Who needs a slice of apple pie when you can have a whole bar? Apple pie bars are like the rebel version of the classic dessert. They take all the deliciousness of a traditional apple pie and condense it into a portable, handheld treat. It’s like apple pie’s cool cousin who shows up to Thanksgiving dinner with a leather jacket and a mysterious aura. These bars are the perfect balance of sweet and tart, with a buttery crust that crumbles just right. Plus, they’re so much easier to make than a pie. It’s like having your pie and eating it too, without any of the fuss. So go ahead, sink your teeth into an apple pie bar and experience the rebellious delight. If you prefer have a slice of traditional apple pie, or crumb top apple pie.
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Key Takeaways:
- Apple Pie Bars: The Rebel Version of Classic Apple Pie
These portable, handheld treats offer all the deliciousness of traditional apple pie, with a buttery, crumbly crust and the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors. No fuss, just pure apple pie satisfaction. - Quick and Easy to Make
Apple pie bars are simpler to prepare than a full apple pie, with a quick crust and topping process using a food processor. Less time in the kitchen, more time to enjoy! - A Healthy Twist with Apples
Apples in the bars aren’t just tasty—they provide antioxidants that protect your brain and fiber that helps regulate blood sugar. This makes apple pie bars a slightly healthier option than sugary snacks. - Customizable with Apple Varieties
Choose between sweet (Honeycrisp) or tart (McIntosh, Cortland) apples depending on your preference, making the flavor profile of the bars as you like. - Convenient for Storing and Serving
Once baked, these bars can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge or frozen for up to a month, offering a convenient dessert option whenever you need it. - Perfect for Any Occasion
Apple pie bars are a fun, rebellious twist on the traditional dessert—ideal for gatherings, Thanksgiving, or whenever you’re craving a sweet treat without the pie crust hassle.
SIS -Simple is Smart Tip
Tip #1 Make a parchment “sling” to line the bottom and side of the 9X9 inch baking pan. Once the bars are cooled and baked, you can easily lift them out of the pan and cut them into bars.
Tip #2 Use a Food Processor to cut the butter into the flour and sugar for the crust and for the topping. It takes a few seconds and a few pulses of the processor and you have perfectly added the butter to create a mixture the consistency of coarse sand. It would take you about 10 – 15 minutes to do that by hand.
Neuro Nutrition Nugget - Apples
You know what they say, an apple a day keeps the brain fog away! Well maybe not quite, but they’re not wrong. Apples are not only delicious, but they also pack a punch when it comes to boosting brain health. First of all, apples are rich in antioxidants, which help protect your brain cells from oxidative stress. So, next time you’re feeling forgetful, just grab an apple and give your brain a little antioxidant boost. Secondly, apples are a great source of fiber, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. This means that your brain gets a steady supply of glucose, its preferred source of fuel. The fiber also keeps your second brain healthy. Where is your second brain? It’s your gut. So, forget about those sugary snacks and reach for an apple instead. Your brains will thank you!
Ingredients for Apple Pie Bars
Crust and the Topping
- Flour: all purpose organic unbleached white flour
- Sugar: Brown Sugar
- Salted Butter: I use salted butter and don’t add extra salt. The salt in the butter is equal to 1/2 of a teaspoon of salt.
- Baking Powder: Baking powder added to flour makes a tender crumble.
- Apple Pie Spice:
Filling Ingredients for Apple Pie Bars
- Apples: I like a sweet apple and used organic honey crisp apples that I got from a local apple orchard. If you prefer apple pie made from tart apples use a Macintosh, Johnathan, or Cortland. There are several other tart varieties as well.
- Cream Cheese: Use the cream cheese in a block not the whipped or spreadable cream cheese in a tub.
- Boiled Cider: This intensifies the apple flavor of the apple pie bars. Boiled cider is exactly what it sound like. Apple cider that has been concentrated by boiling it until it is a syrupy consistency. Use cider not apple juice if you are making it yourself.
- Sugar: Brown Sugar
- Plain Yogurt: adds a little extra richness to the filling portion of the apple pie bars.
- Apple Pie Spice: You can purchase apple pie spice or make mix it from ingredients in your pantry. You will need 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp nutmeg, and 1/2 tsp. cardamon.
