Delight your taste buds with these heavenly Apple Cinnamon Bars, a perfect fusion of buttery crumb layers and a luscious spiced apple filling that captures the essence of fall. Featuring a golden, flaky crust and a warm, cinnamon-kissed apple center, these bars are irresistibly cozy and refreshingly simple to prepare. The recipe combines pantry staples like flour, sugar, and cinnamon with fresh, diced apples, vanilla, and a hint of lemon juice for a touch of brightness. Ready in just about an hour, these bars are perfect for dessert, a snack, or even an indulgent addition to your brunch menu. Serve them warm for a melt-in-your-mouth experience, or enjoy them at room temperature with a comforting cup of coffee or tea. Whether you're hosting friends or treating yourself, these apple cinnamon bars are guaranteed to leave everyone begging for the recipe!
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9x9-inch square baking pan by lining it with parchment paper or greasing it lightly.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon.
Add the cold, cubed butter to the bowl. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Take about half of the crumb mixture and press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the crust. Set aside the remaining crumb mixture for the topping.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the diced apples, brown sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice.
Cook the apple mixture for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples have softened and released their juices, and the mixture has thickened slightly.
Spread the apple filling evenly over the crust layer in the baking pan.
Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly over the apple filling to form the top layer.
Bake the bars in the preheated oven for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is a light golden brown and the filling bubbles slightly at the edges.
Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing into 16 squares.
Serve at room temperature or slightly warm. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to a week.
Calories |
1802 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 3.3 g | 4% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.5 g | 2% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1644 mg | 71% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 426.2 g | 155% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 18.8 g | 67% | |
| Total Sugars | 213.7 g | ||
| Protein | 26.3 g | 53% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 102 mg | 8% | |
| Iron | 12.0 mg | 67% | |
| Potassium | 788 mg | 17% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.