Apple Pie Bars

These bars embody the great taste of apple pie but without all of the work! The crust and streusel mixture are made as one, complimenting the apples between them. Versatile as a snack or dessert, these bars are a perfect way to showcase the fruit of the fall, all without the pie!

Why I love this recipe.

Pie can be made multiple ways, and these bars are a new way that I’m going to be using again and again. The crust becomes crispy and granola-like and is made complete with a delicious layer of apple pie filling. Just like pie, of course, the top has to be sprinkled with a streusel! An apple pie needs to bake until it is bubbling throughout, but these bars bake much quicker with an even layer of filling. The result is all you want in an apple pie but quick and easy. I’ll warn you now, though: make these once, and you’ll be hooked!

Everything you’ll need to make this recipe.

• Apples will give flavor and texture, which comes from using the correct apple. Choose a crisp, sweet-tart apple, such as Braeburn, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Jonagold.
• Allspice is a classic with apples. The is a berry native to Jamaica and smells like a mixture of warming spices that fit in perfectly during Autumn.
• Maple syrup both works to flavor and sweeten the apple filling. Plus, it feels so incredibly “right” for the fall season.
• Rolled oats provide the perfect texture to the crust and topping. They’ll keep their texture and have more oat flavor than minute or quick-cooking oats.

Here’s how to make this recipe.

1. Create the crust. Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, rolled oats, white granulated sugar, brown sugar, kosher salt, and cinnamon. Cut the butter into small ½-inch cubes. Using your hands, toss the cubes in the dry mixture until the butter is coated. Then, press the butter together with the dry mixture to mix together. Incorporate until the mixture is crumbly but can stick together under pressure. Set 2 cups aside to use for the topping. Take the rest of the mixture and place it on a 10×14 greased pan. Lightly press the mixture down into the pan and bake in the preheated 350°F oven for 15 minutes.

2. Prepare the apples. Cut the apples into thin slices, removing the core. Put into a large bowl and add flour, white granulated sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, and allspice. Mix together, then add on top of the baked crust. Spread the apples into an even layer.

3. Bake the bars. Sprinkle the remaining crust mixture over top as a streusel topping. Place in the preheated 350°F oven for 35 to 45 minutes. Once baked, let cool before serving.

These pro tips will make this recipe a success.

• Using your hands, lightly pack the brown sugar in the measuring cup to get a correct measurement. For this recipe, the brown sugar does not need to be packed tightly, which would result in too much brown sugar.
• To know when the crust/streusel is ready, grab a handful of the mixture. Smash it in your fist. If it holds its shape but can easily be crumbled apart, then the streusel is ready.
• There’s no need to remove the skin from the apples. By not peeling them, you can save time, and it adds nutritional value to the bars.
• When adding the apples to the crust, scrape out the bowl to ensure all the mixture gets out onto the apples. That’s the flavoring you want in the bars!

You’ll love these other fall recipes.

• No-bake pumpkin icebox cake
• White chocolate and peanut butter popcorn
• Pumpkin coffee cake with cheesecake swirl
• Easy skillet pear crisp
• Easy apple crisp
• Pumpkin applesauce cake
• Pumpkin loaf
• Cinnamon roll cookies