These apple pie bars are one of my very favorite desserts. When ordering dessert I’ll always go for the fruit pie, or berry crisp.. I just love baking with fruit. These bars have an amazing short bread crust that melts in your mouth and just taste like fall. They only use 2 apples and everything else you’d have stocked in your pantry. There are 3 steps to these bars- the crust, apple filling & crumble topping!
Ingredients:
Shortbread Crust:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup flour
Apple Filling:
- 2 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Crumble Topping:
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 300°F Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on all sides. Set aside.
- Make the crust: Stir the melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt together. Add the flour and stir until everything is combined. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes while you make the filling and streusel.
- Make the apple filling: Combine the sliced apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a large bowl until all of the apples are evenly coated. Set aside.
- Make the streusel: Whisk the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour together in a medium bowl. Cut in the chilled butter with two forks. Set aside.
- Remove the crust from the oven, and turn the oven up to 350°F. Evenly layer the apples on top of the warm crust. Sprinkle the apple layer with streusel and bake for 30–35 minutes or until the streusel is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 20 minutes at room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or overnight). Lift the parchment out of the pan using the overhang on the sides and cut into bars. Once cut, drizzle some salted caramel sauce on top of each. These apple pie bars can be enjoyed warm, at room temperature, or even cold.