The Ultimate Easy Apple Crumb Bars with Buttery Shortbread Crust
Make these easy apple crumb bars for a comforting, nostalgic dessert. They feature a rich, buttery shortbread base, a spiced apple filling, and a crunchy streusel topping. This recipe is simple to follow and perfect for fall baking.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Total Time: 65 min
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (about 4 cups)
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (for topping)
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar (for topping)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for topping)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for topping)
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- Prepare the crust and crumble mixture: In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cut in 1 cup of cold, cubed butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Take out 1 1/2 cups of this mixture and set it aside for the topping.
- To the remaining mixture in the bowl, add the vanilla extract and 1/4 cup cold water. Mix until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix.
- Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the shortbread crust.
- Prepare the apple filling: In a separate bowl, toss the chopped apples with 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg until the apples are coated.
- Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crust layer in the pan.
- Prepare the streusel topping: In the bowl used for the crust, combine the reserved 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture with 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut in the 1/4 cup cold butter pieces until the topping is crumbly.
- Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the apple layer.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang. Cut into squares.
Notes
- For the best texture, make sure your butter for both the crust and the topping is very cold.
- If you prefer a chewier bar, use a mix of apples like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp.
- These bars taste even better the next day once the flavors have settled.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg