Themes⚙
Apple Pie Bars with Crumb Topping
Bake apple pie bars with crumb topping for a handheld dessert layered with spiced apples and buttery streusel, perfect for gatherings.
Apple Pie Bars with Crumb Topping are a handheld adaptation of classic apple pie, featuring a tender, buttery shortbread-style base layered with a cinnamon-spiced apple filling and finished with a golden, oat-and-brown-sugar streusel. Prepared with pantry staples such as all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, granulated and brown sugars, rolled oats, and fresh baking apples, the bars deliver the familiar flavors of traditional pie in a convenient slab format that can be sliced and served without the need for plates or cutlery. They are typically enjoyed as an autumn or holiday dessert—ideal for potlucks, bake sales, lunchbox treats, or any occasion that calls for a crowd-friendly sweet—offering both the comforting warmth of baked apples and the ease of a make-ahead bar cookie.
Apple Pie Bars with Crumb Topping
The crust and crumb topping start from one bowl of dough, so you’re not juggling multiple mixtures or extra dishes. Better yet, the finished bars freeze and reheat like a dream, letting you stockpile a ready-to-serve dessert weeks before guests show up.
Prep Time
35 minutes
35 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes
50 minutes
Total Time
85 minutes
85 minutes
Ingredients
All-purpose flour 2 cups
- Granulated sugar ½ cup
- Salt ½ teaspoon
- Unsalted butter, cold and cubed 1 cup (2 sticks)
- Old-fashioned rolled oats 1 cup
- Packed light brown sugar ¾ cup
- Ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons
- Ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoon
- Ground cloves (optional but recommended) ⅛ teaspoon
- Baking powder ½ teaspoon
- Apples, peeled, cored, thinly sliced 5 cups (about 5 medium)
- Fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon
- Cornstarch 1 tablespoon
- Pure vanilla extract (optional flavor boost) 1 teaspoon
- Powdered (confectioners’) sugar ½ cup (for optional glaze)
- Milk or heavy cream 1–2 tablespoons (to thin optional glaze)
Method
Preheat the oven to 350°F
- Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the long sides
- Whisk flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a medium bowl for the crust
- Cut cold cubed butter into the flour mixture until coarse crumbs form
- Press the crust mixture evenly into the prepared pan
- Bake the crust until lightly golden, about 15 minutes
- Peel the apples while the crust bakes
- Core the apples
- Slice the apples thinly
- Toss the apple slices with granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and lemon juice in a large bowl
- Whisk flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl for the crumb topping
- Cut cold cubed butter into the oat mixture until clumps form
- Remove the par-baked crust from the oven and place the pan on a heat-safe surface
- Spread the apple filling evenly over the warm crust
- Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the apples
- Return the pan to the oven
- Bake until the topping is golden and the apples are tender, about 35–40 minutes
- Transfer the pan to a wire rack
- Cool the bars completely in the pan
- Lift the bars out using the parchment overhang
- Cut the apple pie bars into squares for serving
Nutrition (whole recipe)
Calories
4690 kcal Protein
42 g Fat
200 g Carbs
711 g Fiber
40 g Sugar
424 g
4690 kcal Protein
42 g Fat
200 g Carbs
711 g Fiber
40 g Sugar
424 g
Notes
For extra dimension, combine two apple varieties—one tart (Granny Smith) and one sweet (Honeycrisp or Fuji)—so the filling stays bright yet naturally sweet without extra sugar. If you like a crunchier topping, sprinkle a handful of toasted chopped pecans over the streusel before baking; they’ll toast further in the oven and add buttery depth.
why this recipe
Baking a batch of apple pie bars with crumb topping means capturing everything you love about a classic pie in a simpler, more shareable form—tender spiced apples nestled on a buttery shortbread crust, all crowned with a golden, cinnamon-kissed crumble that stays irresistibly crisp. Because these bars bake in a single pan and slice neatly, they spare you the fuss of rolling pastry yet deliver the same comforting aromas and textures, making them ideal for gatherings, potlucks, or a quick weeknight treat. Each bite balances sweet fruit, subtle tartness, and buttery crunch, proving that a timeless dessert can be both effortless and extraordinary.
FAQs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I prepare these Apple Pie Bars in advance and freeze them for later serving?
Yes—these bars freeze beautifully. Once completely cool, cut them into squares, wrap each piece (or the whole slab) tightly in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then warm in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 10–15 minutes to revive the crumb topping.
How should I store the baked bars at room temperature, and how long will they stay fresh?
Once the bars have cooled completely, transfer them to an airtight container or wrap the entire slab tightly in plastic wrap; keep the container in a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight. Stored this way, the bars stay fresh and the crumb topping remains crisp for about 2 days at room temperature (after that, move them to the refrigerator for up to 5 more days or freeze for longer storage).
Can I swap in a gluten-free flour blend without changing the texture?
Yes—substitute an equal amount of a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose baking blend that already contains xanthan gum or another binder. The bars will bake up with virtually the same flavor but the crust can be slightly more fragile, so allow them to cool fully before lifting and cutting.