Apple Bars

Enjoy the flavors of autumn with this delightful Apple Bars recipe which are bursting with the natural sweetness of fresh apples and a melt-in-your-mouth shortbread.

Perfect for any occasion, these bars are a crowd-pleasing treat that can be enjoyed as a snack, dessert, or even for breakfast. Get ready to savor the taste of fall with these irresistible Apple Bars.

Why you'll love these

Bursting with Fresh Apples

Our Apple Bars are loaded with the natural sweetness and tartness of fresh apples. Each bite offers a burst of juicy apple flavor that will leave you wanting more.

Irresistible Melt-in-Your-Mouth Shortbread

The buttery shortbread base and crumble topping adds a beautiful texture to these bars. It perfectly complements the soft and moist apple filling, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.

Versatile and Portable

These Apple Bars are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in various settings. Whether you're serving them as a dessert, snack, or even as a grab-and-go breakfast, they're sure to satisfy your sweet tooth while being easy to take on the move.

Perfect for Fall

With the warm and comforting flavors of apples, these bars are the epitome of easy fall baking. They're ideal for cozy gatherings, seasonal celebrations, or simply as a treat to enjoy during the crisp autumn days.

How to make Apple Bars

• Make that shortcrust base: Toss all the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
• Butter crumble: Add the cubed butter and cut into the flour mixture until it resembles rough breadcrumbs.
• Base it: Pour two thirds of the shortcrust mix and press firmly to smooth out.
• Bake: Bake the crust until golden.
• Cook the apples: Place the apples and sugar into a saucepan on low heat until lightly soft.
• Toss em: Add the apples to the cooled shortcrust base and spread out evenly.
• Crumble: Press the remaining shortbread mix together and crumble over the apples evenly.
• Golden bake: Bake until golden.
• Cool down: Remove and allow to cool fully.
• Slice and serve: Slice it up evenly and serve. Enjoy!

Ingredients and substitutions for the best Apple Bars

• Butter: Plain unsalted was used here, though you could substitute with salted, though you might want to omit the salt from the dough. You could substitute in equal measure with non dairy butter, however, I have not tried this so cannot be sure of the outcome.
• Flour: Plain or all purpose flour is best for a nice light pastry, though you could use bread flour, if that is all you have on hand.
• Sugar: The confectioner’s/icing sugar contributes to our melt-in-your-mouth texture in the base and crumble. Whilst the superfine or caster sugar helps not only add sweetness to our filling, draw the liquid from the apples resulting in a tender center.
• Corn starch: Sometimes termed cornflour in certain parts of the globe. Corn starch is what gives our crumb that tender texture.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make Apple Bars:

Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350F.

Place the flours and confectioner’s sugar in a bowl and stir to combine. Make a well in the center and add the butter. Combine with a fork until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Pour two thirds of the crumb mixture into the base of a slice tin and flatten down tightly. Bake for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly golden on top. Remove and set aside to cool.

Place the apples, sugar and water into a saucepan on low to medium heat and cover.

Cook until simmering and the apples are beginning to look translucent on the edges, approximately 5 minutes.

Spoon the apples over the base and spread out evenly.

Press the remaining crumb mixture together to form large crumbs and sprinkle over the apples.

Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until lightly golden on top.

Remove and allow to cool completely.

Remove from the tin and slice evenly.

Serve.

FAQ's for the best Apple Bars

Can I use different types of apples for the bars?

Absolutely! One of the great things about our Apple Bars recipe is that you can use a variety of apple types. Experiment with different varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji to find your favorite flavor combination.

Are Apple Bars suitable for any occasion?

Yes, our Apple Bars are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed for various occasions. Whether it's a cozy family gathering, a potluck with friends, or a sweet treat for yourself, these bars are a crowd-pleasing choice.

Can I make Apple Bars in advance?

Definitely! This Apple Bars recipe can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days. They also freeze well, allowing you to prepare a batch ahead of time for future enjoyment.

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