Apple Crisp meets apple pie to form these delicious Apple Crisp Bars. They are a simple apple dessert made with a shortbread cookie crust, sweet apple filling, and a buttery crumble topping.
A Perfect Mash-Up
A little bit like an apple pie, a little bit like an apple crisp, these Apple Crisp Bars are the best or two desserts.
From the buttery shortbread crust to the oat crumble to the sweet, spiced apple filling, these bars are a delicious way to enjoy apple crisp in bar form.
There is no rolling, no chilling for this crust either, which makes these bars much easier to make than Apple Pie.
They are a perfect way to enjoy crisp, fall apples in dessert form.
Key Ingredients
- Crust: The shortbread crust is made with flour, butter, a bit of sugar. It comes together easily and forms a delicious, buttery base to these bars.
- Apple Filling: Apples, spices, sugar, and flour are tossed together to form a filling that is a lot like a classic apple pie filling. As for the apples, I prefer to use Granny Smith apples in the filling of these apple bars. Their tartness pairs perfectly with the sugar to not be overly sweet. But any firm apple such as Gala, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious works as well.
- Oat Crumble: Butter, oats, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon and nutmeg form a classic buttery topping for these bars.
How to Make Apple Crisp Bars
Step 1: Prepare the Shortbread Crust
- Beat the butter until light and fluffy.
- Add in the sugar beat until creamy.
- Mix in the flour until just combined.
- Place the dough into the lined pan and prick with a fork several times over the surface.
- Bake for 15 minutes in a pre-heated oven.
Step 2: The Apple Filling
- Slice washed apples into ¼ inch slices. Should you peel the apples? You can, but I like to leave the peels on for added fiber and makes these apple bars that much easier.
- Toss the apples with sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Place apples on the pre-baked cookie crust.
Step 3: The Crumble
- In a medium bowl, mix the oats, flour, sugar, and spices together.
- Add in the butter and using 2 forks, a pastry cutter, or your hands to bring the mixture together--it should literally form a crumble.
- Top the apple filling with the oat crumble.
- Bake the apple bars until the apples are tender and the crisp topping is golden.
Step 4: Serve
- Once baked, let cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then carefully lift out the parchment paper and let cool completely before slicing into bars.
More Apple Recipes
- Instant Pot Applesauce
- Easy Cream Cheese Apple Dip
- Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
- Healthy Apple Cinnamon Bread
- Dutch Apple Pie
- Slow Cooker Pork Roast with Apples
If you tried these Apple Crisp Bars, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Apple Crisp Bars
Apple crisp and apple pie are brought together in a delicious bar made with a shortbread crust, sweet apple filling, and a buttery crumble topping.
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Servings: 12
Calories: 212kcal
Ingredients
Crust
- ½ cup butter softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup flour
Apple Filling
- 1 pound Granny Smith apples washed and sliced into ¼ inch slices
- ¼ cup flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon fresh nutmeg
Topping
- â…“ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter cold
- ¼ cup flour
- ½ cup oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 and line an 8 inch square pan with foil or parchment paper.
- Beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add in the sugar beat until creamy. Mix in the flour until just combined. Place the dough into the lined pan and prick with a fork several times over the surface. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Toss the sliced apples together with sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour over the prebaked crust.
- Combine the flour, oats, butter, and cinnamon until just combined. Sprinkle over apples. Return to the oven and bake for additional 30-35 minutes.
- Once baked, let cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then carefully lift out the parchment paper and let cool completely before slicing into bars.
Equipment Needed
Notes
- Granny Smith apples are best for this recipe as they help to balance the sweetness from the crumble. But any firm apple such as Gala, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious works as well.
- Use all-purpose or whole white wheat flour.
- Store Apple Crisp Bars in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 71mg | Potassium: 112mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 255IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 0.9mg
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Susan Fuller
Hey Kristen! These look awesome! Is it 1 TABLESPOON of cinnamon in the apples? Just checking, seeing what ingredients i have on hand...you gave me a craving! looks so yummy!
Kristen Chidsey
Oh goodness, no Susan, it is supposed to be 1 teaspoon! So glad you caught that. Sorry!
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago
I love all things made with apple and this looks like the perfect fall afternoon treat! Pinned!!
Kristen Chidsey
It is a great afternoon snack.
Lauren Kelly Nutrition
Oh I love these bars and the ingredients! Great job!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Lauren 🙂
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass
I love Johnny Appleseed Day Kristen! I know all about him and I used to mercilessly torture my big brother John when he was little by calling him Johnny Appleseed! Bars look absolutely delicious!!! We will apple pick soon and this looks like the perfect recipe!
Kristen Chidsey
HA! HA! I am sure your brother appreciated the torture 🙂 Yes, you need to save some apples for these 🙂
Marye
These sound SO good! I definitely need to save these for later!
Gaye @CalmHealthySexy
Hi Kristen - These bars look delicious. Thanks for sharing with Let's Get Real - pinning to our group board.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Gaye! I think they are a perfect way to celebrate fall!
Miz Helen
This is a great Apple Crisp Bar, delicious! Hope you are having a fantastic week and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Tammy @ creativekkids
I will have to try these! My daughter loves anything that is cooked apple. Thanks for linking up to the Tasty Tuesday's Linky Party. I've pinned this post to Creative K Kids' Tasty Tuesdays' Pinterest Board.
Kristen Chidsey
Then your daughter will LOVE these--apple strudel, apple crisp and apple pie all rolled in one!
Helene
These look amazing! Apple crisp was a staple at our house too! I need some fall-ish dessert for next week and pumpkin is getting old!
Kristen Chidsey
Well, then you will love these bars!!!
Michelle Westbrook
Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party! Your post has been pinned to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest board 🙂
Apple is my favorite fall flavor! Thanks for sharing this.
Kristen Chidsey
Enjoy Michelle!!!