These apple crumb bars, also known as apple crisp bars, are a fall staple! Easy to make from scratch dessert that uses minimal ingredients and gives you a dessert that is perfect for sharing!
This post was originally published May 21, 2013. It has since been updated to include fresh photos and helpful tips.
Recipe Features:
- Quick and Easy- Getting this into the oven is a snap and your home will smell incredible as this bakes!
- Must-Make Fall Treat- Apples are the hidden gem of fall and perfect to use in this shareable dessert.
- Easy to Customize- Adjust the spices or add some caramel for a quick and easy variation!
You really cannot go wrong with sliced apples and a crumble topping. As these apple crumble squares bake your entire home will fill with the most amazing cinnamon and apple aroma. It is comfort baking at its finest and amazing with a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream right out of the oven.
Perfect recipe for beginner bakers as it’s practically no-fail!
Ingredients for Apple Pie Bars:
The base for the bars is actually the exact same as the topping, which means you’re using minimal ingredients and cutting down on that prep work! Most items are already pantry staples which means you can make this today! Here’s what you will need to get started:
- Brown sugar
- Baking powder and Salt
- All-purpose flour
- Butter
- Egg
- Apples
- Lemon juice
- Cinnamon and Nutmeg
Bakers Tip: Make sure the baking powder is fresh. Check the date often as they tend to go bad sooner than you would expect.
How to Make Apple Pie Squares:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch square pan with cooking spray, or line with parchment, and set aside.
- Whisk 1/2 cup of brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and 1-1/2 cups flour in a small bowl.
- Stir the butter into the flour mixture along with the egg until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Pour 2/3 of the crumb mixture into the prepared pan, setting the remaining mixture aside. Press down with clean hands, or a spoon, until even and well packed.
- In a separate bowl stir together the apples, remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Pour the apples over the top of the pressed crust. Spread the filling to form an even layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumb mix over the top of the apples covering evenly.
- Bake 35-40 minutes or until the bars are a light golden brown.
- Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream!
Recipe Tips and FAQs
- I find it easiest to use parchment paper in my pan. This helps to remove the bars easily after baking and keeps the base from sticking to the pan.
- Use clean damp hands or the bottom of a measuring cup to really press the base firmly before adding the filling. Having the crust pressed tightly helps it hold together when serving.
Use an equal mix of sweet and tart apples in apple pie bars. A good sweet apple variety are Jazz, Honeycrisp, or pink ladies. For tart apples reach for Granny Smith.
Yes or no. Peeling your apples before baking is all personal preference. I leave the skin on the apples, as you can tell by the photo above, because I don’t mind the added texture. However, peeling the apples does help the blend together into a delicately soft filling that is equally delicious.
Yes. These bars are best when eaten the day they are made. However, leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. You can also freeze these bars for up to 1 month.
To make this recipe into a caramel apple bar, simple drizzle with caramel syrup just before serving!
More Apple Recipes:
- Easy Apple Pie
- Apple Moonshine Recipe
- Apple Cider in Crock Pot
- Caramel Apple Pie Recipe
- Baked Pork Chops with Apples
- Baked Apple Cider Donuts
- Best Apple Crisp Recipe
- Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers
- Cinnamon Sugar Apple Chips
- Caramel Apple Crisp
More Dessert Bar Recipes:
- No-Bake Cheesecake Bars
- The BEST Snickerdoodle Blondies
- No-Bake Banana Cream Pie Bars
- Easy Peach Cobbler Bars
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
- Easy Rice Krispie Treats
Still hungry? Follow One Sweet Appetite on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!
Apple Crumb Bars
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup brown sugar divided
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1-1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour divided
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup cold butter cut into small pieces
- 1 large egg
- 3 cup chopped apples you can peel them too if desired
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch square pan with cooking spray, or line with parchment, and set aside.
- Whisk 1/2 cup of brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and 1-1/2 cups flour in a small bowl.
- Stir the butter into the flour mixture along with the egg until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Pour 2/3 of the crumb mixture into the prepared pan, setting the remaining mixture aside. Press down with clean hands, or a spoon, until even and well packed.
- In a separate bowl stir together the apples, remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Pour the apples over the top of the pressed crust. Spread the filling to form an even layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumb mix over the top of the apples covering evenly.
- Bake 35-40 minutes or until the bars are a light golden brown.
- Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream!
Notes
- I find it easiest to use parchment paper in my pan. This helps to remove the bars easily after baking and keeps the base from sticking to the pan.
- Use clean damp hands or the bottom of a measuring cup to really press the base firmly before adding the filling. Having the crust pressed tightly helps it hold together when serving.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
Share it with me on Instagram @1sweetappetite and follow pinterest for more!
Reader Interactions
Find even more recipes!
Be sure to share it in the comments below and follow me on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram for even more delicious recipes.
Comments & Reviews
Debra says
Oooo! I want to try. My husband kind of hates apple pie, maybe I can sell him on this instead.
Audra @ Painless Meals says
It sounds like I could use any apples I had on hand [which is nice] – what kind of apples have you used?
Jesseca says
I’ve used pink ladies, golden delicious, and granny smith. Granny smith are my favorite, but the others taste good too.
Jamie says
I’m trying to make these now but is the recipe for 3/4 brown sugar or more? The directions say use 1 cup of the brown sugar then later says to use the rest so I don’t want to mess it up by guessing. Thanks so much
Jesseca says
That was a typo. Use 1/2 a cup brown sugar
Yvonne says
I don’t love apple pie either, but apple crisp on the other hand: YES PLEASE!!! These look good too 🙂
aimee @ like mother like daughter says
These look amazing! I don’t love apple pie either, but anything with crumb on top? count me in!
Jesseca says
Try changing the apples to blackberries. SO yummy!