These Flaky Apple Pie Bars are so tender and delicious! You can make these for dessert so quickly and there’s no need for complicated pie crust rolling!
APPLE PIE MADE EASY WITH A SHORTBREAD CRUST
Flaky Apple Pie Bars are the perfect way to make a deliciously simple dessert with minimal effort! This recipe is straightforward, requiring basic pantry ingredients and little prep time, while your oven does most of the work. You don’t need to wait for a special occasion to enjoy the wonderful flavors of apple pie!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Can I use a different type of apple? Absolutely. While Granny Smith apples provide that perfect tartness, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Braeburn are all good options. If you really need to watch your budget, I think you get the most bang for your buck with regular Gala apples – they’re still firm enough for baking.
What if I don’t have pecans? No problem! Walnuts, almonds or even oats make great substitutes in the topping. Most baking nuts will work well, so use what you have on hand. You can also leave them out entirely if you’re serving someone with a nut allergy.
Can I make these Apple Pie Bars ahead of time? Absolutely! These bars actually taste even better the day after baking. Just cover them tightly once cooled and store at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
How do I know when they’re done baking? I baked these until the top was golden brown and the edges were bubbling slightly (about 40 minutes in my oven). I recommend going by visual cues rather than just time. Especially since there are so many different ovens on the market, and from my experience, some really do bake faster than others.
Can I freeze these bars? Yes! These freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Let them cool completely, then cut into squares and wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in a freezer container. Thaw at room temperature or microwave for about 30 seconds for a quick treat.
What can I serve with Apple Pie Bars? Some options include: vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, whipped cream, or a dusting of powdered sugar. Or maybe even just a nice cup of coffee or tea.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE BELOW)
- all-purpose flour – this creates the base for our shortbread crust and crumble topping.
- granulated sugar – provides sweetness to both the crust and filling.
- butter – don’t use margarine, it needs to be real butter for the best flavor and texture in the crust.
- egg yolks – these bind the crust together and add richness.
- milk – adds moisture to the crust dough.
- Granny Smith apples – their tartness balances the sweet elements perfectly. Make sure to slice them thinly so they cook evenly.
- brown sugar – adds a caramel-like sweetness to complement the apples.
- cinnamon – you can’t have apple pie without cinnamon! This warm spice is essential.
- pecans – these add a wonderful crunch to the topping. Make sure they’re fresh for the best flavor.
HOW TO MAKE FLAKY APPLE PIE BARS
Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 baking pan.
In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar for the crust. Cut in the butter using a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg yolks and milk, then add to the flour mixture. Stir until a dough forms, and set aside one-fourth of this dough for the topping.
Press the remaining dough evenly into the prepared pan. Layer thinly sliced apples over the crust, then sprinkle with a mixture of white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
For the topping, crumble the reserved dough with additional flour, sugars, and crushed pecans. Sprinkle this mixture over the apples.
Bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Note: I look for the edges to be slightly caramelized and the top to be a rich golden color. Let cool in the pan before cutting into squares.
Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate treat!
Flaky Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar
- 1 cup of butter cold and cubed
- 2 egg yolks
- ½ cup of milk
For the Filling:
- 8 small Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- ½ cup of granulated sugar
- ¼ cup of brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
For the Crumb Topping:
- Reserved dough from crust preparation
- 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
- ½ cup of crushed pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 baking pan with butter or non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl, combine 2½ cups of flour with 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar.
- Using a pastry cutter, cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and milk. Add this liquid mixture to the flour mixture and stir until a dough forms.
- Reserve one-fourth of the dough for the topping.
- Press the remaining dough evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the crust.
- Arrange the sliced apples over the crust in an even layer.
- In a small bowl, mix together ½ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup brown sugar, and cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the apples.
- For the crumb topping: Combine the reserved dough with 2 tablespoons of flour, 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and the crushed pecans. Mix until crumbly.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the sugared apples.
- Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the edges are bubbly.
- Allow the bars to cool in the pan before cutting into squares.
- Serve warm or at room temperature. These bars are delicious on their own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Nutrition
