Easy Homemade Apple Crisp Bars: Your Ultimate Fall Dessert Recipe

Homemade apple crisp bars are the fall dessert of your dreams, transforming a beloved classic into a convenient, delightful treat. With a rich, buttery shortbread crust, a luscious layer of warmly spiced apples, and a perfectly crumbly crisp topping, these apple bars are destined to become your new go-to dessert. Get ready to impress with this simple yet sensational recipe!

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Apple Crisp Bars

Creating these delightful apple crisp bars is straightforward and incredibly rewarding. Follow these steps for a perfect autumn treat:

Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Dish & Oven
Preheat your oven to a cozy 350°F (175°C). This ensures your oven is at the optimal temperature for even baking. Next, line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. It’s helpful to leave an overhang on two sides; this creates convenient “handles” that will allow for easy removal of the baked bars later on, making cutting and serving a breeze.

Step 2: Craft the Buttery Shortbread Crust
In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter and granulated sugar. Beat them together until light and fluffy – this incorporates air and makes for a tender crust. Stir in the vanilla extract, then gradually add the all-purpose flour, mixing until just combined and a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing to keep the crust tender. Evenly press this dough into the bottom of your prepared, parchment-lined pan. Bake this crust for 15 minutes, until it’s lightly golden around the edges and set.

Step 3: Prepare the Flavorful Apple Filling
While your crust is par-baking, prepare the delicious apple crisp bar filling. In a large bowl, combine the thinly sliced apples (aim for about ⅛-inch thick slices for even cooking), fresh lemon juice, granulated sugar, aromatic cinnamon, and a couple of tablespoons of all-purpose flour. The flour helps to slightly thicken the juices released by the apples during baking, ensuring a perfectly set filling. Toss everything together until the apples are thoroughly coated.

Step 4: Create the Perfect Crumb Topping
Now, for the signature crisp topping. In a separate bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, a pinch of salt, and all-purpose flour. Add the cold butter, cut into small cubes. Using a pastry cutter, two knives, or even your fingertips, work the cold butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. The key here is to keep the butter cold, which creates that desirable crumbly texture when baked. This mixture will form a golden, crunchy layer on top.

Step 5: Assemble the Apple Crisp Bars
Once the shortbread crust finishes its initial bake, carefully remove it from the oven. Evenly spread the prepared apple filling over the warm crust. Make sure the apples are distributed in a single, relatively even layer. Finally, generously sprinkle the crumb topping over the entire apple layer. Don’t press it down too much; allow the crumbs to remain loose for maximum crispiness.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection & Cool
Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the topping is beautifully golden brown and the apple filling is visibly bubbly around the edges. This indicates the apples are tender and the flavors have melded. Once baked, it’s crucial to let the bars cool in the pan for at least 30 to 45 minutes. This cooling period allows the bars to set properly, making them much easier to lift out and slice. Once cooled slightly, gently use the parchment paper overhangs to lift the entire slab of bars out of the pan. Place them on a cutting board, slice into your desired square sizes, and serve!

Tips for Making the Best Apple Crisp Bars

While this recipe is straightforward, a few key tips can elevate your apple crisp bars from great to absolutely exceptional:

• Choose the Right Apples: The type of apple significantly impacts the final texture and flavor. Opt for firm, slightly tart apples that hold their shape when baked. Granny Smith is a classic choice for its tartness, which balances the sweetness of the dessert. Other excellent options include Honeycrisp, Fuji, Braeburn, or a mix of two varieties for a more complex flavor. Avoid overly soft or mealy apples.
• Thin Slices are Key: Slice your apples thinly, about ⅛-inch thick. This ensures they cook evenly and become perfectly tender without turning into mush. A mandoline slicer can make this process quick and consistent, but a sharp knife works just as well.
• Don’t Overmix the Crust: For a tender shortbread crust, mix the flour into the butter and sugar mixture only until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to a tough crust.
• Keep Butter Cold for Topping: When making the crisp topping, ensure your butter is very cold and cut into small cubes. This creates distinct pockets of butter that melt slowly in the oven, resulting in a perfectly crumbly and crunchy topping. If your kitchen is warm, you can even chill the topping mixture for 10-15 minutes before sprinkling it over the apples.
• Cool Completely (or Almost): Resist the urge to cut into the bars immediately after they come out of the oven. Allowing them to cool in the pan for at least 30-45 minutes gives the apple filling time to set, which prevents a gooey mess when slicing. For neatest squares, you can even let them cool completely.
• Dairy-Free Option: As mentioned in the ingredients, feel free to substitute a good quality dairy-free butter alternative (like Earth Balance sticks) for both the crust and the topping to make these delicious bars suitable for those with dairy sensitivities.

