Don’t let these simple Apple Shortbread Bars fool you! While they are “just a bar” they are quite possibly the most amazing apple dessert you’ll ever taste.
Craving shortbread? Try our peanut butter shortbread cookies next. Or give our chocolate chip walnut bars a try for something different.
Why This Recipe is Best
These bars start with an easy shortbread cookie crust that you top with a delicious cinnamon apple mixture.
Baked to perfection and then drizzled with a cinnamon glaze, this dessert is a delicious combination of shortbread and apple pie in bar form.
Based on the sheer number of apple recipes and pumpkin recipes on this site, you’ve probably gathered that fall is my favorite baking season.
Bake sales, Halloween parties, Mondays… all great reasons to bake some delicious apple bars! And we all know Thanksgiving isn’t complete without at least one Dutch Apple Pie.
While I love the classic apple recipes, sometimes you need something just a little bit different.
These Apple Shortbread Bars are the perfect balance of tradition and novelty. With the familiar apple cinnamon flavor at the center, the crispy shortbread makes them different from your typical apple pie bars.
- THREE layers of deliciousness
- Super easy to make
- Great for serving a big group
Apple Recipes: Apple Cinnamon Bread | Apple Hand Pies
Ingredient Notes
- Butter – I use and prefer unsalted butter in my recipes so I can control the amount of sodium. If you only have salted butter, that’s fine, just reduce the amount of salt you add to the crust to 1/4 teaspoon. Either way, be sure to let it soften at room temperature using our tips on how to soften butter quickly.
- Powdered Sugar – This helps make melt-in-your-mouth shortbread. We’re also using it in the glaze on top.
- Light Brown Sugar – We use this in the apple streusel mixture to sweeten things up. Dark brown sugar would be fine to use as well if that’s what you have on hand.
- Flour – Regular all-purpose flour works great for this recipe. Just be sure to measure your flour correctly!
- Apples – I prefer using Granny Smith or Pink Lady apples for this recipe. They need to be peeled and diced small.
Easy Instructions
Step 1. Make the crust. Cream together the butter and powdered sugar then add the flour, salt and vanilla until combined. Press the crust into a 9×13 baking pan.
Step 2. Make the apple crumble. Use your hands to combine the brown sugar, flour, butter, cinnamon and oats in a bowl until coarse crumbles form.
Mix in the diced apples. Sprinkle the mixture on top of the crust.
Bake the bars at 350 degrees F for about 25 minutes. Cool on the counter then transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours.
Step 3. Cut and glaze. Cut the bars. Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk and cinnamon. Drizzle the glaze over the bars. Enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
- I recommend dicing your apples into VERY small pieces. The smaller pieces pick up more of that delicious brown sugar crumble and will stay on the shortbread better than larger chunks.
- The shortbread crust will still look a little soft or under baked when you take it out of the oven. That’s OK. It will harden as the crust cools!
- It helps to wait to cut the bars until AFTER they have chilled in the refrigerator. They slice so much easier!
- I found these taste best COLD. Which is odd for me, since I LOVE warm apple crumble! But, having made these a couple times, I can tell you for sure: try them cold. You won’t be sorry!
Of course, I like mine with a warm cup of dalgona coffee or pumpkin cream cold brew on the side.
Recipe FAQs
These bars should be kept in the fridge loosely covered. I store mine in the pan covered with foil. They’ll keep well for about 5 days.
The bars need to chill for at least 2 hours, so they are best made ahead of time.
You can also make one or more batches of shortbread dough in advance and freeze it. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then place inside a freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Let the dough thaw in the fridge or at room temperature before proceeding with the recipe.
Sure. The cinnamon glaze reinforces the apple cinnamon flavor, but you could also use a maple glaze or honey glaze if you prefer.
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Apple Shortbread Bars
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping:
- 1 ½ cup apple slices peeled and diced
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup quick cook oats
Glaze:
- 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and powdered sugar. Add 2 cup flour, salt and vanilla until combined. Press into a 13×9 baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, using your hands, combine brown sugar, 2Tbsp flour, 2 Tbsp butter, cinnamon and oats. Mix until coarse crumbles. Add diced apples (you want to make sure your apples are diced very very small. Sprinkle mixture over top of crust. Bake for about 25 minutes (crust may appear to be under cooked, that’s okay).
- Cool on counter, then move to refrigerator for at least 2 hours until chilled.
- Cut bars into squares (or triangles). In a small bowl, whisk the glaze ingredients together until smooth. Drizzle over cut bars. Glaze will harden slightly in fridge. Enjoy!
Notes
- I prefer using from granny smith or pink lady apples. Peel the apples completely and dice.
- I recommend dicing your apples into VERY small pieces. The smaller pieces pick up more of that delicious brown sugar crumble and will stay on the shortbread better than larger chunks.
- The shortbread crust will still look a little soft or under baked when you take it out of the oven. It will harden as the crust cools!
- Keep bars covered loosely in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks.
Nutrition
Irresistible apple crumble meets buttery shortbread in these Apple Pie Bars. A layer of sweet cinnamon glaze on top makes these one of my favorite fall treats of all time. You’re going to love these bars!
I can see why these would be in your top ten most favorite desserts ever, they look incredible! Love how simple they are – must make!
It’s like apple pie in cookie bar form. LOVE IT!
What a great idea! These look like perfect apple pie bites. And then they surprise you with SHORTBREAD – brilliant!
Thanks Victoria…they really are such a hit, whomever you share them with 🙂
I would be able to have a whole meal just with a full dish of these apple shortbreads, but no coffee for me thanks!
I’ll drink the coffee for you and me!!
These bars look delicious! I love the shortbread crust!
These look so delicious! Apples have never been my favorite in desserts, but I’m quickly coming around to it!
These might just change your mind 🙂
These shortbread bars sound so yummy! I love apple desserts all year long! Pinning these!
Ahh! Love these! And I so need some of those apple packs (hate carrying around apples and knives…don’t search my purse…)
These are my favorite too, Aimee! I love apple desserts. These shortbread bars need to happen soon! Love them!
I don’t have a hard time believing that these are your favorites…they look absolutely addictive! From the apples to that shortbread crust, I’d happily munch on these any day of the week.
I sooo want a dozen of these for breakfast this morning. Can you make that happen girlfriend?
You bet I can!! 🙂
Hahaha! I totally get it because every new treat becomes my “new fav”. These do look amazing and if you say they are best cold, I’m going to have to try it that way!!!
Not a huge pie crust fan so I love that this uses shortbread instead. Hopping over to see the full recipe now!
Shortbread with coffee is amazing; these look like they’d be a new favorite in my house. I love keeping Autumn flavors alive in the heart of winter. This recipe looks delicious. I can’t wait to try some of these.
Thanks Erin 🙂
I have no doubt that these are more than “just a bar.” I am fairly certain I could eat the whole batch in one sitting!
I know I can!!
You crack me up, I say the same thing to my family after each and every dessert I bake. “Like, OMG this is my newest fave.” and repeat x-infinity!
I love apple pies cold, yet apple crumbles or any crumbles in general warm (and smothered in custard). I love the crumbly topping, and awesome idea to pair the cinnamon icing.
These look so delicious!! The perfect little afternoon sweet treat!! 🙂
I LOVE cold apple pie, so you don’t need to convince me to have these babies cold! They look ridiculously amazing. And very much needing to be made, ASAP.
Love that you made an apple recipe this time of year. I recently did one too (apples aren’t just for the fall! they’re so great to bake with year round!) and I bet your bars are so good!
I have no doubt that these bars are completely amazing! Can’t wait to try them!