Homemade Flaky Apple Pie Bars Recipe: Sweet Fall Bliss

Crafting delectable flaky apple pie bars brings pure joy to any kitchen adventure.

Sweet aromas will soon fill your home with warmth and comfort.

Buttery pastry layers promise a delightful twist on classic dessert traditions.

Crisp autumn apples mingle with delicate spices, creating a mouthwatering experience.

Seasonal ingredients dance together in this simple yet elegant treat.

Homemade goodness awaits you with just a few basic ingredients and minimal preparation time.

Each bite promises a delightful escape into pure, comforting deliciousness.

Flaky Apple Pie Bars That Satisfy

• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: Indulge in a dessert that brings warmth and nostalgia with every bite, perfect for satisfying sweet cravings and creating memorable moments with loved ones.
• Customize with Ease: Swap pecans for almonds or add a sprinkle of nutmeg to make this recipe uniquely yours, giving you creative freedom in the kitchen.
• Stress-Free Baking: Forget complicated pie techniques – these bars offer all the deliciousness of traditional apple pie with a simplified preparation that even novice bakers can master.
• Versatile Serving Option: Enjoy as a delightful dessert after dinner, pack in lunchboxes, or serve as a weekend treat that everyone from kids to grandparents will adore.

Ingredients for Flaky Apple Pie Bars

• Flour: A core ingredient that provides structure for the pie bars.
• Butter or Shortening: Adds richness and creates a flaky texture for the crust.
• Egg Yolks: Helps bind the dough and contributes to a tender crust.
• Milk: Moistens the dough and helps bring the ingredients together.
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness to the crust and topping.
• Pecans: Provides a crunchy texture and nutty flavor to the crumb topping.

• Apples: The main fruit that creates the delicious filling for the bars.
• Cinnamon: Adds warm, aromatic flavor to the apple mixture.

• Non-Stick Spray or Butter: Helps prevent the bars from sticking to the baking pan.
• Flour: Used to help thicken the crumb topping and create a crumbly texture.

How to Make Flaky Apple Pie Bars

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Set your oven to a cozy 375°F (190°C). Grab a 9 x 13-inch baking pan and give it a quick spray with non-stick cooking spray or rub it down with butter.

Step 2: Create the Magical Base

• Flour
• Granulated sugar

Blend these dry ingredients until they’re best friends.

Step 3: Develop the Perfect Dough

Use a pastry cutter to work butter or shortening into the flour mixture until it looks like sandy crumbs.

In another bowl, whisk egg yolks with milk. Slowly pour the liquid into the flour mixture, stirring until a soft dough emerges.

Step 4: Divide the Dough

Separate about one-fourth of the dough – this will become your spectacular topping later.

Step 5: Build the Crust Foundation

Press the remaining dough into the pan, creating a smooth, even layer that will cradle the apple filling.

Step 6: Layer with Apple Goodness

• Brown sugar
• Granulated sugar
• Cinnamon

Sprinkle this sweet mixture generously over the apples.

Step 7: Craft the Crumbly Topping

• Brown sugar
• Crushed pecans
• Granulated sugar
• Flour

Blend until it becomes a delightful, crumbly mixture. Scatter this over the apple layer.

Step 8: Bake to Perfection

Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 40 minutes. Look for a golden-brown topping and bubbling filling – that’s your signal of deliciousness.

Step 9: Rest and Slice

Let the bars cool completely in the pan. This waiting time helps them set and makes cutting into perfect squares a breeze.

Enjoy your homemade apple pie bars!

Tips to Nail Flaky Apple Pie Bars

• Chill the dough before pressing into the pan to achieve a more flaky and tender crust.
• Use cold butter or shortening for the most delicate pastry texture, cutting it into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
• Select firm baking apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best balance of tartness and structure in the filling.
• Sprinkle a light dusting of ground nutmeg with the cinnamon for an extra layer of warm, aromatic flavor that complements the apples.
• Line the baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal and clean cutting of the bars, ensuring they come out perfectly shaped every time.