Serving Suggestions for Your Apple Crisp Bars

These homemade apple crisp bars are incredibly versatile and delicious on their own, but a few additions can make them an even more indulgent experience. You can either cut them into big, generous slices as shown in some of our photos, or into 16 smaller squares for a crowd.

Our absolute favorite way to enjoy these is warm, fresh from the oven, with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream melting slowly over the spiced apples. The contrast of warm and cold, soft and crisp, is simply divine! A dollop of fresh whipped cream or a drizzle of warm caramel sauce also makes for a fantastic pairing. But honestly, we’d happily eat them cold out of the fridge too – they’re that good! These apple crisp bars from scratch will always be a fall must-have in our house. They really are so simple to make and everyone loves them!

Storage & Make-Ahead Tips

These apple crisp bars are wonderful to make ahead or store for later enjoyment:

• At Room Temperature: Once completely cooled, store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days.
• In the Refrigerator: For longer freshness, place the bars in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can gently warm them in the microwave or oven before serving if desired.
• Freezing: These bars freeze beautifully! Once cooled completely, cut them into individual squares. Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw them at room temperature or warm them gently in the oven.

If you’re planning an apple picking adventure this year, be sure to add this recipe to your list of must-makes! Your house will be filled with the most incredible aroma of cinnamon apple goodness, promising a truly delightful treat for everyone.

More Delicious Apple Recipes to Try

• Cranberry Apple Crisp: A festive twist on the classic, perfect for holidays.
• Cinnamon Apple Muffins: Start your day with these warm, spiced delights.
• Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Butter: A spreadable treat that’s ideal for gifting or enjoying on toast.

4.27 from 15 votes

Apple Crisp Bars

By:

Joy Shull

These homemade apple crisp bars are a delicious fall dessert made with a delicious shortbread crust, spiced apple filling, and crumbly topping.

Prep:

15 minutes
mins

Cook:

1 hour
hr
5 minutes
mins

Total:

1 hour
hr
20 minutes
mins

Servings:

12
servings

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Ingredients

For the Shortbread Crust

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1
  cup
  all purpose flour

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ½
  cup
  salted butter,
  softened

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ¼
  cup
  brown sugar

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1
  teaspoon
  vanilla extract

For the Filling

• 
  ▢
  
  
  4
  cups
  thinly sliced apples

• 
  ▢
  
  
  2
  teaspoons
  lemon juice

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ¼
  cup
  sugar

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ½
  teaspoon
  cinnamon

• 
  ▢
  
  
  2
  tablespoons
  all purpose flour

For the Crisp Topping

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ⅓
  cup
  brown sugar

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ¼
  teaspoon
  salt

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ½
  cup
  all purpose flour

• 
  ▢
  
  
  4
  tablespoons
  cold salted butter,
  cut into cubes

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175°C). Line an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing the sides to overhang for easy removal of the bars once cooked.
• First, prepare the shortbread crust. In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and creamy. Stir in the vanilla extract, then gradually add the all-purpose flour, mixing until just combined and a soft dough forms.
• Press the prepared dough evenly into the bottom of the lined baking pan.
• Bake the crust for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F (175°C), until slightly golden.
• While the crust is baking, use this time to prepare both the apple filling and the crumb topping.
• For the filling, in a separate bowl, stir together the thinly sliced apples, lemon juice, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and the 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour until the apples are well coated.
• To make the crisp topping, combine the brown sugar, salt, and ½ cup all-purpose flour in a bowl. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut the cold, cubed butter into the flour mixture until a coarse, crumbly texture is achieved.
• Once the crust is done baking, carefully remove it from the oven. Evenly spread the prepared apple filling over the warm crust.
• Distribute the crumb topping generously over the apple filling, ensuring an even layer.
• Return the pan to the oven and bake at 350 degrees F (175°C) for 45 – 55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown, and the apple filling is bubbly around the edges.
• Allow the bars to cool in the pan for at least 30 – 45 minutes to set properly. Then, gently use the parchment paper overhangs to pull the entire slab of bars out of the pan. Cut into desired squares and serve.

Nutrition

Serving:
1
g

,

Calories:
235
kcal

,

Carbohydrates:
31
g

,

Protein:
2
g

,

Fat:
12
g

,

Saturated Fat:
7
g

,

Polyunsaturated Fat:
4
g

,

Cholesterol:
31
mg

,

Sodium:
139
mg

,

Fiber:
1
g

,

Sugar:
17
g

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