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Apple crumb bars are the best way to eat apple pie with your hands! Easy to make and the perfect dessert recipe to share!
My aunt used to make homemade apple pie every thanksgiving. We would fight over the last piece like our life depended on it. The pie was THAT GOOD.
The secret? A crumbly topping and perfect mixture of apple varieties.
I love that this recipe reminds me of her coveted pie. The beauty of this dish is that you can easily customize it. I have had readers replace the apples with canned pie filling, some of stirred in toffee bits, and even drizzled with browned butter! The possibilities are almost endless.
Easy Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients for apple pie bars:
- Brown sugar
- Baking powder
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Butter
- Egg
- Apples
- Lemon juice
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
What kind of apples to use for apple pie:
It is said that firm tart apples, like Granny Smith are the best apples for pies. That holds true with this recipe. I like to use a mix of Granny Smith with Red Delicious.
How to make apple pie bars with streusel toppings:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 inch square pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Whisk together 1/2 cup of the brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and 1-1/2 cups flour.
3. Cut the butter into the flour mixture along with the egg until it resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Place a little more than half of your dough into your pan. Press down with clean hands or a spoon until well packed.
5. In a separate bowl stir together the apples, remaining brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
6. Pour over the top of your prepared crust and adjust the apples to form an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining dough over the top of the apples.
7. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until your bars are a nice golden brown. Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream!
Like this recipe? You will love my:
Apple Crumb Bars
Apple crumb bars are the best way to eat apple pie with your hands! Easy to make and the perfect dessert recipe to share!
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 peeled and chopped apples
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 inch square pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Whisk together 1/2 cup of the brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and 1-1/2 cups flour.
3. Cut the butter into the flour mixture along with the egg until it resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Place a little more than half of your dough into your pan. Press down with clean hands or a spoon until well packed.
5. In a separate bowl stir together the apples, remaining brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
6. Pour over the top of your prepared crust and adjust the apples to form an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining dough over the top of the apples.
7. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until your bars are a nice golden brown. Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream!
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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!