Buttery Apple Pie Bars with a Flaky Crust

Introduction

Craving apple pie but don’t want the fuss of making one from scratch? These Buttery Apple Pie Bars with a Flaky Crust deliver all the warm, spiced goodness of classic apple pie — in a no-fuss, portable bar form. With a melt-in-your-mouth shortcrust base, cinnamon-sugar apple filling, and golden crumble topping, they’re perfect for sharing, gifting, or just treating yourself.

All the comfort of apple pie — with half the effort and double the crunch.

Ingredients

For the Crust and Crumble:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cubed
1 large egg yolk
2–3 tbsp ice water

For the Apple Filling:

4 cups thinly sliced apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Pinch of salt

Timing

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Cooling Time: 1 hour
Total Time: ~2 hours

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Crust

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or fork until coarse crumbs form. Mix in egg yolk and ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, just until dough holds when pressed.
Divide into two portions (one slightly larger for base), wrap, and chill for 30 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the Apples

In a bowl, toss apples with lemon juice, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Let sit while crust chills — this helps release excess juice.

Step 3: Assemble

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Press the larger dough portion into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan to form the bottom crust.
Spread apple filling evenly over crust. Crumble remaining dough over the apples, pressing lightly.

Step 4: Bake

Bake for 40–45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbling. Cool completely before slicing into bars.

Tips for Success

Use cold butter and don’t overwork the dough — this keeps the crust flaky.
Let the bars cool fully before slicing — they firm up as they rest.
Granny Smith apples give the best tart contrast to the sweet crust.

Optional Additions

Salted caramel drizzle after baking
Add chopped pecans to the crumble for a nutty crunch
Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Storage & Freezing

Store: Keep bars in an airtight container at room temp for 2 days, or refrigerate up to 5 days.
Freeze: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw and reheat at 300°F for 10 minutes.

Nutrition (Per Bar, yields ~16)

Calories: ~240
Carbs: 32g
Fat: 12g
Sugar: 16g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 2g

A cozy dessert that satisfies without overwhelming — perfect for potlucks, holidays, or weekday indulgence.

Conclusion

These Apple Pie Bars capture all the nostalgia and flavor of classic pie but with the ease of a tray bake. Buttery, flaky, and perfectly spiced — they’re your new favorite dessert bar!