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Old-Fashioned Apple Pie Bars

Old-Fashioned Apple Pie Bars

These Apple Crumble Bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, spiced apple filling, and a golden crumb topping. They’re soft, cozy, and perfect for fall — easy to bake, slice, and share!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 12 bars
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 260
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour for crust
  • 4–5 small to medium apples peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour for filling
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 ½ teaspoons apple pie spice
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar for topping
  • ½ cup brown sugar for topping
  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour for topping
  • ¼ teaspoon salt for topping
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ cup unsalted butter for topping

Equipment

  • 8-inch baking dish
  • parchment paper
  • mixing bowls
  • fork or pastry cutter
  • knife
  • spatula
  • measuring cups and spoons

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine softened butter, vanilla, salt, and flour. Mix with a fork or pastry cutter until crumbly. Press evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
  3. In another bowl, toss sliced apples with sugar, flour, lemon juice, and apple pie spice until evenly coated. Spread the mixture over the cooled crust in an even layer.
  4. In a clean bowl, combine granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, and butter. Mix with a fork or pastry cutter until the texture is crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the apple layer.
  5. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the top is golden and apples are tender and bubbly. Cool completely before slicing. Chill for 1–2 hours for neater bars.

Notes

Tip: Chill the bars before slicing for clean, bakery-style squares. Serve them warm with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel for extra indulgence.
Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.