Apple Pie Bars

Homemade apple pie bars, all done in a sheet pan. Made with apples, cinnamon, and a flaky pie crust, this will feed the whole family!

What better way to celebrate the fall  than by baking with all those apples that are in season! We also like to make this for our Christmas and Easter desserts too, probably because it feeds a lot of people.  This makes a big sheet pan full of 12-16 slices, depending on what size you cut them. 

This recipe comes complete with a homemade crust!

To be honest though sometimes I just don’t have time to make the crust from scratch..sigh..so I have used a store bought pie crust to shorten the time to make this. It did turn out great too, maybe not quite as flaky as the homemade one, but still very good!!

So if you have the time, try making the crust from scratch, it will not disappoint!  

So usually we put frosting on half of the apple slices, and the other half we leave plain. We do this because we have certain family members that like the frosting, and some that prefer it without! And of course those that choose to eat this with ice cream, and some that prefer it without.

This recipe is perfect for an 11×16 sheet pan. It will make enough crust for the bottom and the top.

Try some other delicious dessert recipes!

Blueberry Coffee Cake: Soft and moist blueberry coffee cake drizzled with vanilla icing. Delicious breakfast or dessert treat that everyone will love!

Apple Fritters: Crispy and soft apple fritters loaded with fresh bits of apples on the inside. Topped off with  a light powdered sugar coating, these make a great treat for the fall!

Peach Cobbler: A peach cobbler recipe that is sweet and easy.  Comes together fast using fresh, canned, or frozen peaches.

Cinnamon Rolls: The perfect soft and chewy cinnamon roll.  A breakfast treat that is filled with a gooey cinnamon swirl and topped with a cream cheese frosting. 

What types of apples should I use for Apple Pie Bars?

Granny smith apples are great for baking. They are tart to balance out the sweet of the rest of the dish. They also hold up very well while being cooked, they don’t get mushy like some other types of apples. Some other types that would also work great would be Jonagold, Honeycrisp, and Pink Lady apples. All have a crisp and slightly tart flavor and hold their shape while baking.

Stay away from the softer apples like Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious, or MacIntosh. Although very good on their own, they just don’t have the right flavor for baking.

Ingredients for Apple Pie Bars

Apples: (5-6 cups of sliced apples) Use a tart apple like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. These kind are great for baking. Stay away from the sweeter kinds of apples like Gala and Fuji.

White Sugar: Gives a sweet flavor to the apple pie bars.

Brown Sugar: Also gives a sweet flavor and sticky texture to the bars.

Lemon Juice: Balances out the sweet flavor with a hint of tart flavor.

Cinnamon: Added for a sweet and woody flavor, and because apples and cinnamon just go together!

Salt: Added to balance out the sweet flavor with a hint of salt.

Butter: Added to the top of the crust while baking to make the crust crispy.

Flour: Added while pre cooking the apples to make the filling thicker.

For the Pie Crust:

Flour: The base of the pie crust

Sugar: For just a hint of sweet in the crust.

Shortening: Holds the dough together while rolling out, also helps hold the shape of the crust while baking.

Egg: Adds structure to the dough.

White Vinegar: Added to make the crust moist and enhance the flavor.

Ice Water: The trick to help keep the pie crust flaky. Keeps the fat cold so it doesn’t melt before baking it in the oven.

For the Glaze/Frosting:

Milk: Add just enough to make it spreadable.

Powdered Sugar: The base of the frosting, dissolves quicker than regular sugar.

Vanilla Extract: just add a drop for flavor

How to make Apple Pie Bars

To make the homemade dough:

Mix the 4 cups of flour and 1 Tablespoon of sugar together.

Using a pastry cutter, mix in the 1 and 3/4 cup of shortening into the flour mixture.

Mix in until you have small “pea sized” pieces.

Slowly stir in the 1 egg(beaten), 1 Tablespoon white vinegar, and 1/2 cup ice water.

Mix together and form into a ball.

Divide the ball into 2 equal sections.

Roll out each side to fit the 11×16 sheet pan.

If you are using store bought, you will probably need two boxes (so 4 rolls) to make this recipe. Two on the bottom and two on the top.

Grease the pan with shortening, then add the bottom crust and form into the pan. Set the other dough aside for now, it will be placed on top once the apples are in the pan.

Making the apple filling:

Peel, core, and slice the apples.

Combine the apples, 1 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a big skillet on the stovetop.

Cook over medium high heat until apples are a little tender and the sugars have dissolved into a syrupy texture.

Add in the 2 Tablespoons of flour and mix together, then dump the apple mixture into the pan.

Cover the apples with the other dough that has been rolled out. Crease the sides to make a nice pie look.

Brush the top with an egg wash, and then dot the 2 Tablespoons of butter on the top of the pie. Take a fork to make little air holes in the top.

Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.

Reduce heat to 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.

How to make the frosting for Apple Pie Bars

To make the frosting, add 1 Tablespoon of milk to 1 cup of powdered sugar and mix well. Add in just a drop of the vanilla extract for flavor.

Spread or drizzle the frosting over the top.

Add a little more milk if it is too thick to spread, or add more powdered sugar if it is too runny. Make 2 batches if one batch is not enough.

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