By Krista Teigen
Published Jul 3, 2024
Nothing says America to me quite like these apple pie bars! Gooey apple pie filling layered over a flaky crust and topped with a buttery crumble creates a textural sensation. I made this recipe with just 6 ingredients for easy prep, and I had them on the table in just a hair over an hour. I can’t wait to ring in the 4th with these easy apple pie bars!
Have you ever heard the phrase, “as American as apple pie “? I’ve always wondered what that meant. Recently, I learned that soldiers during WWII used to tell reporters that they enlisted “ for mom and apple pie. ” If the soldiers were saying it, it must be true– there’s no pie more patriotic! These apple pie bars are inspired by classic apple pie but streamlined to make life easier. Celebrating Independence Day has never been simpler!
What’s in This Apple Pie Bars Recipe?
- Flour: All-purpose flour gives the crust structure and helps the filling to set.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens both the crust and the filling.
- Butter: Salted butter helps bind the crust, while unsalted butter adds flavor to the filling and helps it set up.
- Apples: Granny Smith apples are the best and most reliable to use in baking. They are naturally tart and sweet, which is perfect for baking!
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice helps preserve the apples’ color and flavor.
- Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon adds warmth to the filling.
Tips for Success
- If you’d like to use a different type of apple, go for a firm, crunchy apple like Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Jonagold, or Golden Delicious.
- I prefer to peel my apples for a more cohesive filling, but you can leave the peels on if you prefer.
- I precooked both the crust and the filling to prevent a soggy pie. Don’t skip either of these steps!
- In testing, my bake turned out best when I used a metal baking pan.
- For the cleanest cuts, I recommend letting the bars cool completely before slicing.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover apple pie bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Enjoy chilled or gently microwaved.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving these apple pie bars warmed with a heaping scoop of vanilla or pumpkin ice cream . The way the ice cream melts into the bars is so luscious! They’re also great with a dollop whipped cream . For a truly indulgent treat, I like to drizzle mine with homemade caramel sauce and flaky salt. Salted caramel? Yum!
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Crust
- ▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour 120 grams
- ▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar 50 grams
- ▢ ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 1 cup salted butter 226 grams, chilled (2 sticks)
For the Filling
- ▢ 5 medium Granny Smith apples 750 grams, peeled and chopped
- ▢ 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 38 grams
- ▢ 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 8 grams
- ▢ 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 14 grams (from ½ lemon)
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 28 grams (¼ stick)
Instructions
For the Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease with butter. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. 1 cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup granulated sugar, ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- Using a cheese grater, grate the cold butter into the bowl, using your fingers to work it into the flour mixture. 1 cup salted butter
- Reserve ¾ cup of the mixture.
- Press the remaining mixture into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
For the Filling
- While the crust bakes and cools, make the filling: In a large bowl, combine the apples, sugar, flour, lemon juice, and cinnamon. 5 medium Granny Smith apples, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Melt the butter in a saucepan set over medium heat. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Once melted, add in the apples and cook for 7-8 minutes until softened and the mixture has thickened.
- Spread the apples in an even layer over the crust.
- Sprinkle the remaining crust mixture over the top of the apples.
- Bake for 23-25 minutes, or until the top layer is golden brown.
- Let the bars cool before cutting and serving.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 8×8-inch Baking Pan
- Cheese Grater
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Apple Pie Bars Step by Step
Make the Crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease with butter. Set aside. In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour, ¼ cup of granulated sugar, and ⅛ teaspoon of kosher salt. Using a cheese grater, grate 1 cup of cold salted butter into the bowl, using your fingers to work it into the flour mixture.
Bake the Crust: Reserve ¾ cup of the mixture. Press the remaining mixture into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
Mix the Filling: While the crust bakes and cools, make the filling: In a large bowl, combine the 5 peeled and chopped Granny Smith apples, 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
Cook the Filling: Melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a saucepan set over medium heat. Once melted, add in the apples and cook for 7-8 minutes until softened and the mixture has thickened.
Spread the Filling: Spread the apples in an even layer over the crust.
Add the Crumble: Sprinkle the remaining crust mixture over the top of the apples.
Bake the Bars: Bake for 23-25 minutes, or until the top layer is golden brown.
Cool, Cut, and Serve: Let the bars cool before cutting and serving.
More Apple Desserts to Try
Fried Apples
Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Apple Pie Monkey Bread (3 Ingredients)
Apple Cupcakes
Apple Pie Bars Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 8x8-inch Baking Pan
- Cheese Grater
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour 120 grams
- ¼ cup granulated sugar 50 grams
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup salted butter 226 grams, chilled (2 sticks)
For the Filling
- 5 medium Granny Smith apples 750 grams, peeled and chopped
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 38 grams
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 8 grams
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 14 grams (from ½ lemon)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 28 grams (¼ stick)
Instructions
For the Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease with butter. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. 1 cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup granulated sugar, ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- Using a cheese grater, grate the cold butter into the bowl, using your fingers to work it into the flour mixture. 1 cup salted butter
- Reserve ¾ cup of the mixture.
- Press the remaining mixture into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
For the Filling
- While the crust bakes and cools, make the filling: In a large bowl, combine the apples, sugar, flour, lemon juice, and cinnamon. 5 medium Granny Smith apples, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Melt the butter in a saucepan set over medium heat. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Once melted, add in the apples and cook for 7-8 minutes until softened and the mixture has thickened.
- Spread the apples in an even layer over the crust.
- Sprinkle the remaining crust mixture over the top of the apples.
- Bake for 23-25 minutes, or until the top layer is golden brown.
- Let the bars cool before cutting and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
