Easy Apple Pie Bars Made for Sharing
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There’s something about the smell of apples and cinnamon baking in the oven that makes the kitchen feel especially cozy once fall rolls around. These apple pie bars have a buttery shortbread style crust, a warmly spiced fresh apple filling, and a sweet cinnamon crumble topping that gives you a little bit of everything in each bite.
They’re a simple choice for fall baking, Thanksgiving dessert tables, autumn & holiday parties, family get-togethers, or afternoon snacks with a cup of coffee or tea.
Deliciously Easy Apple Pie Bars
If you love apple pie but don’t always want to fuss with rolling and shaping pie dough (my nemisis!), these apple crisp bars are a much easier way to get those familiar fall flavors.
You still get tender cinnamon spiced apples and a buttery crust, but everything is layered into one 8-inch pan and finished with a generous crumble topping.
The four ingredient crust that gets a quick head start in the oven before the apples are added. Thinly sliced apples are tossed with sugar, lemon juice, flour, and apple pie spice, then layered over the crust and covered with a buttery cinnamon crumble.
I like that you can make these ahead and chill them before cutting, especially when there are other things to prep for a holiday meal. They’re also easy to cut into smaller squares when you need a dessert for a larger group. I also add them to my holiday dessert boards for Christmas too.
Serve them on their own, add a little caramel sauce, or warm them slightly and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
They’re perfect for the weekend after apple picking. The smell of apples always reminds me of gathering all the fallen apples from underneath my grandparent’s trees.
With their easy to serve square shape, these bars work especially well for Thanksgiving, fall potlucks, bake sales, dessert tables, and casual get-togethers. They’re also just as welcome at home when you want something sweet for an afternoon snack.
👉 🍎 Also check out our other simple apple desserts, and cozy autumn apple cakes like our creamy apple caramel cheesecake bars, and these deliciously quick shortcut apple trifles and cozy baked apple pie dip.
Why You’ll Love These Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the crust
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all purpose flour
For the Apple Filling
- 4–5 small to medium apples, sliced thin
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons apple pie spice*
*Apple Pie Spice recipe: You can also use: 4 Tbsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp nutmeg, and 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of cardamom. Or add more or less of the spices to your preferences. Put in a glass jar to store.
For the Crumble Topping
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp of nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tsp of ginger (optional)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
TIP: Slice the apples fairly thinly and as evenly as possible. This helps them cook at the same rate and makes it easier to create an even apple layer.
Equipment You’ll Need
- 8 inch baking dish
- Parchment paper
- Large mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Fork or pastry cutter
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Spatula
- Cooling rack
⭐️ Also try these easy and quick pumpkin desserts, or no bake treats perfect for Thanksgiving, and parties or our Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie, our favorite pumpkin cinnamon rolls with maple icing, and quick fall cookies.
How to Make Apple Pie Bars
1. Preheat the Oven & Prep the Pan
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Line an 8inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on the sides to help lift the cooled bars from the pan later.
2. Make the Crust
In a large bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, vanilla extract, salt, and flour. Use a fork or pastry cutter to work everything together until the mixture has a crumbly texture and the butter is evenly distributed.
Press the crust mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Bake for 10 minutes, then remove it from the oven and allow it to cool slightly while you prepare the apples.
3. Prepare the Apple Filling
Peel the apples if desired (I usually don’t bother), then cut them into thin, even slices.
Place the sliced apples in a large bowl and add the granulated sugar, flour, lemon juice, and apple pie spice.
Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated.
4. Add the Apple Layer
Arrange the seasoned apple slices over the partially baked crust.
Spread them out and smooth the slices down so they lie relatively flat and form an even layer across the pan.
5. Make the Cinnamon Crumble Topping
In another large mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, and butter. Use a fork or pastry cutter to work the ingredients together until a crumbly mixture forms.
Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the apples, making sure the topping reaches the edges of the pan.
6. Bake, Cool & Chill
Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes, until the crumble topping is baked through and the apple layer is tender.
Allow the bars to cool before transferring them to the refrigerator. Chill for 1-2 hours to help the layers firm up and make the bars easier to slice neatly. Personally I prefer these bars (and all apple pie actually) cold.
Lift the bars from the pan using the parchment paper, cut into 9 or more squares, and serve.
Storage Tips: Store leftover apple pie bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For the best texture, place parchment between layers if you need to stack them.
Freezing Tips: You can also freeze the cooled and sliced bars in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Separate the bars with parchment paper so you can remove individual servings as needed.
Thawing Tips: Thaw frozen bars overnight in the refrigerator. Enjoy them chilled, or bring them to room temperature before serving, or gently warm individual portions if you prefer softer apples and a warm crumble topping.
Tips & Variations
- Choose apples that hold their shape. Firm baking apples work especially well because they soften in the oven without becoming overly mushy. We like Honeycrisp, Granny smith, Braeburn and Pink Lady.
- Leave the peels on if you prefer. Peeling the apples is optional, so skip that step when you want to save a little prep time.
