Description
Delight in these classic Apple Pie Bars featuring a buttery, crumbly crust and a warm spiced apple filling. Perfectly balanced with cinnamon and nutmeg, these bars are easy to bake and make a wonderful treat for any occasion, offering the beloved flavors of traditional apple pie in convenient bar form.
Ingredients
Scale
Apple Filling
- 550 g (4 and ½ cups – 4 medium) chopped cubed apples
- 30 g (2 tablespoons) granulated sugar
- 25 g (2 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon) all-purpose flour*
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Crust & Crumbles
- 280 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour (dip and sweep) **
- 185 g (¾ cup and 1 tablespoon) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes, cold
- 105 g (½ cup) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease an 8-inch (20 cm) square oven-proof dish and line it with parchment paper, leaving about 2 inches (5 cm) of overhang on each side to easily lift the bars out later.
- Make the Apple Filling: Peel, core, and chop the apples into small cubes. In a medium bowl, toss the apples with lemon juice, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg until evenly coated. Set the mixture aside to let the flavors meld.
- Prepare Crust and Crumble: In a large bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, and sugar. Add the cold cubed butter, covering each piece with flour mixture. Use two forks or a pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Alternatively, rub the mixture with your fingertips for better incorporation.
- Assemble the Bars: Spread two-thirds of the crumb mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish using a lightly floured spoon or your hands. Evenly distribute the apple filling over this crust layer. Sprinkle the remaining one-third of the crumb topping over the apples, breaking up large pieces to create crunchy crumbles.
- Bake: Place the assembled dish in the preheated oven and bake for 55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the crumb topping is crunchy.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature for 1 to 1.5 hours. For faster cooling, place the bars in the freezer after they reach room temperature. Once cooled, lift the parchment paper to remove the bars from the pan and cut into 16 pieces.
- Storage: Store the apple pie bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
- You can substitute 1 tablespoon of cornstarch for the flour in the apple filling for a slightly different texture.
- The dip and sweep method refers to measuring flour by dipping the cup into the flour and sweeping off the top for accurate measurements.
- Allowing the bars to cool fully before slicing prevents crumbling and helps the filling set properly.
- For easier spreading of the crumb mixture, flour your spoon or hands lightly to prevent sticking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 205 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
