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The Best Buttery Apple Pie Bars with Irresistible Streusel Topping

A single serving of delicious apple pie bars with a thick layer of cinnamon apple filling and a crumbly streusel topping.
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Make these easy apple pie bars for a satisfying dessert that tastes better than a traditional pie. You get a buttery crust, spiced apple filling, and a crunchy streusel topping, all baked easily in one pan.

Ingredients

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  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  • 2 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4 inch thick
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (for filling)
  • 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (for streusel)
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats (optional, for streusel)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for streusel)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
  2. Prepare the crust: In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. Press two-thirds of the crumb mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the bottom crust.
  4. Prepare the filling: In a separate bowl, toss the sliced apples with brown sugar, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 cup flour, and nutmeg until the apples are evenly coated.
  5. Spread the apple filling evenly over the bottom crust in the pan.
  6. Prepare the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar, and oats (if using). Cut in the 1/4 cup cold butter until crumbly.
  7. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the apple filling.
  8. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly.
  9. Let the apple pie bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang.
  10. Cut into squares and serve.

Notes

  • For a Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bar variation, drizzle a store-bought or homemade salted caramel sauce over the cooled bars before slicing.
  • If you prefer a flakier crust instead of a crumbly one, chill the crust dough for 30 minutes before pressing it into the pan.
  • Baking these in a 9×9 pan will result in thicker bars; adjust the baking time as needed, checking for doneness around 60 minutes.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delishsymphony.com/best-buttery-apple-pie-bars-streusel-topping/