Apple Crisp Bars with Shortbread Crust and Crumble Topping
"This delicious apple crisp bars recipe combines a buttery shortbread crust, a flavorful apple filling, and a crunchy crumble topping. Perfect for cozy fall days or holiday dessert tables."
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust:
- ½ cup 113 g or 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ¼ cup 50 g light brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups 147 g all-purpose flour
Apple Filling:
- 4 cups 500 g apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (4-5 medium apples)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup 50 g granulated sugar
Crumble Topping:
- ½ cup 100 g packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup 50 g granulated sugar
- ¾ cup 94 g all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons 85 g chilled unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven:
- Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal of the bars.
- Make the Shortbread Crust:
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat the room-temperature butter and brown sugar until smooth and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract. Gradually add the flour, mixing until it forms a crumbly dough. Press this dough evenly into the lined baking dish to create a firm crust. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges turn a light golden brown. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare the Apple Filling:
- In another bowl, mix the sliced apples with flour and granulated sugar until well-coated.
- Create the Crumble Topping:
- In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Add the chilled butter cubes and cut them in with a pastry cutter or fork until the topping resembles coarse crumbs.
- Assemble the Bars:
- Spread the apple filling evenly over the shortbread crust. Sprinkle the crumble topping over the apples, pressing it down gently to ensure it sticks.
- Bake:
- Place the pan in the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Cool and Slice:
- Leave the bars in the pan to cool on a wire rack. Once fully cooled, lift them out using the parchment paper and cut into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Storage: Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: These bars freeze well for up to 1 month. Wrap each bar individually for easy storage.
- Best Apples: Opt for tart varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and flavor in the filling.
Nutrition Information (per bar):
- Calories: 229 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 27 mg
- Sodium: 78 mg
- Potassium: 64 mg
- Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 20 g
- Vitamin A: 325 IU
- Vitamin C: 1 mg
- Calcium: 17 mg
- Iron: 1 mg
Optional Serving Suggestions:
- Pair with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.