Description
Delight in these homemade Apple Pie Bars featuring a buttery crust, spiced apple filling, and a crunchy oat streusel topping. Perfectly balanced with warm cinnamon and nutmeg, these bars are an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert great for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Apple Filling
- 3 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal after baking.
- Make the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Gradually mix in the 2 cups of all-purpose flour until the dough forms. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden, then set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare apple filling: In a large bowl, toss the peeled, thinly sliced apples with the granulated sugar, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon of flour. This helps thicken the filling as it bakes. Spread this apple mixture evenly over the baked crust.
- Make streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine the old-fashioned oats, brown sugar, and flour. Stir in the melted butter until the mixture becomes crumbly but holds together when pressed. Sprinkle this streusel mixture evenly over the apple layer.
- Bake the bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before cutting into bars. Serve and enjoy your apple pie bars!
Notes
- Use firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for best texture and flavor.
- For easier cutting, refrigerate the bars for at least an hour before slicing.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- You can add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the streusel topping for extra crunch.
