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Apple pie bars

If you love apple pie, you are absolutely going to love these apple pie bars. They have a beautiful shortbread crust, apple filling, and a sweet, spiced oat crumble. Everything together tastes amazing and you’ll certainly enjoy it!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Chill time2 hours
Total Time3 hours 10 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple pie bars
Servings: 9 bars
Calories: 405kcal
Author: Ros Singh

Ingredients

Shortbread pastry crust

  • ½ cup butter (8 tbsp or 113 grams)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1¼ cup all purpose flour

Apple filling

  • 4 medium apples (or 3 large apples)
  • 2 tbsp all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ⅛ tsp nutmeg

Oat crumble topping

  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter (90 grams)
  • ½ cup rolled oats
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp white sugar
  • ½ tsp cinnamon

Equipment

  • 8"x8" baking dish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven at 350°F.
  • Line 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
  • Place butter for the crumble (6 tbsps) in the freezer.
  • Place butter for crust (8 tbsps) in a microwave safe bowl.
  • Microwave the butter until melted (10 second bursts for 30 to 40 seconds).
  • Pour the butter in a mixing bowl.
  • Add ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract and ¼ tsp salt to the butter. Whisk.
  • Mix in 1¼ cup of all purpose flour.
  • Bring together to form smooth shortbread pastry dough.
  • Press the dough into the lined baking dish. Be sure it’s flat and even.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes.
  • Remove and set aside to cool.
  • Wash and peel the apples. Remove the seeds.
  • Cut the apples into 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch wedges.
  • Place the wedges in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add in 2 tbsp flour, ¼ cup white sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon and ⅛ tsp nutmeg.
  • Mix thoroughly. Set aside the apple filling.
  • Remove butter from freezer (6tbsps).
  • Grate the cold butter (or pulse with a food processor until fine).
  • Add the butter to a mixing bowl.
  • Mix in ½ cup rolled oats, ½ cup flour, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp white sugar and ½ tsp cinnamon. The mixture should become crumbly.
  • To the baked pastry crust (from step 12), add the apple filling. Spread evenly.
  • Sprinkle the oat crumble on top of the apple filling.
  • Bake for 35 minutes or until the crumble is golden.
  • Remove from the oven. Cool completely.
  • Place the baking dish in the fridge for 2 hours to firm up.
  • Remove from the fridge. Slice into bars (9 bars are ideal).
  • Serve cool or slightly warm.
  • Top with sauce of choice like caramel or ice cream (optional).
  • Store in the fridge up to 4 days or 1 month in the freezer.