Step by Step Instructions for Apple Pie Bars
Make the Crust and the Topping
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a Food Processor** fitted with a cutting blade, add the sugar, flour, salt, baking powder, and apple pie spice.
- Add the butter and pulse until the mixture starts to come together.
- Press half (2 cups) of the mixture into a parchment-lined 9 X 9-inch baking pan. Set aside the other half of the mixture
- Bake 10 minutes or until a light golden brown color around the edges. Set aside to cool.
Make the Filling for Apple Pie Bars
- Peel, core, and slice the apples. Set aside. You will need 3-4 Large Apples.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar together.
- Add the egg, sour cream, apple pie spice, boiled cider and beat in. and beat in.
- Pour into the baking pan with the cooled crust.
- Top with the rest of the crumbs. Press handfuls of crumbs together to create some large crumbs on the top.
- Pour into the baking pan with the cooled crust.
- Bake at 350℉ for 40 minutes.
- Cut into bars and serve either warm or after they have cooled.
Refrigerate or Freeze your Apple Pie Bars.
Store the apple pie bars by Refrigerating them for up to 4 days in an airtight container. Freeze in an airtight container for up to a month. Defrost in the Fridge overnight.
If you are a fan of coconut, check out my recipe for the Coconut Dream Bars.
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FAQ:
Q: How do I make sure my apple pie bars have a good texture?
A: For a perfect texture, make sure to use a food processor to cut the butter into the flour and sugar mixture. This ensures a tender, crumbly crust and topping without the fuss of mixing by hand.
Q: Can I use a different type of apple in the recipe?
A: Yes! You can use any variety of apple you prefer. Sweet apples like Honeycrisp work best for a balanced flavor, but tart apples like McIntosh or Cortland will add a sharper, more traditional pie-like taste.
Q: Can I make the crust and topping without a food processor?
A: Absolutely! If you don’t have a food processor, you can mix the ingredients by hand, though it will take longer (around 10-15 minutes). Simply combine the butter with the flour and sugar until the mixture resembles coarse sand.
Q: How long can I store apple pie bars?
A: You can refrigerate the bars for up to 4 days in an airtight container or freeze them for up to a month. To thaw frozen bars, simply leave them in the fridge overnight.
Q: What’s boiled cider, and why should I use it?
A: Boiled cider is concentrated apple cider that’s been reduced to a syrupy consistency. It intensifies the apple flavor in the bars, giving them a rich, authentic taste. If you can’t find it, you can make your own by boiling apple cider down until thickened.
Q: Can I substitute something for cream cheese in the filling?
A: While cream cheese provides a rich, smooth texture, you can try using ricotta cheese or mascarpone as substitutes for a different flavor profile. Just make sure to adjust the consistency if needed.
Apple Pie Bars
Equipment
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- To see the ingredient amounts in metric units, click the blue "METRIC:" button between the ingredients and the instructions for this recipe.
Ingredients
Crust and crumb topping
- 1 cup salted butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp apple pie spice
Apple Pie Filling
- 1 block cream cheese
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp plain yogurt
- 1 tsp apple pie spice
- 6 cups sliced peeled apples
- 2 tbsp boiled cider***
Instructions
Make the Crust
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- In a Food Processor** fitted with a cutting blade, add the sugar, flour, and salt, baking powder, and apple pie spice.
- Add the butter and pulse until the mixture starts to come together. It will be the consistency of coarse damp sand. When you take a handful of the crumbs and press them together they should stick together loosely.
- Press half (2 cups) of the mixture into a parchment-lined 9 X 9-inch baking pan. Set aside the other half of the mixture.
- Bake 10 minutes or until a light golden brown color around the edges. Set aside to cool.
Make the Filling
- Peel, core, and slice the apples. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, egg, yogurt, apple pie spice, and boiled cider.
- Fold in the Apples.
- Pour into the baking pan with the baked crust.
- Top with the rest of the crumbs. Press handfuls of crumbs together to create some large crumbs on the top.
- Bake at 350℉ for 40 minutes. Loosely tent with aluminum foil the last 10 minutes if it is over-browning.
- Cut into 16 bars and serve either warm or after they have cooled.
