Bars, Blondies & Brownies/ Desserts

Apple Pie Shortbread Bars

Apple Pie Shortbread Bars.  Because these are like an apple pie, but in bar form, with a crisp topping!  This is a great recipe to make as an alternative to an apple pie!  Plus it’s in bar form, so it’s an easy way to share an apple pie dessert with a crowd.  No forks needed!

I love apple pie, but whenever I am making it from scratch, I always stress out about the crust.  That’s why I love this recipe!  You can’t go wrong with a shortbread crust.

Shortbread crust ready for the oven!

Thinly sliced apples!!

Apple Crisp Shortbread Bars

Print Recipe
Serves: 12 Cooking Time: 45-minutes

Ingredients

  • SHORTBREAD CRUST:
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • APPLE FILLING:
  • 4 medium-large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
  • CRISP TOPPING:
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes

Instructions

1

SHORTBREAD CRUST: Preheat oven to 350-degrees and line an 8-inch x 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray and set aside.

2

In the bowl of a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment to beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Add the sugar to the butter and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla extract and mix until combined.

3

On low speed, add the cinnamon, nutmeg and flour. Mix on low until just incorporated.

4

Remove dough from the mixing bowl and press evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 13-minutes or until dough starts to slightly puff up. Remove from the oven and set aside. Leave oven on at 350-degrees.

5

APPLE FILLING: Peel and core four apples. Cut apples into thin, uniform slices. In a large bowl, add apples, flour, cornstarch, sugar and cinnamon and stir until all ingredients are incorporated. Pour apple mixture out onto baked shortbread crust and arrange apples to evenly cover the crust. Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.

6

CRISP TOPPING: In a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar, white sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt. Use a pastry blender or two forks to cut in the butter to the sugar mixture, until mixture is crumbly. Pour topping evenly over apples. Sprinkle with more cinnamon if desired.

7

Bake uncovered in 350-degree oven for 45-minutes or until topping is golden and crisp.

8

Remove from oven and let cool completely before cutting into squares. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container.

Yum!! What’s your favorite style of apple pie?

XOXO,

Kelly

[optin-cat id=”528″]

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15 Comments

  • Reply
    Liz
    December 16, 2016 at 3:38 AM

    Oh yummy!!! These look so delicious!! I love shortbread ❤️❤️

    • Reply
      Kelly
      December 17, 2016 at 8:30 AM

      Thanks Liz! The guys at the firehouse loved them and I brought half over to my old beat partner who loves my baking and anything apple hehehe. He liked them too 🙂 XOXO

  • Reply
    jamesw1289
    December 16, 2016 at 8:19 AM

    These were amazing! Like always the guys at work loved them. In a way the bars reminded me of a McDonald’s apple pie… but way better and made with love!

    • Reply
      Kelly
      December 17, 2016 at 8:31 AM

      Mmmmm McDonald’s Apple Pies…..now I wish I wouldn’t have given all of these away hahaha. But glad you guys all loved them 🙂 XOXO

  • Reply
    Valentina | The Baking Fairy
    December 16, 2016 at 8:42 PM

    Thank you for sharing such a personal part of your life with us, Kelly! <3 And of course these apple pie shortbread bars look fabulous! Definitely pinning for later. Yum!

    • Reply
      Kelly
      December 17, 2016 at 8:32 AM

      Hi Valentina! Thanks for coming by and reading my blog 🙂 These apple pie bars were a hit….definitely recommend em 😉 XOXO

  • Reply
    Leugh
    December 18, 2016 at 6:57 AM

    You had me at the shortbread crust!😍 And cinnamon topping- sounds yummy for breakfast w coffee!!

    • Reply
      Kelly
      December 18, 2016 at 12:24 PM

      Thanks! I am prepping to make you some shortbread cookies for your birthday…perfect with coffee morning, noon and night hehehe 😉

  • Reply
    Leigh
    December 19, 2016 at 9:06 AM

    Yay! The perfect gift-🎉 You know me well!😊

  • Reply
    Jan
    September 24, 2017 at 6:49 PM

    I love the bar cookies! Perfect to take along to a work pot luck or take as a dessert for a dinner for a sick friend ,e tc.
    Keeper on this one!

    • Reply
      Kelly
      September 25, 2017 at 6:26 AM

      Thanks Jan! I completely agree! Bar cookies are the best!

  • Reply
    Carlee
    September 24, 2017 at 7:22 PM

    These look so scrumptious! I love baking with apples, so these are on my list! Pinning!

    • Reply
      Kelly
      September 25, 2017 at 6:27 AM

      Thanks Carlee! Have a great week! XOXO

  • Reply
    Jamie
    September 25, 2017 at 5:17 PM

    Do you think these would freeze well?

    • Reply
      Kelly
      September 25, 2017 at 9:36 PM

      Hi Jamie! No…I don’t think they would freeze well. I am afraid the texture would get too gummy or gooey once they are de-thawed. Sorry!!

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