Apple Crumb Bars
Apple Crumble Bars are everything you love about apple pie – buttery dough, apple pie filling, and lots of warm spices – without needing to make a pie crust. Baked in an 8×8 pan.
Being the avid baker that I am, I’m often asked how am I not fat eating all of my baked goods.
For the record, I’m not a skinny super model, but I’m certainly not big either. Most people say I have an average body type, and I’m perfectly fine with that.
Truth is I give most of my food away.
When I worked my corporate job, I was always bringing in food on Mondays. Coworkers often (jokingly) accused me of sabotaging people’s diets at work. Hey, I’m just here to test your willpower.
Now that I work at home, I have to be a little more creative in giving food away.
My library was taking donations for their bake sale fundraiser, so I showed up with three freezer bags full of peanut butter fudge.
One weekend my friend invited me over for Supper Club where everyone brought over a dish to eat together.
I wanted to actually cook for it, so I made crockpot BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches along with leftover caramel apple cheesecake and these Apple Crumble Bars.
Apple Crumb Bars have the flavors of apple pie yet you don’t need to make homemade pie crust.
Making pie dough is easy, but sometimes you don’t have the time or patience to deal with the chilling and rolling.
That’s when making apple pie bars comes in handy. You make the buttery dough base (which actually doubles as the crumb topping so you only need to make it once!), fill it with apple pie filling, crumble more dough on top, and off to the oven you go.
I chose to make homemade apple pie filling, but if you have leftover canned apple pie filling, this recipe is the perfect way to use it up!
Soon your kitchen will smell like warm apple pie on a crisp fall day.
What is a crumble?
A crumble is a cooked fruit dessert with a streusel topping. It’s similar to my apple crisp for two but without the oats.
I turned this concept into apple crumble bars using an 8×8 pan.
They’re similar to my peach cheesecake crumb bars and raspberry cheesecake crumb bars but without the cheesecake layer.
Ingredients For Apple Crumble Bars
To make your apple crumb bars, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Sugar: Sweetens the dough as well as helps with browning
- Flour: Helps bring the dough together
- Cinnamon and salt: Adds flavor to the bars
- Baking powder: Helps make a lighter and more tender crumb texture
- Butter: Cut in cold butter to help create pockets of fat, which helps create a tender crumb
- Egg: Helps bind the dough as well as adds moisture for a not-so-dry dough
- Apple pie filling: You can use either homemade or canned
- Chopped nuts: Walnut and pecans pair well with apple pie for a much needed crunch
Can you use other pie fillings?
Not in the mood for apple? Make my pie bars with peach pie filling, cherry pie filling, or blueberry pie filling.
How To Make Apple Crumble Bars
Ready to make your apple pie bars?
- Whisk together the sugar, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
- Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter until the pieces look like small pebbles then cut in the egg.
- Reserve 1/2 cup for the topping then pat the rest of the dough into the bottom of an 8×8 pan.
- Top with the apple filling and reserved dough.
- Bake at 350F for 35-40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the edges pull away from the pan sides.
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Apple Crumble Bars FAQ
Yes, you can make them ahead of time. They can be stored at room temperature for up to 2-3 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Yes, they freeze well. Wrap each bar in plastic wrap then place in a freezer-proof bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Yes, you can double it and bake in a 13×9 pan. The bars will be slightly thicker, so you may need a few extra minutes of bake time.
More Apple Pie Recipes
Looking for more? Check out my full list of recipes using apple pie filling including:
Apple Crumb Bars
Apple Crumble Bars are everything you love about apple pie - buttery dough, apple pie filling, and lots of warm spices - without needing to make a pie crust.
Ingredients
- 1 + 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons 4 ounces) unsalted butter, cold and cut into 8 tablespoons
- 1 large egg, cold
- 2 cups apple pie filling (homemade or canned)
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper or grease the pan with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
- With a pastry cutter or two knives, cut in the butter until the pieces look like small pebbles.
- Cut in the egg until a dough forms. It may still be a bit crumbly but should form a dough when pressed together. Reserve 1/2 cup for the topping.
- Pat the rest of the dough into the bottom of the pan.
- Mix together apple pie filling and nuts then add to the pan on top of the base. Top with reserved 1/2 cup of dough, scattering it over the top like a streusel.
- Bake 35-40 minutes or until the top is golden brown, filling is bubbly, and the edges pull away from the pan sides. Cool completely before serving.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 at room temperature or up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Enjoyed this recipe? Check out my Peach Cheesecake Crumb Bars and Raspberry Cheesecake Crumb Bars.
- Got leftover pie filling? Check out my other recipes using apple pie filling including turnovers and hand pies.
- You can double the recipe and bake in a 13x9 pan. The bars will be slightly thicker, so you may need a few extra minutes of bake time.
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First published October 28, 2014
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Thank you for the lovely recipe.
Fall isn’t official until I’ve consumed mass quantities of cooked apple desserts. THIS needs to be added to my “arsenal” (and my stomach!) immediately :)
Yes, everyone does love apple pie. So these would be a hit especially at a potluck for example. I also agree that fruit would be interchangeable. Right now my head space is into apples apples apples. Probably because I have a tree in my back yard and thus a BIG bowl of apples staring me in the eyes in my kitchen. This is a good thing.
Thanks for answering my question, Carla. I’ve been asking myself how do food bloggers finish their food? Obviously, it’s just the two of us at home and our work places are generous enough to get our lunches every day, plus people are eating healthy stuffs (no sweets and mostly fruits). A donation to library or meetup groups sounds like a good idea. And these apple pie crumb bars sound fantastic, especially with pecans on top.
Someone told me she donates her food to soup kitchens, so that could be an idea too! I haven’t looked into any around here yet.
Thank you for giving us a delicious sounding Apple Crumble that does not include oatmeal! I have looked high and low for this recipe! You do such a great job with all your recipes that I kmow we’ll just love this one!
Apples and spices! I already love these bars!
Hi Carla. I made these fabulous bars today and they were a hit with my husband and MIL. They’re already half gone because hubby couldn’t stop eating them. I’m definitely going to be making them again. Thank you for a great recipe!
Thrilled to hear they were a huge hit :)
I have tried some of your recipes and they are all delicious. I have a computer, as you see, but don’t know how to send pictures of what I bake. I’m never afraid to try any of your recipes, because I know they are all good. Love your recipes for two, as it’s just my son and I to bake for. If it’s not for two, I just cut the recipe in half and make it. One thing I like too, the ingredient’s are things I already have in the kitchen, so don’t have to shop for unusual ingredients. Thank You!!
Thanks for your comment, Wilma! No worries on sending the photos. I’m glad you and your son are enjoying my recipes.