The Best Apple Pie Bars Recipe: Sweet & Buttery Bliss in Minutes

Dreamy apple pie bars bring homemade comfort to a handheld dessert that converts traditional pie into an irresistible treat.

Sweet, spiced flavors burst through a buttery crust, promising delectable moments of pure culinary joy.

Crisp seasonal fruit nestles between layers of golden pastry, creating a symphony of textures that dance across your palate.

Warm cinnamon and tender apples merge into a delightful fusion that feels both nostalgic and innovative.

Baking these bars converts ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary experience that connects memories and modern baking techniques.

Each bite carries the essence of classic baking with a contemporary twist that feels both familiar and exciting.

Rich, comforting, and surprisingly simple, these bars represent a perfect balance of tradition and creativity.

Apple Pie Bars That Feel Like Fall

• Capture Homemade Comfort: These apple pie bars transform classic pie flavors into an easy, portable dessert that feels like a warm hug from grandma's kitchen.
• Quick and Foolproof Baking: Using a pre-made cookie mix simplifies the process, making this recipe perfect for bakers of all skill levels who want delicious results without complex techniques.
• Versatile Dessert Delight: Perfectly suited for potlucks, family gatherings, or weekend treats, these bars offer the beloved taste of apple pie in convenient, shareable squares that everyone will enjoy.
• Textural Wonderland: The combination of soft, crumbly crust, gooey apple filling, and sweet cinnamon-sugar topping creates a mouthwatering contrast that makes each bite exciting and satisfying.

Ingredients for Classic Apple Pie Bars

• Cookie Mix: Convenient base for quick and easy dessert bars.
• Egg: Helps bind the crust ingredients together.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps create a tender crust texture.

• Apple Pie Filling: Ready-made filling with sweet and spiced apple flavor.
• Cinnamon Mixture: Warm spice blend to enhance overall dessert taste.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a caramelized top layer.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, sweet drizzle for finishing the bars.
• Milk: Adjusts glaze consistency for perfect drizzling.
• Vanilla Extract (optional): Adds subtle depth of flavor to the glaze.

Instructions for Baking Apple Pie Bars

Step 1: Prepare Baking Setup

Warm up the oven to 350°F. Grab an 8×8 inch baking pan and lightly coat it with cooking spray to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Create Cookie Dough Base

• Cookie mix
• Egg
• Soft butter

Mix thoroughly until a smooth dough forms.

Step 3: Build First Dough Layer

Press approximately two-thirds of the prepared dough evenly into the sprayed baking pan. Set aside the remaining dough for later.

Step 4: Add Apple Filling

Spread a generous layer of apple pie filling across the pressed dough, covering the entire surface.

Step 5: Top with Remaining Dough

Crumble and scatter the reserved dough over the apple filling, creating a rustic, uneven top layer.

Step 6: Sprinkle Cinnamon Topping

Dust the entire surface with the reserved cinnamon and sugar mixture, ensuring even coverage.

Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, watching for a golden-brown finish.

Step 8: Cool and Rest

Remove from oven and let the dessert cool completely at room temperature.

Step 9: Create Drizzle Glaze

In a small bowl, prepare the glaze by gradually adding milk until you reach a smooth, drizzling consistency.

Step 10: Finish and Serve

Generously drizzle the glaze over the cooled bars. Slice into squares and serve.

Tips for Buttery Crusts and Juicy Filling

• Choose Ripe Apples: Select firm, sweet-tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best flavor and texture in your pie bars.
• Prevent Soggy Crust: Pat apple pie filling dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture and ensure a crisp bottom layer.
• Create Crumbly Topping: Chill remaining dough for 15 minutes before dropping onto filling to achieve a more textured, crumbly appearance.
• Even Baking Trick: Rotate the baking dish halfway through cooking to guarantee uniform browning and consistent doneness.
• Glaze Perfection: Warm the glaze slightly to achieve a smoother, more pourable consistency that drizzles beautifully over the bars.

