The BEST Apple Pie Bars

Want to make an easy fall-flavored dessert to share? These bite-sized Apple Pie Bars burst with apple flavor and warming spices. Complete with a decadent shortbread crust and a crispy, buttery crumble on top, this Apple Pie Bar recipe is perfect for all occasions.

Apple Pie Bars 

When deciding what I wanted to do with this recipe, I had a few ideas. 

Some apple pie bars are akin to a pie… but on a sheet pan.

I knew I didn’t want to make this recipe into a sheet pan apple pie, which sounded easier than the classic but still a little fussy. 

So if that’s what you’re looking for here, you’re gonna have to go elsewhere… because I went a different direction. There is no pie crust used in this recipe.

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I knew I wanted my apple pie bar recipe to have a shortbread crust and a crumble topping.

We don’t add a drizzle of salted caramel sauce, but you could certainly add that once the bars cool, if desired.

It took two iterations of the recipe to knock it out of the park, but oh my goodness. This recipe is one to save and celebrate all fall long.

Why I love this recipe:

Ever since I made the first batch of these apple pie bars, I was obsessed. 

Maybe it was because I was testing in July, when it was still in the 100s in Austin. At that time, I was longing for those fall flavors I simply adore…

That said, I’d like to think the obsession is that these flavors are so familiar and remind me of home.

There’s something comforting about these apple bars. The combination of a buttery shortbread crust with tart apple pie filling and a crunchy, buttery crumb topping just hits the spot, no matter when you make them.

Here are some more things I love about them:

• They have my favorite apple pie flavors without the apple pie effort. This shortbread crust and crumble are super simple compared to making pie crust and baking a full pie.
• You can use homemade apple pie spice or grab a bottle at the grocery for convenience. I ground my own spices and think that they just elevate this dessert even more.
• This is a crowd-pleaser of a recipe. Bars are great for occasions and sharing because they’re easily enjoyed. Do you know anyone who dislikes apple pie? No. You probably don’t.

More apple recipes to try: Caramelized Apples | Mini Apple Spice Rum Cakes | Vegan Apple Crisp | Apple Cider Pancakes

What you need to make this recipe:

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Here’s what you’ll need:

• Unsalted butter — unsalted butter is better for baking because you can control the salt level. If you don’t have unsalted, be mindful of the salt and only add more to taste. You need this for the shortbread crust, as well as the crumble.
• All-purpose flour — we keep unbleached AP flour in our house, but the regular kind works, too. I have not tried this recipe with a gluten-free flour blend and do not recommend it at this time. You need flour for the crust, as well as the crumble.
• Granulated sugar — also known as white sugar, this is our sweetener for the shortbread crust, filling and the crumble. There is no substitute.
• Apples — you need about 1 ½ lbs. of apples from the store and will have about 1 lb. of apples after coring, peeling and slicing them. I used Granny Smith apples because those are my favorite for baking. They hold their shape and are tart apples, which I love in a baked good.
• Brown sugar — you can use light brown or dark brown sugar here. This sugar adds some molasses sweetness to the apple filling.  
• Lemon juice — freshly squeezed, please and thank you. This will prevent the apples from browning and add a nice little pop of acidity.
• Apple pie spice — this is the piece de resistance when it comes to the flavor of these bars. I ground my own mix, but you could certainly use a store-bought kind, too. This gives the best warming spices and flavor to the bars. There is no substitute.
• Kosher salt — medium grain kosher salt is my go-to for all my recipes these days. You could use a similarly sized sea salt.
• Rolled oats— these add such a lovely texture to the crumble. I do not recommend using quick cooking oats because those will lose their toothiness as they bake. Classic rolled oats or thick cut oats are great for the crumble.

Customizations and substitutions

Use your favorite apples: I used Granny Smith apples for this recipe because I love those in a traditional pie (like my Bugga’s Apple Pie recipe.) You may use your favorite apple for baking, if desired. The best apples for baking hold their shape, so honeycrisps, pink lady apples and braeburn apples are also excellent choices.

Make them dairy free: You should be able to substitute a vegan butter in place for the regular butter used in this recipe and have a similar result!

How to make Apple Pie Bars

Preheat the oven. Butter or spray a 9”x9” pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

Make the crust. Combine the melted butter with flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Mix until combined with a hand mixer or a rubber spatula. 

Turn into the prepared pan, and press into a flat layer. 

Transfer to the preheated oven, and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from the oven.

While the crust bakes, make the filling. Peel and core the apples, and slice thinly. 

Place the apple slices in a large mixing bowl. Measure in the granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, apple pie spice and salt. Toss to combine.

When the crust has come out of the oven, pour the apple layer directly on top of it. 

Spread the apples out in an even layer.

Make the crumble. Melt the butter in the microwave in a microwave-safe small bowl. Measure in the flour, oats, sugar and salt. Stir to combine.

This mixture will look like coarse crumbs, and that is exactly what we want.

Crumble over the top of the apples, then transfer to the preheated oven.

Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the crumble is golden brown.

Let cool completely before slicing or they will fall apart on you! You can cool on a wire rack or just on the countertop.

Enjoy by themselves or with a dollop of homemade whipped cream, ice cream or even a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

How to store

Once cool, slice and store these bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also slice them and place them on a serving platter, then cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate.

You can set them out to enjoy at room temperature or heat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds to warm through.

Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips

These easy Apple Pie Bars would make a lovely addition to any fall gathering, including a birthday, an at-home tailgate or even a Halloween party. You could bring them to Thanksgiving or Christmas or any occasion during the holiday season, too.

Here are some ways I’d make it easier on myself if I were entertaining with this dessert:

• Bake the bars early in the day or the day before. They will fall apart if you try to slice them while warm, so having them baked is a great idea. 
• Make two batches. These bars were devoured when I shared them with my people, so having enough (and more!) could be a good idea if you’ve got a big crowd.
• Serve ‘em with toppings. We sprinkled ours with powdered sugar, but you can serve these with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick tips and tricks to making the best Apple Pie Bars

• Give ‘em time to bake. You want all the layers to come together, so don’t pull the shortbread crust until it’s golden brown and don’t remove the bars from the oven until the crumble topping is also golden brown. These layers are important to the structure and integrity!
• Let them cool completely before slicing. Otherwise, they will fall apart on you, and nobody wants that!
• How to store: Store apple bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week

More apple dessert recipes:

Here’s how you can make these bars…