Description
Whip up easy Apple Pie Bars for Fall! My simple recipe brings warm autumn flavors with a buttery crust and spiced apples. Perfect for a cozy treat!
Ingredients
Scale
- Crust Essentials:
- 2 cups (240g) All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 cup (100g) Granulated Sugar
- 1 cup (226g) Cold Unsalted Butter, cut into small cubes
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- Apple Filling Stars:
- 6 medium Apples (about 6 cups sliced, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix)
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed Brown Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
- Finishing Touches:
- 2 tablespoons Powdered Sugar (for dusting, optional)
Instructions
- Prep the Crust Dough:: First things first, we’re making that buttery crust. In a large bowl, whisk together your flour, sugar, and salt. Now, cut your cold butter into small cubes and use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut it into the flour mixture. You’re looking for coarse crumbs, like wet sand, with some pea-sized pieces of butter still visible. This is where the magic happens for that flaky texture, don’t overmix it! I always get flour everywhere at this stage, it’s just part of the process.
- Press and Bake the Base:: Now, press about two-thirds of that glorious crumbly mixture evenly into the bottom of your prepared 9×13 inch baking pan. Make sure it’s packed down well. This forms the base of your Apple Pie Bars for Fall. Pop it into a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until it’s lightly golden. You’ll smell that amazing buttery shortbread aroma filling your kitchen—that’s how you know it’s working!
- Whip Up the Apple Filling:: While the crust is doing its thing, let’s get those apples ready. Peel, core, and thinly slice your apples. In a big bowl, toss them with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Make sure every apple slice is coated! This is where the kitchen starts to smell like pure autumn. I always taste a piece of apple here, just to make sure the spices are right – and maybe sneak a few more!
- Layer the Apples:: Once your crust is lightly golden, pull it out of the oven. Carefully spread the apple filling evenly over the warm crust. Try to get a nice, even layer so every bar gets a good amount of apple goodness. This step feels so satisfying, seeing all those beautiful spiced apples ready to bake into delicious Apple Pie Bars for Fall. Don’t worry if it looks a little messy, it’s all part of homemade charm!
- Add the Crumb Topping:: Now for the remaining one-third of your crust mixture. Sprinkle it evenly over the apple filling. Don’t press it down this time; we want those loose, crumbly bits to get nice and crispy. This is my favorite part because it adds that lovely texture contrast to the soft apples. I tend to make extra crumb topping, honestly, because who doesn’t love more crumble?
- Bake Until Golden Perfection:: Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 30-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender and bubbly. You’ll hear the gentle sizzle and see the edges getting beautifully caramelized. Let them cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. I know, waiting is the hardest part, but these Apple Pie Bars for Fall need to set up properly!