Apple Crumble Bars (+Video)
These easy Apple Crumble Bars are an irresistible dessert! A brown sugar crust with apple pie filling and topped with a gorgeous butter crumble!
AN EASY APPLE BAR RECIPE
I’m a huge apple fan. Apple pie, cake, cookies, bread, you name it! These Apple Crumble Bars are one of my favorite easy recipes. With a homemade crust and crumble topping that is filled with apple pie filling, you really can’t get easier or tastier. Warm spices with the brown sugar really tie everything together! The bonus is you aren’t making a separate crust and topping. The crust in this recipes doubles as the topping as well!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’S)
If you want pepper, richer more molasses flavor for these bars you can swap out the light brown sugar with dark brown sugar.
If you want to give this a little spin you can substitute the cinnamon and nutmeg with pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice.
If you have a pie filling recipe that you like to use, you can absolutely use that. You just want to make sure that it is thick like the canned filling so you don’t have runny bars.
This recipe goes great with a lot of different fillings. One of my other favorites is peach pie filling. Cherry would also work with the original spices.
While these are great on their own, some toppings that I like to add include: ice cream, whipped cream and caramel sauce.
These can be stored in an airtight container or covered in the pan on the countertop where they will keep for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. They can also be frozen. Wrap the pan in plastic wrap and then in foil and they will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. To defrost you can remove to the refrigerator or countertop until thawed. Serve warm or at room temperature.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- all-purpose flour
- granulated sugar
- light brown sugar
- ground cinnamon
- baking powder
- salt
- ground nutmeg
- unsalted butter
- egg
- vanilla extract
- apple pie filling
HOW TO MAKE APPLE CRUMBLE BARS:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray (I like to use the kind that has flour in it) and set aside. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.
Add 4 tablespoons of the butter into the bowl.
With an electric hand mixer, mix until the butter forms crumbs. Keep doing this until you have used all the butter.
Add the egg and vanilla extract.
Mix to combine until a crumb mixture forms.
Press half of the mixture into the baking dish.
Bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown.
Spread the apple pie filling on top of the crust.
Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture on top.
Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.
Place on a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into bars.
WANT MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES?
Apple Crumble Bars (+Video)
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened and cubed
- 1 large egg
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 (21 ounce) cans apple pie filling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray (I like to use the kind that has flour in it) and set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.
- Add 4 Tablespoons of the butter into the bowl.
- With an electric hand mixer, mix until the butter forms crumbs. Keep doing this until you have used all the butter.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract. Mix to combine.
- Press half of the mixture into the baking dish.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown.
- Spread the apple pie filling on top of the crust (you do not have to wait for the crust to cool first.)
- Crumble the remaining batter evenly around the top of the apple pie filling.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden brown. Place on a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into bars.
Video
Notes
- You can use dark brown sugar in place of light for a richer flavor.
- Make your own homemade pie filling if you’d like, just make sure it’s enough and has the same consistency so it doesn’t result in runny bars.
- Top this with ice cream, whipped cream or caramel sauce.
- These can be frozen, see above on how to do that.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Can you substitute your own apple pie (homemade) filling?
I actually answer that above in the FAQ (frequently asked question section) 🙂
I Love your recipes, you show step by step how to do it, and you have pictures. I cannot thank you enough for the beautiful and delicious recipes
Such a sweet comment! Thanks so very much Donna!
I stumbled upon this recipe of yours and so glad I did! My husband loves anything apple and especially apple pie! He said this recipe is better than any apple pie he’s ever had. What I love about this recipe is that it is very easy and that I had all the ingredients on hand. Since it was just for 2, I halved the recipe and baked in a 9×9 square pan. It is so delicious and just a wonderful treat to share with others too. Instead of cutting in to bars, we kept it in the pan whole and scooped it out while still warm in to a bowl topped with ice cream. Great for after dinner dessert! Thank you for this amazing recipe!