Shortbread Apple Crumb Bars (Easy!)
If you love apple pie, wait until you try Apple Crumb Bars. Start with a buttery shortbread crust that is covered with both sweet and tart apples. A crumb topping makes them easy enough to eat with your hands and just as scrumptious as an apple pie.
Equipment
- Apple peeler and corer
Ingredients
CRUST
- 2 cups butter (room temp)
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 4 cups flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ cup walnuts (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
APPLE FILLING
- 6 large apples (½ sweet and ½ tart)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (1 lemon)
- 4 tablespoons Apple Brandy
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- 4 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Place parchment paper in a 9 x 13 baking pan.
- CRUST: Add butter, both sugars and vanilla to the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- In a separate bowl whisk together flour and salt and add to butter mixture. Beat until combined. Lightly flour your hands and take ⅔’s of the dough and place it in the prepared baking pan pressing it into the bottom. Press down with the bottom of a measuring cup. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- To the remaining dough add walnuts and cinnamon and combine. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheat oven to 375º. Bake for 15-18 minutes until the entire crust is golden brown. Let cool.
- FILLING:While the crust is cooking, peel and slice apples into ⅛ inch slices and place in a large bowl with lemon juice and apple brandy. Add sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix. Melt butter in a large skillet and add apples. Simmer over medium heat, gently stirring occasionally until the apples are tender and the liquid has evaporated. Spread evenly onto the crust.
- Place pieces of the remaining dough over the top of the apples, it will not be completely covered.
- Reduce oven to 350º and bake for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden brown. Let cool before cutting.
Video
Barbara's Notes + Tips
- Use a variety of sweet and tart apples.
- Slice the apples into very thin slices, the thinner the better.
- Refrigerate before cutting to get nice even portions.
- These can be served warm, room temperature or refrigerated.
- Store in the refrigerator or freeze.
- Top your bars with a drizzle of salted caramel or a dollop of ice cream for next level dessert!
- You can use apple juice or white grape juice instead of Brandy.
Nutrition
Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 225mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 417IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg
