Easy Apple Crisp Bars
These Apple Crisp Bars are the ultimate fall dessert made with a buttery shortbread crust, tender cinnamon-spiced apples, and a crisp oat crumble topping. They're easy to make, packed with cozy flavors, and perfect for everything from holiday gatherings to an afternoon treat with coffee.
If you're looking for more delicious fall baking recipes, be sure to try my Caramel Apple Crisp, Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake, and Easy Snickerdoodle Blondies.
Quick Look: Apple Crisp Bars
- Prep Time:15 minutes
- Baking Time: 58 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hours 13 minutes
- Servings: 16
- Calories: 240 per serving
- Flavor Profile: Sweet, buttery, cinnamon-spiced, with tender apples and a crisp, crumbly topping.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Why this Works: Buttery shortbread, tender cinnamon apples, and a golden oat crumble in every bite.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love These Apple Crisp Bars
Easy to make ahead - Bake them a day in advance and let the flavors develop overnight for an even more delicious dessert.
Easy to make - Simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps make this recipe perfect for beginner and experienced bakers alike.
Perfect for fall - Warm cinnamon, nutmeg, fresh apples, and a buttery oat crumble create the ultimate cozy fall dessert.
Soft and crisp in every bite - The buttery shortbread crust, tender apple filling, and crunchy streusel topping create the perfect combination of textures.
Great for holidays and gatherings - These homemade Apple Crisp Bars are easy to slice, transport, and serve, making them ideal for Thanksgiving, potlucks, bake sales, and family get-togethers.
Key Ingredients
Apples - Fresh apples are the star of these homemade Apple Crisp Bars. Choose firm baking apples that hold their shape while becoming perfectly tender in the oven. If you love baking with apples, don't miss my Apple Cinnamon Roll Cake.
All-Purpose Flour - Flour creates the buttery shortbread crust and helps bind the crisp crumble topping together while keeping it light and tender.
Light Brown Sugar - Adds a rich caramel-like sweetness to both the apple filling and the oat topping while enhancing the warm fall flavors.
Unsalted Butter - Cold butter creates a flaky, buttery crust and a perfectly crisp streusel topping. Using unsalted butter also lets you control the overall salt level in the recipe.
Rolled Oats - Old-fashioned rolled oats give these baked apple bars their classic crunchy topping and hearty texture. They hold up much better than quick oats during baking.
Spices - Ground cinnamon and nutmeg add the signature warm flavor that makes these cinnamon apple bars perfect for fall. If you love cinnamon desserts, you'll also enjoy my Cinnamon Roll Muffins.
How to Make Easy Apple Crisp Bars
Step 1. Make the shortbread crust Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla, then add the flour and salt. Beat on low speed until a crumbly dough forms.
Step 2. Bake the crust Press the dough firmly into the prepared pan and bake for 12-14 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden.
Step 4. Make the apple filling
Toss the sliced apples with flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until evenly coated.
Step 5. Add the apple filling
Spread the apple mixture evenly over the warm baked crust.
5. Make the crisp topping
Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cold butter. Cut the butter into the mixture with a pastry cutter or your fingertips until coarse crumbs form.
6. Add the topping
Sprinkle the crisp topping evenly over the apples, covering them as evenly as possible.
7. Bake and cool
Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. Let the bars cool completely in the pan before lifting them out, slicing into bars, and serving.
Tips for the Best Apple Crisp Bars
Cool completely before slicing. Let the bars cool fully so the apple filling has time to set. This makes it much easier to cut clean, sturdy squares that hold together beautifully.
Use cold butter. Cold butter is the key to a crisp, crumbly topping. As it bakes, it creates buttery pockets that give the streusel its signature crunchy texture. If you love buttery apple desserts with crisp toppings, be sure to try my Apple Crisp Tacos for another fun twist on this fall favorite.
Don't overmix the topping. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, not a smooth dough. Overmixing can make the topping dense instead of light and crisp.
Peel and slice the apples thinly. Peel the apples for the most tender filling, then slice them about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick so they bake evenly and soften without turning mushy.
Use old-fashioned rolled oats. Rolled oats create a heartier, crunchier streusel than quick oats and hold their texture much better during baking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Pre-baking the shortbread crust is one of the best ways to keep your apple bars from becoming soggy. Since the apple filling releases moisture as it bakes, giving the crust a head start helps it stay sturdy and buttery while supporting the juicy filling. Bake it just until the edges are lightly golden before adding the apples.
If your Apple Crisp Bars are crumbly or fall apart when sliced, they're probably still too warm. Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting so the apple juices have time to thicken and set. For the cleanest slices, chill the bars for 30-60 minutes after they've reached room temperature.
The best apple crisp squares are made with apples that hold their shape while baking and offer the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. For the best flavor and texture, try using a combination of Granny Smith and Gala or Golden Delicious. Avoid softer apples like McIntosh, which tend to break down too much during baking.
For the crispiest apple crumble bars, always use cold butter and old-fashioned rolled oats. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs instead of a smooth dough. This creates a light, buttery topping with plenty of crunch that stays crisp after baking.
How to Store Apple Crisp Bars
Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For the best texture, let them sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before serving, or warm individual bars in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.
To freeze, place the cooled bars in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between the layers to prevent sticking. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
If you love cozy fall baking, be sure to try my Apple Crumb Cake, Cinnamon Sugar Apple Muffins, and The Best Pumpkin Pie Crisp for even more delicious seasonal desserts.
More Apple Desserts You'll Love
If you love cozy fall desserts made with fresh apples, be sure to check out these delicious reader favorites:
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Easy Apple Crisp Bars
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp. light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Apple Filling
- 3 large apples peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp. all purpose flour
- 4 tbsp. light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Crisp Topping
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tbsp. butter cold, cut into cubes
- ¼ cup rolled oats
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla, then add the flour and salt. Beat on low until a crumbly dough forms.
- Bake the crust: Press the dough firmly and evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Prepare the apples: While the crust is baking, peel, core, and thinly slice the apples.
- Make the apple filling: In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until evenly coated. Spread the apple mixture over the warm crust.
- Make the crisp topping: In a bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add the cold butter and cut it into the mixture with a pastry cutter or your fingertips until coarse crumbs form.
- Add the topping: Sprinkle the crisp topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake: Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
- Cool and slice: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before lifting them out with the parchment paper. Slice into bars and serve.
Five *! I made these for Super Bowl this weekend and OMG they are delicious and were a huge hit. I decided to drizzle a little homemade caramel sauce on top before cutting into bars.
Thank you for the recipe. I will definitely be making these again. Think they would be awesome heated and served with ice cream on the side.
Great combo, Kathy, I'm so glad you liked it 😊
Best regards,
Dragana
I made these last night and added chopped walnuts to the crust and topping. They were really good. I put them in the fridge so they wouldn't get soggy and I like them even better chilled!
Great idea Mickey, I'm so glad you liked it.
Best regards,
Dragana
Should these be kept in the fridge?
Yes Liz, you can keep them in airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Best,
Dragana
For the apple filling ingredients, it doesn’t list granulated sugar but in the instructions it says sugar, light brown sugar. I added white sugar also….I’ve made this recipe a few times and everyone loves it!!!!
Thank you for your note, Sharon. Without granulated sugar in apple pie filling, only light brown sugar.
I'm so glad you liked it.
Best,
Dragana
Cook time is closer to 1 hour: 45min for compiled dessert PLUS 12-14min to bake shortbread initially.
Yes Amy, thank you for your note.
Best regards,
Dragana