Apple Crisp Bars
User Reviews
5
Apple Crisp Bars
Description
This recipe for Apple Crisp Bars starts with a cold butter shortbread crust mixed with sugars, vanilla, flour, and cinnamon, baked until lightly golden. The filling combines peeled, cored, and sliced apples—typically McIntosh and Granny Smith varieties—cooked gently with sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and a thickener like tapioca or cornstarch until softened but still holding shape.
The final layer is a crumbly topping made from oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cold butter cubes, which is chilled before baking to add texture. Once assembled, the bars bake to develop a crisp oat topping with a gooey apple layer underneath, and the shortbread crust provides a firm base.
These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several days or refrigerated for longer freshness. They are ideal for dessert or snacks, offering the familiar flavors of apple crisp in a convenient bar form. Let the bars cool fully before slicing to maintain their structure.
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust
- 10 tbsp butter cold
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar packed
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour or all purpose flour, gluten free 1 to 1
- pinch cinnamon
Apple Filling
- 3 red apples I used McIntosh, peeled, cored and sliced
- 1 apple peeled, cored and sliced, Granny Smith
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp tapioca flour or cornstarch
- 3 tbsp water
Crumble Topping
- ½ cup old fashioned oats or regular, gluten free
- ⅜ cup all-purpose flour or all purpose flour, gluten free 1 to 1
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- pinch cinnamon
- ¼ cup butter sliced into small cubes, cold
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8 inch by 8 inch pan with parchment paper.
- First, make the crumble topping.
- Add all crumble topping ingredients to a mixing bowl. Use your hands, a pastry cutter or fork to incorporate butter into mixture. Mix until a crumbly mixture forms. Place bowl in fridge.
- Next, make the shortbread crust. Add cold butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar to a stand mixer bowl. Beat until no clumps of butter remain.
- Add in vanilla extract, flour and cinnamon to bowl. Stir until combined. Place dough into lined pan. Press into an even layer.
- Bake shortbread crust for 15 minutes. Then remove from oven.
- While shortbread crust bakes, make apple filling. Peel and core apples. Slice into ¼ inch thin slices.
- Add all apple filling ingredients to a skillet over low heat. Stir gently to combine and stir occasionally for 5 minutes or until apples have softened. If needed, add more water to the skillet to prevent burning.
- Once shortbread crust has finished baking, pour apple filling on top. Spread into an even layer. Then, top apples with crumble topping.
- Bake for 35 to 36 minutes. Remove pan from oven. Allow to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use a mix of tart and sweet apples, such as McIntosh and Granny Smith, for balanced flavor.
- Be sure butter for the shortbread crust is very cold to achieve the best texture.
- Sauté apples gently until slightly softened, adding water if needed to prevent sticking.
- Allow bars to cool completely before slicing for tidy portions.
- Store finished bars in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days or refrigerate up to 7 days.
- Gluten-free flour alternatives can be used as a 1:1 substitute for all-purpose flour.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 16bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 248 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 248kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 38g | 13% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 26mg | 9% |
| Sodium | 92mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 90mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 22g | 44% |
| Vitamin A | 332IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 20mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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