Description

These apple crisp bars are buttery, crumbly, and filled with a sweet cinnamon-apple center. Perfect for fall baking, Thanksgiving desserts, or cozy weekend treats, they combine the comfort of apple crisp with the convenience of a handheld bar. With layers of flaky crust, gooey apple filling, and a crunchy streusel topping, these bars are the ultimate crowd-pleaser for family gatherings or bake sales.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
1 egg, lightly beaten
5 medium apples, peeled and thinly sliced
2 tbsp lemon juice
½ cup brown sugar (for filling)
2 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg

1 tbsp cornstarch

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
In a bowl, mix flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter until crumbly. Stir in egg.
Press half of the mixture into the prepared pan for the crust.
In another bowl, toss apples with lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch. Spread evenly over crust.
Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture on top of apples.
Bake for 40–45 minutes, until golden and bubbly.

Cool completely before slicing into bars.

Notes

Granny Smith apples work best for a tart contrast.

Add chopped walnuts or pecans to the topping for crunch.

For an extra indulgence, drizzle with caramel after baking.