Bite-size dessert bars that taste just like apple pie? What more could you want! These baked apple pie dessert bars are full of cinnamon-spiced sliced apples, and topped with with a crunchy, sweet streusel topping. The best part is that they are easily made in a 9×13 pan—a terrific no-stress apple dessert!

Apple pie bars stacked on each other

These apple pie bars are the perfect shortcut to a delicious apple pie. They are stuffed with thin slices of apple and then topped with a crunchy streusel topping. I love making this baked apple dessert recipe because it’s easily made inside a 9×13″ pan. There is no need to worry about making and decorating a pie crust here!

As a trained pastry chef I am all about making delicious homemade dessert bar and brownie recipes. That doesn’t mean though that I don’t like to use shortcuts! Especially if that shortcut is in the form of apple pie bars.

These bars are stuffed with thin slices of cinnamon spiced apples that are spread all over a store bought pie crust. Then it’s topped it with a homemade super quick cinnamon streusel. Every bite is seriously heavenly! It’s one of my favorite apple dessert recipe ideas!

If you love apple recipes (who doesn’t!) make sure to try this apple coffee cake, this apple bundt cake, or if you’re up for making pie, this caramel apple pie.

Ingredients you need:

Ingredients for apple pie bar recipe

You can use either store bought or homemade pie crust– defrosted (buy or make 2 if you want a thicker crust). Honestly store bought pie crust is fine.

This is about ease right? If you don’t have any in your fridge and its a pain for you to make just go store bought.

Best Apples to use for Baking

My favorite apples to use for baking are Honeycrisp and Braeburn apples. They are sweet and juicy and can hold up to the heat. Granny Smith apples are great too if you like it more on the tart side.

Gala and Macintosh apples are not the best for baking because they can get mushy in the oven.

Step by step instructions

pie dough pressed into a baking pan
Spread and bake the crust: First take the crust and spread it onto the bottom of the pan, pressing lightly with your fingers to get to the edges. Bake the crust for 10-12 minutes until its golden brown. It is a thin layer so it won’t take long. Cool.
Sliced and spiced apples in a baking pan
Prepare the apples: Slice the apples thinly (do not cube them) and add them to a bowl with the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Mix to coat the apples well. Pour the apples on top of the pie crust and set aside.
crumb topping in a glass bowl
Make the crumb topping: Combine flour, brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add diced cold butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to cut in the butter. When the mixture resembles wet sand with small pea sized pieces, you know it’s ready.
crumb topping on top of apple pie bars
Sprinkle the crumbs and bake: Sprinkle the crumb topping all over the apple slices and bake for 30 mins at 350° F. Cool the bars before cutting in to them.

Tips for recipe success

  • Cut the apple slices about 1/4 inch thick. Use a mandolin- it creates uniform slices and cuts down on time
  • If you want to cut the bars cleanly– do not cut them right away! When the bars cool down, put them in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight so they really solidify into their shape. Then cut them into squares. Reheat them at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.
  • Use butter straight from the fridge. It has to be cold. Cut the butter into small cubes and pinch together the topping ingredients with the butter until it resembles a sand like texture.
apple pie bar lifted out of a pan with a spatula

Serving

You can either serve this warm straight from the pan or you can cut them into individual squares first. If you want to cut them into squares, the best way to do that is to chill the pan in the fridge for 2 hours, then cut into squares. Reheat in the oven at 350 for 10 minutes.

Serve these apple pie bars solo with their crumb topping, or top with ice cream and caramel sauce.

Apple pie bars stacked on each other
5 stars (7 ratings)

Apple Pie Dessert Bars in a 9×13 Pan

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Cooling Time: 10 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Bite-size dessert bars that taste just like apple pie? What more could you want!These baked apple pie dessert bars are full of cinnamon-spiced sliced apples, and topped with with a crunchy, sweet streusel topping. The best part is that they are easily made in a 9×13 pan—a terrific no-stress apple dessert
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Ingredients

  • 1 (1) store bought or homemade pie crust, defrosted (buy 2 if you want a thicker crust)
  • 6 (6) Honeycrisp apples peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4 inch
  • ¼ cup (31.25 g) flour
  • ¼ cup (55 g) brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp (Pinch) kosher salt

Crumb topping

  • 1 cup (125 g) flour
  • ½ cup (110 g) brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (50 g) white sugar
  • ¼ -½ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) cinnamon
  • ½ cup (113.5 g) butter, cold, diced into small cubes

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375° F. Defrost the pie dough for 15 minutes on your counter. When it is malleable, press it down into an even layer on the bottom of a  9x 13" 0r 8×8 square pan and bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes and reduce the oven temperature to 350° F.
  • Meanwhile, combine the apple slices, 1/4 flour, 1/4 brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp kosher salt in a medium sized bowl and mix until the apples are evenly coated. Pour the apple mixture on top of the pie crust, and set aside to make the crumb topping.
  • In a small bowl, combine the 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and the diced 1/2 cup butter. Using your fingers or a pastry blender, pinch the butter into the mixture until it kind of looks like wet sand, Larger chunks of butter are ok too.
  • Sprinkle the crumb mixture on top of the apples and bake for 30 mins until the top is golden brown.
  • Cool the mixture on the counter for about 30 minutes before cutting into.

Notes

If you make it in an 8×8 the apple layer will be taller! Check after 40 minutes. 

To cut into bars cleanly and easily- chill the pan in the fridge for 2 hours, then cut into bars. Reheat in the oven for 10 minutes on 350 degrees F.
Do not cube the apples. Slices work better because they will bake faster and create even layer bars. 
Storage: Store the apple pie bars in the fridge, reheat in the oven or eat them cold! They will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days
Freezing: To freeze the apple pie bars let them cool completely. Then cover them with tin foil and freezer safe plastic wrap as well if possible. Freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge and warm up in the oven for 10-15 minutes (if still frozen) at 350 degrees F.
Serving: 1slice, Calories: 212kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 18mg, Sodium: 78mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 18g
Course: Dessert
Author: Sam Adler
Cuisine: American
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