Apple Pie Bars
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Slice and serve these apple pie bars this fall season. They feature homemade pie crust and two varieties of diced apple filling bursting with warm spices in each bite. To finish off this dessert, drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze for the perfect sweetness.
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These taste just like apple pie but in sliceable bar form. They are great for a crowd and a delicious dessert that everyone will enjoy. For more easy apple recipes, check out my cinnamon roll apple pie and this easy apple cobbler made in your Crockpot.
Reasons You Will Love These Apple Pie Bars
- Two types of apples are used to create sweetness and tartness in each bite.
- The buttery crust of these bars melts in your mouth.
- It is a fantastic sliceable dessert serving a larger group of people.
- Make these and eat them right away, or freeze them for later.
- A dessert that is loaded with fall flavor in each bite.
Consider my apple cinnamon bread, which uses real diced apples! It is a great breakfast or dessert bread.
Ingredients Needed
See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all ingredients and quantities.
- Flour: All-purpose flour is used for the pie crust and filling. It is the thickening agent.
- Sugar: This dessert uses granulated and powdered sugar. Granulated sugar is used for the crust and filling, and powdered sugar is used to make the sweet vanilla glaze.
- Salt: A sprinkle of salt is always a must when baking. The salt helps enhance all the flavors in the dish.
- Butter: Reach for cold butter that has been sliced up. I use salted butter, but unsalted butter works great too. This will help create a buttery crust that as it bakes up, the butter will become light and fluffy with the dough mixture.
- Apple Pie Spice: You can make homemade apple pie spice seasoning or buy it. This is a blend of warm spices like nutmeg and cinnamon.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla extract adds a warm aroma to the filling, elevating the overall flavor.
- Apples: I used two varieties of apples. Granny Smith apples are nice and tart, and the Gala apples are a bit sweeter. This apple bar recipe creates tons of dimensions.
- Milk: Milk is used to thin the mixture to make the sweet glaze drizzle on top.
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Substitutions and Variations
- Apples: You can use any variety of apples. Feel free to pick what you prefer. I recommend peeling and dicing the apples into smaller bite-sized pieces.
- Different Fruits: You can use peaches, pears, apples, pears, cherries, etc. This can easily be transformed into a distinct flavor of fruit bars.
- Coconut Sugar or Honey: You can swap the granulated sugar in the pie crust and the filling with coconut sugar or honey. Or even real maple syrup.
- Lemon Juice: To brighten up the flavors of this dessert, you can add a splash of lemon juice or even orange juice as the acidic component in the pie filling. One tablespoon works great.
- Crumble Topping: Mixing flour with butter, brown sugar, and even nuts can make a crumble topping to add to the top of the pie filling instead of the crust. This is going to make an apple pie crumble bar recipe instead.
- Store-Bought Crust: Instead of making homemade pie crust, you can buy pre-made crust you roll out, shape, and bake. This speeds up the prep.
NOTE: This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations
Equipment Needed
- Food Processor
- Mixing Bowl
- Apple Peeler and Corer
- Sharp Knife and Cutting Board
- Measuring Cups
- 9×13 baking pan
How to Make Apple Pie Bars
Step 1: Start by adding flour, sugar, and salt to the food processor. Pulse quickly to combine the dry ingredients.
Step 2: Then you will add the cold butter and pulse on high until it turns yellow.
Step 3: Slowly add in the water and work the dough until the ball forms.
Step 4: Then, divide the dough into two balls. Wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least two hours.
Step 5: Roll out one of the chilled doughs and shape and fit into the pan. You will want to press the dough in the pan and ensure it goes up the sides of the pan a bit.
Step 6: Next, add the flour, sugar, and apple pie spice into a small bowl. Mix and set to the side.
Step 7: Peel, dice, and add apples to a large bowl. Stir in the sugar mixture until the apples are coated. Add the vanilla extract.
Step 8: Pour the apples over the pie dough mixture. Spread so it is evenly dispersed over the dough.
Step 9: Then, roll out the remaining pie dough and spread it over the top of the crust. Brush the crust with an egg wash mixture as directed.
Step 10: Place in the oven and bake as directed. Once done, remove the bars to cool a bit.
Step 11: Then, whip up the glaze in a small bowl and drizzle over the top of the bars. Slice and serve.
Tips and Tricks
- Cold butter will help provide a moist, buttery crust and prevent it from becoming dry as it bakes.
- Don’t overwork the dough, or it can become dense and heavy, giving your crust a chewier texture.
- Chilling the dough is essential, or it will not bake properly.
- Make sure to peel and dice your apples into smaller pieces even in size. This will ensure the filling bakes up nicely.
- You can add less or more apple pie spice seasoning to enhance the flavor of the apple pie filling.
- Watch the dessert as it bakes to ensure it doesn’t overbake the pie crust. You can place a tent of aluminum foil over the bars as they bake if you find the crust is browning too fast.
How to Store and Freeze
Store your apple pie bars in a sealed container at room temperature for 1-2 days. If you want to store them even longer, refrigerate them for 4-5 days.
These apple pie bars freeze well! Wrap the pan of bars or individual bars in two layers of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil. Place in the freezer for up to 3 months. They can be thawed on the counter in 2 hours or in the fridge overnight.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. You can make the pie crust 1-2 days before using it. Just store in a sealed container in the fridge. I recommend wrapping the dough with plastic wrap and then place in a sealed container.
Add a tablespoon of cinnamon, one teaspoon of nutmeg, and a teaspoon of allspice in place of the apple pie mixture.
The pie crust will be golden brown on top, and the pie filling will be bubbly around the edges. Your apples, when you bite into it, will be tender.
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Apple Pie Bars
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Ingredients
Pie Crust
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter cold and sliced into tablespoons
- 4 tablespoons cold water
Apple Filling
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons apple pie spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 Granny Smith apples cored and diced
- 3 Gala apples cored and diced
Topping
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Crust
- In a food processor, add the flour, sugar, and salt. Pulse until blended.
- Add the butter and pulse on high until the flour turns slightly yellow, but there are small pieces of butter still visible.
- Add the water a tablespoon at a time and pulse until the dough comes together and a ball begins to form.
- Divide the dough into two equal pieces and shape into rectangles.
- Wrap the pieces of pie crust with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours to overnight.
Filling
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Roll out the first rectangle of pie dough on a lightly floured surface until it’s about 9 1/2 inches by 13 1/2 inches.
- Roll the crust over the rolling pin and place in the bottom of an undressed 9×13 baking dish. Gently press the crust into the bottom of the pan and allow the edges to go up the sides of the pan.
- In a large bowl, add the sugar, flour, and apple pie spice. Stir until combined.
- Add both varieties of chopped apples in the sugar mixture and stir until they are evenly coated with the dry ingredients.
- Add the vanilla extract and stir until evenly distributed.
- Pour and spread the apples evenly over the pie crust, leaving about 1 inch of dough around the edges uncovered.
- Roll out the remaining pie crust out on a lightly floured surface into a 9 inch by 13 inch rectangle.
- Roll the dough up on the rolling pin and place over the apple filling, folding the edges over the apples to completely cover them and pressing into the edge of the bottom crust.
- Brush the top of the pie crust lightly with water or egg wash.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the crust is lightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool slightly, about 30 minutes.
Topping
- In a medium bowl, add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth and a pourable consistency. If you need more milk, add it a teaspoon at a time. If it’s too thin, add a small amount of powdered sugar to thicken the topping.
- Drizzle the topping over the bars.
- Slice into squares and serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)
