Yield: 18 bars

Apple Shortbread Bars

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Additional Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes

Irresistible apple crumble meets buttery shortbread in these Apple Pie Bars. A layer of sweet cinnamon glaze on top makes these one of my favorite fall treats of all time. You're going to love these bars!

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:

  • 1 ½ cup apple slices, peeled and diced
  • ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ cup quick cook oats

Glaze:

  • 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and powdered sugar. Add 2 cup flour, salt and vanilla until combined. Press into a 13×9 baking dish.
  3. In a mixing bowl, using your hands, combine brown sugar, 2Tbsp flour, 2 Tbsp butter, cinnamon and oats. Mix until coarse crumbles. Add diced apples (you want to make sure your apples are diced very very small. Sprinkle mixture over top of crust. Bake for about 25 minutes (crust may appear to be under cooked, that’s okay).
  4. Cool on counter, then move to refrigerator for at least 2 hours until chilled.
  5. Cut bars into squares (or triangles). In a small bowl, whisk the glaze ingredients together until smooth. Drizzle over cut bars. Glaze will harden slightly in fridge. Enjoy!

Notes

  • I prefer using from granny smith or pink lady apples. Peel the apples completely and dice.
  • I recommend dicing your apples into VERY small pieces. The smaller pieces pick up more of that delicious brown sugar crumble and will stay on the shortbread better than larger chunks.
  • The shortbread crust will still look a little soft or under baked when you take it out of the oven. It will harden as the crust cools!
  • Keep bars covered loosely in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks.
  • Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    18

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 234Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 39mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 1gSugar: 18gProtein: 2g

    *Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.

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