- Make your own Apple Pie Spice recipe: Use 4 Tbsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp nutmeg, and 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of cardamom. Or add more or less of the spices to your preferences.
- Add some crunch. Chopped pecans or walnuts can be mixed into the crumble topping.
- Try a caramel drizzle. Add caramel sauce just before serving for caramel apple-inspired bars.
- Make smaller servings for gatherings. Instead of nine large bars, cut them into smaller squares for Christmas and Thanksgiving dessert platters and parties.
- Give them enough time to chill. Cooling and refrigerating the bars for 1–2 hours helps the layers set so you can get cleaner slices.
- Serve them warm or chilled. For a more traditional apple dessert feel, gently warm the bars and serve it with vanilla ice cream.
⭐️ Looking for more fall treats? Try our easy no-bake pumpkin desserts for more seasonal ideas.
Final Thoughts
These apple pie bars have everything I want from a cozy fall dessert: buttery crust, warmly spiced apples, and plenty of cinnamon crumble on top.
Since they can be baked and chilled ahead of time, they’re a convenient option for make ahead desserts for Thanksgiving, autumn parties, and busy weekends filled with fall baking.
Cut them into larger squares for dessert or smaller portions for an easy addition to a holiday dessert tray.
They’re also simple enough to make just for the family and keep in the fridge for afternoon snacks throughout the week.
Serve them chilled or at room temperature, or warm them slightly when you’re craving those classic fresh-from-the-oven apple pie flavors.
Cozy Apple Pie Bars
These apple pie bars have a buttery shortbread style crust, a warmly spiced fresh apple filling, and a sweet cinnamon crumble topping that gives you a little bit of everything in each bite.
Ingredients
For the crust
- ½ cup unsalted butter , softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup all purpose flour
For the Apple Filling
- 4–5 small to medium apples, sliced thin
- 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 ½ tsp apple pie spice
For the Crumble Topping
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp of nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tsp of ginger (optional)
- ½ cup unsalted butter
Equipment You'll Need
- 8 inch baking dish
- Parchment paper
- Large mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Fork or pastry cutter
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Spatula
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven & Prep the Pan
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Line an 8inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on the sides to help lift the cooled bars from the pan later.
2. Make the Crust
In a large bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, vanilla extract, salt, and flour. Use a fork or pastry cutter to work everything together until the mixture has a crumbly texture and the butter is evenly distributed.
Press the crust mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Bake for 10 minutes, then remove it from the oven and allow it to cool slightly while you prepare the apples.
3. Prepare the Apple Filling
Peel the apples if desired (I usually don't bother), then cut them into thin, even slices.
Place the sliced apples in a large bowl and add the granulated sugar, flour, lemon juice, and apple pie spice.
Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated.
4. Add the Apple Layer
Arrange the seasoned apple slices over the partially baked crust.
Spread them out and smooth the slices down so they lie relatively flat and form an even layer across the crust.
5. Make the Cinnamon Crumble Topping
In another large mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, and butter. Use a fork or pastry cutter to work the ingredients together until a crumbly mixture forms.
Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the apples, making sure the topping reaches the edges of the pan.
6. Bake, Cool & Chill
Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes, until the crumble topping is baked through and the apple layer is tender.
Allow the bars to cool before transferring them to the refrigerator. Chill for 1-2 hours to help the layers firm up and make the bars easier to slice neatly. Personally I prefer these bars (and all apple pie actually) cold.
Lift the bars from the pan using the parchment paper, cut into 9 or more squares, and serve.
Storage Tips: Store leftover apple pie bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For the best texture, place parchment between layers if you need to stack them.
Freezing Tips: You can also freeze the cooled and sliced bars in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Separate the bars with parchment paper so you can remove individual servings as needed.
Thawing Tips: Thaw frozen bars overnight in the refrigerator. Enjoy them chilled, or bring them to room temperature before serving, or gently warm individual portions if you prefer softer apples and a warm crumble topping.
Notes
Tips & Variations
- Choose apples that hold their shape. Firm baking apples work especially well because they soften in the oven without becoming overly mushy. We like Honeycrisp, Granny smith, Braeburn and Pink Lady.
- Leave the peels on if you prefer. Peeling the apples is optional, so skip that step when you want to save a little prep time.
- Make your own Apple Pie Spice recipe: Use 4 Tbsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp nutmeg, and 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of cardamom. Or add more or less of the spices to your preferences.
- Add some crunch. Chopped pecans or walnuts can be mixed into the crumble topping.
- Try a caramel drizzle. Add caramel sauce just before serving for caramel apple-inspired bars.
- Make smaller servings for gatherings. Instead of nine large bars, cut them into smaller squares for Christmas and Thanksgiving dessert platters and parties.
- Give them enough time to chill. Cooling and refrigerating the bars for 1–2 hours helps the layers set so you can get cleaner slices.
- Serve them warm or chilled. For a more traditional apple dessert feel, gently warm the bars and serve it with vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 9 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 282Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 75mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 7g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered from online calculators.
