This delicious Pioneer Woman Apple Pie Bars recipe is a simple and crowd-pleasing dessert perfect for any occasion. With a buttery crust, sweet apple filling, and a creamy maple glaze, it’s easy to make using common pantry staples. Serve these bars warm or chilled—they’re a flexible treat everyone will love!
Ingredients Needed
For the Crust and Topping:
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped pecans
For the Filling:
- 3 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- 3 large Honeycrisp apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 1/2 teaspoons apple pie spice
- Pinch of salt
For the Glaze:
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 ounce cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tablespoon milk or heavy cream
How To Make Apple Pie Bars Recipe
- Preheat the oven and prepare the pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and line it with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- Make the crust and topping: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 4–5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the flour and salt. Mix on low speed until just combined.
- Form the crust: With lightly moistened hands, press 3/4 of the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, spreading it slightly up the sides. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Place the remaining 1 1/2 cups of crust mixture in the refrigerator to use as topping later.
- Bake the crust: Bake the crust for 20–25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.
- Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with apple cider vinegar. Add brown sugar, cornstarch, apple pie spice, and a pinch of salt. Stir until the apples are evenly coated.
- Assemble the bars: Spread the apple filling over the cooled crust, leaving a small border around the edges. Tear the reserved crust mixture into small pieces, mix with chopped pecans, and sprinkle evenly over the apples.
- Bake the bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 1 hour, rotating the pan halfway through. The apples should be fork-tender, and the topping should be golden brown. Cool the bars completely in the pan for 1–2 hours.
- Make the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk until smooth and creamy.
- Glaze and cut: Once the bars are completely cool, lift them out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Place on a cutting board, drizzle with the glaze, and cut into squares. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Use cold butter for the crust: Cold butter helps create a firm and crumbly crust that holds together well after baking.
- Slice apples evenly: Thin, even slices of apples cook more evenly and ensure a perfectly tender filling.
- Chill the crust before baking: Refrigerating the crust before baking prevents it from shrinking or becoming soggy.
- Don’t skip the parchment paper: Lining the pan with parchment makes it easy to lift the bars out without breaking them.
- Drizzle glaze when bars are cool: Adding glaze to warm bars can make it run off or melt, so let them cool completely first.
How To Store Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Put leftovers apple pie bars in a sealed container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Wrap leftovers apple pie bars in plastic wrap and put them in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before eating.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 of 16 bars
- Calories: 515
- Total Fat: 28.1g
- Saturated Fat: 14.5g
- Total Carbohydrate: 61.9g
- Dietary Fiber: 1.4g
- Protein: 4.1g
More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
Pioneer Woman Apple Pie Bars Recipe
Description
This delicious Pioneer Woman Apple Pie Bars recipe is a simple and crowd-pleasing dessert perfect for any occasion. With a buttery crust, sweet apple filling, and a creamy maple glaze, it’s easy to make using common pantry staples. Serve these bars warm or chilled—they’re a flexible treat everyone will love!
Ingredients
For the Crust and Topping:
For the Filling:
For the Glaze:
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare the pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and line it with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- Make the crust and topping: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 4–5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the flour and salt. Mix on low speed until just combined.
- Form the crust: With lightly moistened hands, press 3/4 of the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, spreading it slightly up the sides. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Place the remaining 1 1/2 cups of crust mixture in the refrigerator to use as topping later.
- Bake the crust: Bake the crust for 20–25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.
- Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with apple cider vinegar. Add brown sugar, cornstarch, apple pie spice, and a pinch of salt. Stir until the apples are evenly coated.
- Assemble the bars: Spread the apple filling over the cooled crust, leaving a small border around the edges. Tear the reserved crust mixture into small pieces, mix with chopped pecans, and sprinkle evenly over the apples.
- Bake the bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 1 hour, rotating the pan halfway through. The apples should be fork-tender, and the topping should be golden brown. Cool the bars completely in the pan for 1–2 hours.
- Make the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk until smooth and creamy.
- Glaze and cut: Once the bars are completely cool, lift them out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Place on a cutting board, drizzle with the glaze, and cut into squares. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Use cold butter for the crust: Cold butter helps create a firm and crumbly crust that holds together well after baking.
- Slice apples evenly: Thin, even slices of apples cook more evenly and ensure a perfectly tender filling.
- Chill the crust before baking: Refrigerating the crust before baking prevents it from shrinking or becoming soggy.
- Don’t skip the parchment paper: Lining the pan with parchment makes it easy to lift the bars out without breaking them.
- Drizzle glaze when bars are cool: Adding glaze to warm bars can make it run off or melt, so let them cool completely first.
Pioneer Woman Apple Pie Bars Recipe