These Apple Pie Bars are the treat you didn’t know you needed. Once you try them, you’ll always want to have them on hand.
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Fruit bars are convenient, tasty, and easy to make, and these apple pie bars are no different. They make the perfect on-the-go snack and are a welcome treat for work or school lunch boxes. Make a pan and watch them disappear.
If you’ve been looking for something new and delicious to take to a picnic, BBQ, or potluck, bake some of these bars and watch the oohs and aahs you get when everyone tries them for the first time. Think of it as a piece of apple pie you can hold without making a mess.
Why I Love This Recipe…
This recipe reminds me of the simplicity of making chocolate chip cookie bars. Press the dough into the baking pan, bake, and then cut it into slices. Rather than dealing with pie crusts, it is so much simpler to make apple pie bars. Plus, cutting even pie slices is more challenging than cutting even bars. At least, for me, it is. There is always one person who gets a slightly bigger piece and another who gets a smaller one. Plus, with the bars, I can cut tiny pieces to pull a bite-sized one out of the freezer when I need a treat.
Are Apple Pie Bars Healthy?
Apples are a vitamin-packed fruit that is low in calories and can help you stay healthy. The sugar, butter, and flour in this recipe add some calories, but when enjoyed in moderation, you can consider this dessert more nutritious than many others. If you want to improve this recipe’s health factor even more, experiment with using almond flour, coconut sugar, and honey instead of the flour and sugar listed.
How To Keep Apples From Turning Brown…
Working with apples for any recipe can become problematic, as they turn brown quickly after peeling or cutting. There are a few options for keeping them from turning as you proceed with this recipe. The first is to prepare your dough and place it in the baking dish before prepping your apples. That way, they don’t have time to turn brown before adding the cinnamon and nutmeg. This is the method I prefer, as once prepped, you can immediately top the dough with the apples.
The other options utilize an acidic mixture to prevent browning. Lemon juice, honey, and pineapple juice will work without changing the taste of the apples. Either soak the apples in a mixture of 1 tablespoon of one of these items with 1 cup of water for about 5 minutes or brush on undiluted lemon juice.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 cups apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare
Set up pan and preheat oven.
Assemble
Layer crust, apples, and topping.
Bake
Cook until golden and cool before serving.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
Making apple pie bars in advance is convenient, especially if you have an event to bring them to. They keep well when tightly covered or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. These bars freeze well in airtight containers for up to 3 months. I recommend thawing them overnight in the refrigerator. You can serve them cold, warm, or at room temperature.
Making this recipe gluten-free is easy by substituting any brand of one-to-one gluten-free flour you choose. I like to use almond flour in my baking and find that replacing all-purpose flour with an equal amount of almond flour usually works fine. To ensure the recipe is GF, you will want to use purity-certified gluten-free oats. Coconut sugar can replace granulated and light brown sugar in this recipe equally.
I like to use a mixture of apples in these bars, as they provide extra flavor. Granny Smith apples are sour, so their taste helps balance the sweetness of the other apples. I only use one or two Granny Smiths, depending on their size. The rest are based on what is in season at my grocery store. I recommend Gala, Honey Gold, Fuji, Pink Lady, Jonathan, Cortland, or Braeburn apples for baking.
Serving Suggestions
Apple pie bars are the perfect addition to a BBQ or buffet. Consider serving them with dishes such as Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs, Salt & Vinegar Chicken Wings, and Red Potato Salad. You’ll have a tasty spread that everyone can enjoy.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter cold and cubed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 cups apples peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter cold and cubed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups flour, salt, 3/4 cup cubed butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until crumbly. Press two-thirds of the mixture into the prepared pan to form a firm base.
- Toss sliced apples with cinnamon and nutmeg and spread over the crust. Top with the remaining dough.
- Mix the oats, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, and 1/4 cup cubed butter to make the topping. Sprinkle this over the top of the apples and dough.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Cool before cutting into bars.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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