Description
These Apple Pie Bars combine a buttery crust, tender spiced apple filling, and a crunchy oat streusel topping, delivering all the flavors of classic apple pie in a convenient bar form. Perfect for a dessert or snack, they are drizzled with salted caramel sauce to add a rich, sweet finishing touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
Apple Filling
- 2 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced (1/4 inch thick)
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup (43g) old-fashioned whole rolled oats
- 1/3 cup (70g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup (31g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Topping
- Salted caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 300°F (149°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang to easily lift the bars out later, and set aside.
- Make the Crust: In a bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter, granulated sugar, pure vanilla extract, and salt. Stir in the all-purpose flour until just combined. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the crust.
- Bake the Crust: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake the crust for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the apple filling and streusel topping.
- Prepare Apple Filling: In a large bowl, toss the thinly sliced peeled apples with the flour, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until the apples are well coated.
- Make the Streusel Topping: In another bowl, whisk together old-fashioned oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Add the cold cubed butter, then use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Increase Oven Temperature: Raise the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C) to prepare for baking the assembled bars.
- Layer Apple Filling: Spread the prepared apple mixture evenly over the pre-baked crust in the pan, pressing lightly to compact the layer.
- Add Streusel Topping: Evenly sprinkle the oat streusel mixture over the apple layer, covering as much surface as possible.
- Bake the Bars: Bake the assembled bars in the oven at 350°F (177°C) for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the streusel topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly and tender.
- Cool and Chill: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool at room temperature for about 20 minutes before transferring them to the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours. This helps the bars set and makes slicing easier.
- Serve: Using the parchment paper overhang, lift the bars out of the pan. Slice into 12 bars and drizzle each with salted caramel sauce just before serving for a decadent finish.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a balanced sweet-tart flavor; sweeter apples can be used but may alter taste.
- Ensure the butter is cold before adding to the streusel for optimal crumbly texture.
- The bars can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Salted caramel sauce can be homemade or store-bought; warm slightly before drizzling for best results.
- Allow the bars to chill thoroughly to help them hold together when sliced.
