Super Yummy Apple Pie Bars Recipe
Y’all, these Loaded Apple Pie Squares are heaven! First of all, they are loaded with not 1, not 2, not 3… but FIVE layers of thinly sliced granny smith apples. I’m not your typical pie crust fan. I just don’t really like when it gets all dry and crispy up above the pie filling. My preference would be that all pies had a crust where only the filling touched. In this case, I’m making a shortbread inspired crust that is only on the bottom. I didn’t want to call these “bars” because let’s be honest, they’re so tall you have to eat them with a fork.
I used an apple crumble type topping that was inspired by the warm apple crisp that you find at Red Lobster. That dessert is to die for and my husband and I always get it when we eat there, even if we have to take it to go. It’s so good. It’s served with vanilla bean ice cream and warm caramel sauce.
Dutch Apple Pie Bars Ingredients
- Granny Smith Apples – I recommend sticking with granny smith apples for this recipe. The tart flavor stands up well to the sweetness and sugar.
- Unsalted Butter – Unsalted butter works the best in this recipe because there’s a pinch of salt added later to control the flavor.
- Sugar – you’ll want to use granulated white sugar for this
- Brown Sugar – light or dark brown sugar both work well
- All-Purpose Flour – be sure to use all-purpose flour. If you’re using gluten-free flour, make sure it’s an equal ratio variety
- Vanilla Extract – your favorite vanilla extract will do just fine in this recipe
- Ground Cinnamon and Ground Nutmeg – these spices are what truly make these apple pie bars the best
- Salt – coarse kosher salt or sea salt work best
How to make Apple Pie Squares
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
- Cream together ½ cup room temperature butter with ¼ cup sugar, vanilla, and salt for about 3 minutes, until fully combined and fluffy.
- Slowly add in 1 cup of flour, ¼ cup at a time until mixed well and fully combined.
- Place the mixture into a parchment lined 9×9 or 8×8 glass dish.
- Bake for 12 minutes.
- While your crust is baking, combine apples, 2 tbsp flour, 2 tbsp sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl.
- Mix until apples are fully coated in the mixture, set aside.
- Mix ½ cup flour and brown sugar in a bowl.
- Add in remaining ¼ cup of butter.
- With a whisk (that’s what I use), cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles chunky sand, set aside.
- Take the apples and layer them in 5 even layers over the crust.
- Once you layered all of the apples, cover the apples with the chunky sand like topping.
- Increase your oven temp to 350 and bake for 25 minutes.
- Allow it to completely cool before removing and cutting. Mine was ready to cut in about 30-45 minutes. Enjoy!
Apple Pie Square Tips
The hardest part about this recipe is that you have to truly wait for it to cool down before slicing it up. The apples will have some extra juice and be so hot that if you start cutting into it too early, it won’t hold its shape. I let mine cool for about 30-45 minutes and it cut just fine. Now, keeping my husband away from this while it cooled was a whole other task! It’s seriously delicious.
Should this apple bars recipe be refrigerated?
Leftover apple pie bars should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Can apple pie bars be frozen?
Yes, apple pie bars can be frozen. They should be kept in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 months. Take them out individually and reheat as needed.
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Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
- 3 large granny smith apples peeled and sliced (thin)
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter room temp
- 1/4 + 2 tbsp sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
- Cream together 1/2 cup room temperature butter with 1/4 cup sugar, vanilla, and salt for about 3 minutes, until fully combined and fluffy.
- Slowly add in 1 cup of flour, 1/4 cup at a time until mixed well and fully combined.
- Place the mixture into a parchment lined 9×9 or 8×8 glass dish.
- Bake for 12 minutes.
- While your crust is baking, combine apples, 2 tbsp flour, 2 tbsp sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl.
- Mix until apples are fully coated in the mixture, set aside.
- Mix 1/2 cup flour and brown sugar in a bowl.
- Add in remaining 1/4 cup of butter.
- With a whisk (that’s what I use), cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles chunky sand, set aside.
- Take the apples and layer them in 5 even layers over the crust.
- Once you layered all of the apples, cover the apples with the chunky sand like topping.
- Increase your oven temp to 350 and bake for 25 minutes.
- Allow it to completely cool before removing and cutting. Mine was ready to cut in about 30-45 minutes. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi, I have a few questions.
Does the crust get pressed into only the bottom of the pan or should it be worked up the sides of the pan as well?
Also, should the crust be cooled before adding the apples, or straight out of the blind bake?
I look forward to making this.
Hi Tayelor,
The crust gets pressed just into the bottom of the pan, not up the sides. The crust does not need to be cooled before adding the apples. You can add the apples straight out of the oven. Hope you enjoy!
Another favorite in this house! Goes great with some hot coffee.