Of course! Apple Crumb Bars are the perfect handheld dessert that captures all the cozy flavor of apple pie with the ease of a bar cookie. They feature a buttery shortbread crust, a spiced apple filling, and a delicious crumb topping.
Here’s a classic and foolproof recipe that will become a fall favorite.
Apple Crumb Bars
These bars are a fantastic make-ahead dessert and are equally delicious served warm with ice cream or at room temperature with a cup of coffee.
Prep Time: 25 mins | Cook Time: 45-55 mins | Cooling Time: 2+ hours | Total Time: 1 hour 10 mins + cooling
Servings: 12-16 bars
Ingredients
For the Crust and Crumb Topping:
· 2 cups all-purpose flour
· ½ cup granulated sugar
· ½ cup packed light brown sugar
· 1 teaspoon baking powder
· ½ teaspoon salt
· 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cubed
· 1 large egg, lightly beaten
· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Apple Filling:
· 5-6 cups peeled, cored, and thinly sliced apples (about 4-5 medium apples – Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix)
· 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
· 2 tablespoons lemon juice
· ½ cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste based on apple sweetness)
· 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
· ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
· A pinch of salt
Optional Glaze:
· ½ cup powdered sugar
· 1-2 tablespoons milk or apple cider
· ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan and Preheat Oven:
· Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Make the Crust & Topping:
· In a large bowl, whisk together the 2 cups flour, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.
· Using a pastry cutter, your fingers, or a food processor, cut the cold, cubed butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse, pea-sized crumbs.
· Add the lightly beaten egg and vanilla extract. Mix with a fork until the mixture is combined and clumps together. It will be crumbly, but should hold together when pressed.
- Form the Crust:
· Set aside about 1 ½ to 2 cups of the crumb mixture for the topping.
· Press the remaining mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
- Prepare the Apple Filling:
· In a separate large bowl, toss the sliced apples with lemon juice to prevent browning.
· Add the 2 tablespoons of flour, ½ cup sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss until the apples are evenly coated.
- Assemble the Bars:
· Spread the apple filling evenly over the prepared crust.
· Sprinkle the reserved crumb topping evenly over the apple layer.
- Bake:
· Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apples are tender (you can check by poking a sharp knife through the center). If the top browns too quickly, you can tent it loosely with foil for the last 10-15 minutes of baking.
- Cool Completely:
· This is the most important step for clean cuts! Place the pan on a wire rack and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. This will take at least 2 hours.
- Glaze and Serve:
· Once completely cool, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the entire slab out of the pan.
· If desired, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make a glaze and drizzle it over the top.
· Cut into squares and serve.
Pro Tips for Perfect Apple Crumb Bars
· Apple Choice: A mix of tart (like Granny Smith) and sweet (like Honeycrisp or Fuji) apples gives the best flavor and texture.
· Slice Thickness: Slice your apples to a consistent ¼-inch thickness. This ensures they cook evenly. Too thick, and they’ll be crunchy; too thin, and they’ll turn to mush.
· Cold Butter is Key: Using cold butter is essential for achieving a crumbly, shortbread-like crust and topping. Don’t let it soften.
· Don’t Skip the Cooling Time: The filling is very juicy and needs time to set as it cools. Cutting into warm bars will result in a messy (though still delicious) dessert.
· Spice It Your Way: Feel free to add a pinch of cardamom, allspice, or cloves to the apple filling for more complexity.
· Add Nuts: For extra crunch, mix ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans into the crumb topping before sprinkling it on.
Enjoy these delightful, portable treats that taste just like a slice of autumn!