Buttery Apple Pie Bars with Flaky Crust Recipe
These Buttery Apple Pie Bars feature a flaky, buttery crust layered with a sweet and spiced apple filling. Perfectly balanced with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of lemon juice, these bars make an easy and delicious twist on traditional apple pie, ideal for sharing and enjoying as a handheld treat.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Filling:
- 4 large apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare the crust dough: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve about one-third of the dough for the topping, then press the remaining dough evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13 inch baking pan to form the crust base.
- Cook the apple filling: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the sliced apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender but still hold their shape, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Assemble the bars: Spread the cooked apple filling evenly over the crust in the baking pan. Crumble or press the reserved dough evenly over the top of the apple layer to form the topping.
- Bake until golden: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the assembled bars for 40-45 minutes, or until the crust and topping are golden brown and fully cooked.
- Cool and slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, cut into bars and serve.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweet and tart flavors.
- Make sure the butter is cold before mixing to achieve a flakier crust.
- Let the bars cool completely to prevent the filling from spilling when slicing.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to one week.
Keywords: apple pie bars, apple dessert, flaky crust apple bars, buttery apple bars, easy apple dessert