Variations on Flaky Apple Pie Bars

• Gluten-Free Apple Pie Bars: Replace wheat flour with almond flour or gluten-free flour blend for a celiac-friendly version, maintaining the same delicious apple flavor and crumbly texture.
• Vegan Apple Crumble Bars: Swap butter with coconut oil, use flax egg instead of egg yolks, and replace milk with almond milk to create a plant-based alternative that's equally satisfying.
• Low-Sugar Apple Bars: Substitute granulated sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia, reduce overall sugar content, and use tart apples for natural sweetness while keeping the classic pie bar experience.

Pairing Suggestions with Flaky Apple Pie Bars

• Crisp white wine like Riesling perfectly complements the apple pie bars' sugary notes, balancing the dessert's rich flavors with its light, refreshing character.
• Robust espresso or smooth cappuccino cuts through the buttery crust and enhances the warm cinnamon undertones, creating a delightful taste sensation that awakens the palate.
• Vanilla bean ice cream or whipped cream provides a cool, silky contrast to the warm, spiced apple bars, adding luxurious texture and tempering the sweetness with its smooth, cold essence.

Storage Advice for Flaky Apple Pie Bars

• Store cooled apple pie bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Wrap each layer with parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain freshness.
• Place entire uncut pan of bars in a freezer-safe container. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Keep frozen for up to 3 months.
• Cut bars into portions, wrap each separately in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for convenient single-serving grab-and-go treats lasting up to 2 months.

FAQs

• Why use both granulated and brown sugar in the recipe?

Brown sugar adds moisture and a deeper caramel-like flavor, while granulated sugar provides sweetness and helps create a crisp texture in the apple pie bars.

• Can I substitute the pecans in the crumb topping?

Yes, you can replace pecans with walnuts, almonds, or simply omit nuts if you have allergies or prefer a nut-free version of the bars.

• How do I know when the apple pie bars are fully baked?

Look for a golden brown topping and bubbling filling around the edges. The crust should be firm and slightly crisp when it’s done baking.

Flaky Apple Pie Bars Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Homemade Flaky Apple Pie Bars showcase classic American dessert flavors in a convenient handheld treat. Crisp pastry and caramelized apples blend perfectly for a delightful experience you’ll savor with each delectable bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 8 small apples (Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced)
• 1 cup (230 g) butter or vegetable shortening
• 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsps granulated sugar
• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• ½ cup (120 ml) milk
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• Handful of crushed pecans

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment at 375°F (190°C), positioning the rack in the center. Coat a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray or butter to ensure easy removal.
2. Create the foundational pastry mixture by combining flour and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Blend these dry components thoroughly until uniformly integrated.
3. Transform the dry ingredients into a cohesive dough by cutting cold butter into the flour using a pastry cutter until the texture resembles coarse, pebble-like crumbs. Whisk egg yolks with milk in a separate vessel, then gradually incorporate this liquid into the flour mixture, stirring consistently until a uniform dough emerges.
4. Partition the dough, reserving approximately one-fourth for the crumb topping. This separated portion will later add textural complexity to the dessert.
5. Press the primary dough portion into the prepared pan, ensuring an even, compact base that covers the entire bottom surface.
6. Arrange apple slices across the dough base in an overlapping pattern. Sprinkle a harmonious blend of brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon uniformly over the fruit layer.
7. Craft the crumb topping by combining the reserved dough with brown sugar, crushed pecans, additional granulated sugar, and flour. Mix until the consistency becomes delightfully crumbly, then distribute this mixture generously over the seasoned apples.
8. Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes. Monitor until the topping achieves a golden-brown hue and the filling becomes effervescent and bubbling.
9. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely within the pan. This resting period enables the dessert to stabilize, facilitating clean, precise cutting into elegant squares.

Notes

• Choose cold butter or shortening to ensure the most flaky, tender crust texture that melts in your mouth.
• Dice apples uniformly to guarantee even cooking and consistent texture throughout the bars.
• Experiment with different apple varieties like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Braeburn for varied flavor profiles and sweetness levels.
• Add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to the sugar mixture to enhance the warm, aromatic fall-inspired flavors of the dessert.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 298 kcal
• Sugar: 21 g
• Sodium: 72 mg
• Fat: 16 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg