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Apple Pie Bars

Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings 12

Ingredients

Shortbread:

  • 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 400 g
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch 75 g
  • 1 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar 150 g
  • 2 cups salted butter room temperature 450 g
  • 1 teaspoon salt 1 g

Filling:

  • 6 tablespoons butter 85 g
  • 6 large green apples peeled cored, and cut into ⅛” slices
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar 65 g
  • 1/3 cup white sugar 65 g
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 g
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 8 g
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla 10 g

Crumb Topping:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 180 g
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon 4 g
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar 150 g
  • 1/2 cup melted butter 113 g

Glaze:

  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar 200 g
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 g
  • 2 tablespoons milk 30 g

Instructions

Shortbread layer:

  • Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F
  • In the base of a stand mixer, add softened butter and sugar. Cream sugar and butter together until the mixture is pale and fluffy (on medium high speed for around 3 - 5 minutes).
    creaming butter and sugar
  • Then add in the flour, cornstarch, and salt. Pulse together the ingredients until they are just combined
    making shortbread crust
  • Pat the shortbread into a parchment lined 9×13 pan until it forms an even layer
    spreading shortbread crust
  • Bake for 45-55 minutes until the crust is golden brown (this bake time is for a glass pan, if using a metal pan check after 35 minutes)
    apple pie bar crust
  • After shortbread finishing baking, turn the oven down to 300 to bake the bars after assembly

Apple Pie Filling:

  • While the shortbread is baking, brown the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once it is golden and toasty, stir in the sugars, salt, cinnamon and vanilla.
    sugar and brown butter
  • Then stir in the peeled, sliced apple pieces into the warm caramel mixture. Add the lemon zest and cook over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes until the apples are slightly softened. Set aside to cool
    apple pie filling

Crumb:

  • Add the flour, spice, and brown sugar to a bowl. Stir to combine
  • Pour in the melted butter. Mix together with a fork until large crumbs form. Set aside
    crumble

Assembly:

  • On top of the cooked shortbread, add the apple pie filling. Using a spatula spread them into an even, slightly compact layer
    apple pie bars before crumble
  • On top of the apple layer, evenly sprinkle the crumble across the top
    apple pie bars before baking
  • Bake at 300 for 30 minutes
  • Turn the oven up to 350 and bake for 15 minutes until golden brown
    apple pie bars

Glaze:

  • In a medium bowl, add powdered sugar and vanilla. Gradually whisk in milk
  • When the bars are cooled, drizzle the glaze over top with a spoon or piping bag (a ziploc with the corner snipped off will also work)
    apple pie bars

Notes

Note: Updated Shortbread as of 10/11/2023 if you made these prior to this date and want the original recipe see below:
  • 2 ⅔ cup All-purpose flour (320 g)
  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons cornstarch (150 g)
  • ½ cup + 2 tablespoons sugar (140 g)
  • 2 cups + 4 tablespoons butter (500 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (6 grams)