Description
A delightful recipe for classic apple crumb bars, featuring a buttery shortbread crust, a sweet and tangy apple filling, and a crunchy streusel topping. Perfect for any occasion!
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Crust:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- For the Apple Filling:
- 6 cups peeled, cored, and thinly sliced apples (about 6 medium apples, such as Honeycrisp or Fuji)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- For the Crumb Topping:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
Instructions
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract. Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing until just combined and a crumbly dough forms. Press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.
- Prepare the Apple Filling: In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice until evenly coated.
- Assemble the Bars: Spread the apple filling evenly over the prepared crust. Crumble the remaining one-third of the crust dough over the apple filling.
- Prepare the Crumb Topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the apple filling.
- Bake: Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly.
- Cool and Cut: Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang. Cut into squares or bars.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, you can add 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the crumb topping.
- Ensure apples are sliced thinly for even cooking.
- Allow bars to cool completely before cutting for clean slices.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: PT30M
- Cook Time: PT45M
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg