These apple crisp bars have a buttery shortbread crust, an apple pie filling, and is topped with a cinnamon oat crisp topping. Be prepared for your house to smell of apples and warm fall spices!
These apple pie bars will become one of your new favorite fall desserts. They're perfect to eat warm, cold, or even with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
Compared to a full-size pie, these apple bars are so much quicker and easier to make. Especially with a baked shortbread crust.
Looking for more apple recipes? Then check out these: my favorite apple pie recipe, caramel apple cheesecake bites, and apple streusel muffins.
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Why You'll Love These Bars
- They're made with honeycrisp apples.
- The apple filling is seasoned with apple pie spice.
- They have three delicious layers.
- The shortbread crust is soft and buttery.
- The crumble topping has brown sugar, cinnamon, and crispy oats!
These easy apple crisp bars would be a perfect dessert to serve at Thanksgiving or Christmas. They're easily made in a baking pan and requires such minimal effort!
Feel free to even add a drizzle of caramel sauce over the top of your bar! That would make for one delicious fall dessert.
Expert Baking Tips
- Baking Pan: Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with foil and then non-stick cooking spray. This helps to remove the bars once they've cooled. You could also use parchment paper.
- Shortbread Crust: The crust needs to bake first before assembling and baking the bars. This helps for the crust to not be soggy or underbaked.
- Apples: I used an apple peeler to peel, core, and thinly slice my apples. This helped tremendously since we need thin slices.
- Perfect Squares: If you want to easily slice your pie bars, place the baking dish in the freezer for 30 minutes after they've chilled at room temperature for 2 hours. This will help to slice even and clean bars. Use a serrated knife.
Ingredients Needed
Here are some notes on the ingredients we'll be using. For the full ingredients list, look at the recipe card below.
- Flour: I used all-purpose flour.
- Unsalted Butter: Use melted butter for the crust and room temperature for the streusel.
- Apples: I used honeycrisp apples, but you could also use an assortment of your favorite, such as pink lady apples or even granny smith apples.
- Apple Pie Spice: You can buy this from your local grocery store or make your own. Here is my apple pie spice recipe that I highly recommend!
- Lemon Juice: This adds a touch of tartness to the apple filling.
- Old Fashioned Oats: Use old-fashioned oats (also called rolled oats). Do not substitute them for quick oats.
Instructions
Here are the step by step instructions on how to make these apple crisp bars.
Step 1: Make the crust. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, melted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt.
Step 2: Bake the crust. Press the dough into the prepared baking pan and bake for 16-20 minutes, or just until the dough starts to turn a light brown.
Step 3: Make the filling: In a large bowl, mix together the apple slices, sugar, flour, apple pie spice, and lemon juice. Set aside.
Step 4: Streusel Topping: In a medium bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, flour, ground cinnamon, and salt until combined.
Add the cubed butter, and use a pastry cutter or two forks to cut into the crisp mixture. You can also use your hands.
Step 5: Assemble the bars. Evenly spread out the apple filling over the top of the baked shortbread crust. Then sprinkle on the crisp topping.
Step 6: Bake. Bake the bars for 40-50 minutes, or until the apples are cooked through and the crisp topping is golden brown.
Storing Tips
Keep any leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Feel free to serve your apple bars with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or even a drizzle of caramel sauce!
Frequently Asked Questions
The biggest difference is that a crisp always includes a crunchy element like oats or nuts, whereas a crumble is more like a streusel topping.
I love using honeycrisp apples, but also using two types of apples will add an extra layer of flavor and texture.
If you made this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below. I love hearing from you! Also, please tag me on Instagram and check out my Pinterest for even more recipe ideas.
It brings me so much joy to see you make my recipes. 🙂
Happy Baking!
More Pie Recipes
📖 Recipe
Apple Crisp Bars
Equipment
- 8x8 inch baking pan
- Mixing Bowls
- Apple Peeler
Ingredients:
Shortbread Crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Apple Filling
- 4 apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced ¼ inch
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons apple pie spice
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Crisp Topping
- ¾ cup old-fashioned oats (rolled oats)
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature & cubed
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line an 8x8-inch pan with foil and then non-stick spray. Set aside.
Shortbread Crust
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix together the flour, melted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Press the dough into the prepared baking pan and bake for 16-20 minutes, or just until the dough starts to turn a light brown.
Apple Filling
- Peel, core, and thinly slice your apples. I used an apple peeler for this part. Once sliced, place the apples in a large bowl.
- Add the sugar, flour, apple pie spice, and lemon juice and mix together with the apples until they're fully coated.
Crisp Topping
- In a medium bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, flour, ground cinnamon, and salt until combined.
- Add the cubed butter, and use a pastry cutter or two forks to cut into the crisp mixture. You can also use your hands. Once the mixture resembles coarse crumbs it's ready.
Assemble
- Once the shortbread crust is baked, evenly spread out the apple filling over the top. Then sprinkle on the crisp topping over the apples until fully covered.
- Bake the apple crisp bars for 40-50 minutes, or until the apples are cooked through and the crisp topping is golden brown.
- Cool for 2 hours at room temperature before slicing into bars. These will last for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Notes:
- Baking Pan: Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with foil and then non-stick cooking spray. This helps to remove the bars once they've cooled. You could also use parchment paper.
- Shortbread Crust: The crust needs to bake first before assembling and baking the bars. This helps for the crust to not be soggy or underbaked.
- Apples: I used an apple peeler to peel, core, and thinly slice my apples. This helped tremendously since we need thin slices.
- Perfect Squares: If you want to easily slice your pie bars, place the baking dish in the freezer for 30 minutes after they've chilled at room temperature for 2 hours. This will help to slice even and clean bars. Use a serrated knife.
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