Flaky Apple Pie Bars sound like the ultimate dessert—perfectly sweet, buttery, and with that apple pie filling everyone loves! Here’s a delicious recipe to make these irresistible bars:
Flaky Apple Pie Bars Recipe
Ingredients:
For the crust:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/4 cup ice water (more if needed)
For the filling:
- 4-5 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well), peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
For the topping:
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted (optional)
- 1 tablespoon sugar (for sprinkling on top)
Instructions:
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Make the crust:
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your hands to work the butter into the flour mixture until it forms coarse crumbs.
- Gradually add the ice water, a tablespoon at a time, until the dough starts to come together. You may need a bit more water, but avoid adding too much.
- Divide the dough into two portions—one slightly larger than the other. Shape each portion into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
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Prepare the filling:
- In a separate bowl, combine the sliced apples with granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss to coat the apples evenly. Set aside while you roll out the dough.
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Assemble the bars:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- On a floured surface, roll out the larger portion of dough into a rectangle large enough to fit your baking dish (9×13-inch works well). Carefully transfer the dough to the dish and press it into the bottom, trimming any excess edges.
- Pour the apple filling evenly over the crust, spreading it out to cover the entire surface.
- Roll out the second disc of dough and cut it into strips (about 1 inch wide). Lay the strips over the apple filling in a lattice pattern. If you prefer a full top crust, simply roll it out and place it over the apples, then cut a few slits for venting.
- If desired, brush the top crust with melted butter and sprinkle sugar over the top for a golden, crispy finish.
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Bake:
- Bake the bars in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling. If the edges of the crust start to brown too quickly, cover them with aluminum foil.
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Cool and slice:
- Allow the apple pie bars to cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before cutting into squares or bars. They’ll set more as they cool, making them easier to slice.
These Flaky Apple Pie Bars are the perfect combination of buttery crust, sweet spiced apples, and that warm, comforting pie flavor. Serve them on their own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate dessert! Would you like to try adding any other fruits or flavors to the filling?