Storage Tips to Keep Apple Pie Bars Fresh

• Refrigerate: Store apple pie bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to maintain freshness and prevent drying out.
• Freeze: Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Reheat: Warm bars in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or in a preheated oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes until heated through. The glaze might soften slightly, but the bars will taste just as delicious.

Beverages and Treats That Pair with Apple Pie Bars

• Pair with Vanilla Bourbon: A smooth, rich bourbon-infused vanilla ice cream complements the warm, spiced apple pie bars, enhancing the dessert's sweet and comforting flavors.
• Serve with Cinnamon Tea: A hot, aromatic cinnamon tea balances the richness of the bars, providing a gentle, warming contrast that highlights the apple and spice notes.
• Match with Caramel Latte: A creamy caramel latte echoes the dessert's sweet undertones, creating a harmonious blend of coffee, caramel, and apple pie warmth.
• Enjoy with Spiced Chai: A fragrant, spicy chai tea mirrors the cinnamon and apple flavors, offering a complex and satisfying beverage pairing that elevates the dessert experience.

Delicious Apple Pie Bar Variations

• Caramel Apple Crunch Bars: Replace half the apple pie filling with homemade caramel sauce and sprinkle chopped pecans on top for extra crunch.
• Berry Fusion Bars: Swap apple pie filling with mixed berry compote and add a handful of fresh blueberries for vibrant flavor and color.
• Streusel-Topped Apple Bars: Create a buttery crumb topping with flour, brown sugar, and cold butter to replace the dropped dough, giving a crispy textural contrast.
• Maple Walnut Apple Bars: Incorporate maple syrup into the glaze and mix chopped walnuts into the base dough for a rich, nutty profile.

Apple Pie Bars Recipe

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4.7 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Sweet and buttery apple pie bars deliver classic American dessert comfort in handheld form. Tender spiced apple filling nestled between golden crumbly crust promises delightful moments of pure seasonal pleasure for you.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 21 ounces (595 grams) Canned Apple Pie Filling
• 17.5 ounces (496 grams) Krusteaz Snickerdoodle cookie mix
• 1 Egg, beaten

Base and Binding Ingredients:

• ½ cup (113 grams) butter, room temperature

Topping/Glaze Ingredients:

• ½ cup (60 grams) powdered sugar
• 1–2 tablespoons milk (mix to desired consistency)

Spice Component:

• Reserved cinnamon mixture from Krusteaz Snickerdoodle cookie mix

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Instructions

1. Prepare your workspace by conditioning an 8×8 inch baking vessel with culinary lubricant, then calibrate the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C).
2. Amalgamate the cookie mixture foundation with egg and melted butter, kneading until a cohesive pastry dough materializes.
3. Strategically distribute approximately two-thirds of the dough across the prepared baking surface, creating a uniform foundational layer.
4. Meticulously cascade the apple pie filling atop the pressed dough, ensuring an even, comprehensive coverage.
5. Delicately disperse the remaining dough fragments across the apple filling, generating a rustic, textured landscape.
6. Generously dust the exposed surface with the reserved cinnamon-sugar blend, enhancing the aromatic profile.
7. Transfer the assembled creation into the preheated oven, allowing it to transform for 50-55 minutes until golden and aromatic.
8. Permit the dessert to achieve complete thermal equilibrium at room temperature.
9. Craft a complementary glaze by incrementally introducing milk, adjusting until reaching a fluid, drizzle-friendly consistency.
10. Elegantly cascade the glaze across the cooled confection, then segment into individualized square portions for serving.

Notes

• These bars combine the classic comfort of apple pie with the convenience of a grab-and-go dessert.
• The cookie mix base creates a quick and foolproof crust that eliminates the need for traditional pie dough.
• Layering technique ensures a perfect balance of buttery crust, sweet apple filling, and crumbly topping in every bite.
• Cooling completely is crucial for clean cuts and allows flavors to meld together perfectly.
• The optional glaze adds a delightful sweet finish that elevates the entire dessert from good to irresistible.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain maximum freshness and flavor.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 55 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 295
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 220 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg