, and Pink Lady fall on the tart end of the spectrum.

Can honeycrisp apples be used for baking? ›

Honeycrisp. One of the sweetest apples around, this Midwestern favorite is good for anything—including baking. It boasts a distinctive juicy crispness and is firm enough that it won't cook down much. It complements just about any other apple variety to make a stellar pie.

What is the crispiest tart apple? ›

What Are The Crunchiest Apples?
  • Crisp Apples Ranked: Crunchiest to Least Crunchy.
  • SweeTango. ...
  • Honeycrisp. ...
  • Cosmic Crisp® ...
  • Pink Lady® ...
  • Rave® ...
  • Pinata® ...
  • Granny Smith.

Which apples make the best pies? ›

The best apples for making apple pie
  • Crispin (Mutsu). ...
  • Golden Delicious. ...
  • Granny Smith. ...
  • Honeycrisp. ...
  • Jonagold or Jonathan. ...
  • Northern Spy. ...
  • Pink Lady. This super crisp apple certainly is sturdy enough to hold its shape when baked. ...
  • Winesap. This heirloom cultivar is said to have been around for centuries.
Oct 8, 2021

What is the sweetest apple to bake with? ›

Honeycrisp (Sweet)

They're extra juicy and very crisp with a honey-sweet flavor that translates wonderfully into baked goods. AND they are the star of the show in my Honeycrisp apple sangria.

What is the best all round apple? ›

The Golden Delicious is sweet, with a rich, mellow flavor. It is one of the best all-around cooking apples, as it maintains its shape after baking.

What are the best apples to use for apple pie or apple crisp? ›

What Makes A Good Apple For Apple Crisp? The best apples for baking keep their structure under heat, which prevents the chunks of fruit from turning into mush after baking. The firm and crisp Granny Smith and Honeycrisp varieties are popular apples to use in apple pies and apple crisps.

What are the best apples for applesauce and apple pie? ›

The following apples are great choices for your next batch of homemade applesauce.
  • Cortland.
  • Golden Delicious.
  • Gala.
  • McIntosh.
  • Granny Smith.
Nov 18, 2022

What are the best apples for pies and turnovers? ›

Apple turnover cinnamon filling

Apples – Granny Smith apples are my favourite apple option. Good balance of tartness with sweet, and they hold their shape. Most red apple varieties will break down more so you end up with a compote inside (which makes base soggy), and are sweeter.

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