Homemade Apple Pie Bars

Name: Homemade Apple Pie Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 9
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened; 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 4 cups apples, peeled and thinly sliced; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

These bars bring all the cozy flavors of apple pie into an easy to eat snack that requires no rolling pin.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· October 22, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

45 minutes

Total

1 hour

Serves

These apple pie bars are a favorite in my house because they capture everything you love about a traditional pie without the fuss of a flaky crust. I find that skipping the chilling time makes this the perfect recipe when you need a sweet treat in a hurry.

Since the shortbread base doubles as the topping, you save so much time in the kitchen. Make sure to slice these while they are slightly warm if you want a soft texture, or let them cool completely for clean, beautiful squares.

🧺 Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.
2
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until smooth, then stir in the vanilla extract.
3
Add the flour and salt to the butter mixture and stir until a soft dough forms.
4
Press two thirds of the dough into the bottom of your prepared pan to create the crust.
5
In a separate bowl, toss the sliced apples with the quarter cup of sugar and the cinnamon.
6
Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crust layer.
7
Take the remaining dough and crumble it over the top of the apples.
8
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.
9
Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting them into squares.

💡 Tips

Serve these warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a special dessert. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or keep them in the fridge to help them stay firm.

#dessert #apple #baking #vegetarian #sweet

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