Apple Bars
User Reviews
5
Apple Bars
Description
The Apple Bars recipe begins by creaming unsalted butter with sugar, salt, and apple pie spice to build a flavored dough. Eggs and vanilla extract are incorporated to bind the dough before folding in all-purpose flour just to combine, reserving part of the dough for the topping. Pressed into a baking pan, the base is layered with apple pie filling, either store-bought or homemade, before crumbly dough is spread on top like a cobbler layer.
Baking at 350°F produces bars that are set with a lightly browned top. After cooling, a vanilla glaze made from confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract is spread over the bars, adding sweetness and moisture. The bars combine tender, spiced dough with soft, sweet, cinnamon-flavored apple filling.
These apple bars store well without glaze for a few days at room temperature or with glaze in the refrigerator for up to five days. They can also be frozen without glaze for up to two months and thawed overnight before glazing. This recipe offers a convenient alternative to pie or cobbler with handheld portions.
Ingredients
Apple Bars:
- ¾ cup butter vegan butter or coconut oil for a vegan option, unsalted
- 1½ cups sugar You can replace regular sugar with beet sugar if you prefer.
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon apple pie spice This can be replaced with ground cinnamon or a mix of ground nutmeg and cinnamon.
- 3 egg at room temperature (Flax eggs or applesauce can be used as a vegan alternative, large
- 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract Or, try almond extract instead.
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour You can try using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for a gluten-free version.
- 21 oz apple pie filling Use store-bought or homemade apple pie filling, or try a mixture of stewed apples and cinnamon.
Vanilla Glaze:
- ½ cup confectioners' sugar You can also make your own by blending 1 cup of granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream Whole milk or half & half can be used for a lighter option.
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
Instructions
- To make these Apple Pie Bars, preheat your oven to 350°F(180°C) and lightly grease a 13 x 9 baking pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, salt, and apple pie spice.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, and then the vanilla extract, mixing between each addition. TIP: Add 2 tablespoon of the flour if your mixture starts to curdle!
- Mix in the all-purpose flour but just until combined. Do NOT overmix! Set aside 1 cup of the dough for the topping!
- Spread the dough in an even layer over the bottom of prepared baking pan. Next, top with the apple pie filling. Spoon the reserved dough over the top of the apple pie filling as if making a cobbler.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the apple cobbler bars are set and lightly golden brown on the top. Transfer the pan to a wire rack, and let it cool before topping with glaze.
- Make the Vanilla Glaze: In a small bowl, combine the 3 ingredients until smooth. If needed, adjust the thickness to reach a drizzling consistency. It must cling well to your spoon, yet drizzles easily.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled apple bars. Let it set and then slice into 18 bars!
Notes
- Store apple bars without glaze in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- With dairy-based glaze, refrigerate bars for up to 5 days.
- Freeze bars without glaze wrapped well in foil and placed in an airtight container for up to 2 months; add glaze after thawing overnight in the fridge.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 18bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 2497 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 249.7kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 40.7g | 14% |
| Protein | 2.7g | 5% |
| Fat | 8.9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 5.3g | 27% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.5g | 3% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2.3g | 12% |
| Trans Fat | 0.3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 48.6mg | 16% |
| Sodium | 92.4mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 46.2mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 0.8g | 3% |
| Sugar | 24.6g | 49% |
| Vitamin A | 296.3IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 0.6mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 11.3mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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