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The BEST Apple Pie Bars You’ll Ever Eat!

Yep, I realize this is a BIG statement. But when you make these you’ll know that they really are the best apple pie bars you’ll ever eat.

Raise your hand if you’re excited for ALL the baking this month! There’s something about a house that smells like cinnamon and nutmeg that just screams “Happy Holidays.”

These apple pie bars are great for an easy dessert (just cut the squares smaller to feed a crowd!), breakfast (because the best part of baking are the breakfast leftovers) OR late afternoon snack served with this hot cocoa

Having people over for brunch?

Did your hubs invite the neighbors over for dinner?

Do your kids complain that there’s NOTHING to eat?

See where I’m going with this?

Now go make them and be sure to tag your pics #amenuforyou so I can see your tasty creations!

Recipe adapted from Ina Garten

The BEST Apple Pie Bars You’ll Ever Eat!

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Servings: 12 bars

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 1 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature (I HIGHLY recommend using European butter like Plugra or Kerrygold)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (you can also use pecans)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for a sweeter cinnamon, use Saigon or Vietnamese cinnamon)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

For the apple filling:

  • 3 pounds apples, peeled, quartered, cored and sliced into 1/8" thick — about 6 apples (use a variety – I love Honeycrisp and JonnyGold, but use whichever apples you love to eat!)
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (if your apples are already sweet, use less sugar — 2 tablespoons)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (you can use ground nutmeg, but fresh has so much more flavor)
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice (optional)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • For the crust, place the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for about 2-4 minutes. You want the mixture to be super light and fluffy which will make a much flakier crust.
  • While the butter mixture is getting nice and fluffy, sift the flour and salt together. Sifting the flour will make the crust nice and light and flakey.
  • Then, with the mixer on low, SLOWLY (so the flour doesn't go all over you and your counter) add flour to the butter-sugar mixture.
  • Beat until combined before adding more flour. And beat only until flour is just barely combined — don't over mix.
  • Scatter two-thirds of the dough in clumps in a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Lightly flour your hands to prevent the dough from sticking, and then gently press dough into the bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides. Be sure there are not holes or gaps. Leave the remaining 1/3 of the dough in the mixer — you'll be finishing it in just a sec.
  • Refrigerate dough for 15 minutes.
  • Then bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the crust is golden brown, and set aside to cool.
  • While the crust is baking, add the walnuts and cinnamon to the remaining dough in the mixer, and mix on low speed until the ingredients are just combined. Set aside.
  • Reduce the oven to 350 degrees.
  • For the filling, combine the 2 types of apples you're using along with the lemon juice in a very large bowl.
  • Stir in the granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom until all the ingredients are incorporated.
  • Melt the butter in a large skillet, add the apples, and simmer over medium to medium-low heat, stirring often, for 12 to 15 minutes, until the apples are tender, they begin to turn caramel brown and the liquid has mostly evaporated.
  • Taste the apples to see if they need any more sugar or spices —
  • Spread the apples evenly over the cooled crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
  • Pinch medium pieces of the remaining dough with your fingers and drop them evenly over the top of the apples. Don't worry about the dough covering all the apples because it won't. And that's ok! When the dough bakes it will spread out a bit with some of the apples peeking through.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the topping is golden brown.
  • Cool completely and cut into bars.

Notes

TIPS TO MAKE THIS AHEAD OF TIME: The day before — make the crust up to the blind baking. Cover the baked crust and store at room temperature. Store the remaining raw dough in plastic wrap in fridge. Also the day before — cook the apples. Cover and store in your fridge. The day of: Add the apples to the crust, scatter with walnut/nut dough topping, and bake.
Have you made this recipe?I’d love to know! Leave a comment or recipe rating and tag me @amenuforyou on social media!

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