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a piece of apple pie bar recipe on parchment paper, drizzled with vanilla glaze
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Easy Apple Pie Bars Recipe

Easy Apple Pie Bars have all the flavors of a traditional apple pie with out all the work! Sweet vanilla cake is topped with store-bought apple pie filling, then topped with the remaining vanilla batter. Right before serving drizzle with a little Powder Sugar Glaze for a show stopping dessert. 
These are excellent served warm with a little vanilla ice cream.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 12 people
Author Susie Weinrich

Equipment

  • 9x13 pan
  • off-set spatula optional- but makes quick work of spreading the sticky batter

Ingredients

Apple Pie Bars

  • 1 cup butter, softened (I have used melted butter in a pinch)
  • 1 ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 eggs
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 21 oz can apple pie filling (use 2 if you like more apple filling)
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon (add a pinch of clove and all spice for even more seasoning)
  • non-stick spray

Glaze

  • ½ cup powder sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

Apple Pie Bars

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prep a 9x13 baking pan by greasing the bottom with oil or non-stick spray.
    non-stick spray
  • In a large mixing bowl, with a hand mixer (or in a stand mixer with paddle attachment), cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla together for 2 minutes.
    1 cup butter, softened, 1 ½ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Add the eggs one at a time, mixing them in one at a time.
    4 eggs
  • Slowly add the flour and baking powder into the butter/sugar mixture. Mix until the flour is completely incorporated.
    Pro Tip: Measure the flour and baking powder onto a piece of parchment paper and then use it like a funnel to get all the dry ingredients into the bowl, easily!
    3 cups flour, 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • Spread ⅔ of the batter into the bottom of the prepared 9x13 baking dish, make sure it is spread evenly in the pan.
    Pro Tip: an offset spatula sprayed with non-stick spray can make easy work of spreading the sticky batter!
  • Pour the apple pie filling over the batter, sprinkle with cinnamon (and optionally other apple pie spices like clove or all spice).
    21 oz can apple pie filling, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • Dot the top of the apples with the remaining batter. 
    Apple Pie Bars in a baking pan before they are put into the oven
  • In a dark metal pan bake for 30-35 minutes until the top and the edges are golden and the cake is cooked thru. 
    If you are using a glass baking dish you will need to bake for 45-50 minutes.

Glaze

  • While the cake is baking make the powder sugar glaze by mixing together the powder sugar and milk, add a dash of cinnamon for extra seasoning!
    The glaze should be a drizzle consistency. Add a splash more of milk if needed.
    ½ cup powder sugar, 1 tablespoon milk

Serving

  • Let the Apple Pie Bars cool for about 20 minutes before cutting. This allows the apple pie filling to cool and set.
    Apple Pie Bars taken directly out of the oven, before they are cut
  • Cut into 12 or 16 squares. Drizzle with the glaze.
    Could also sub in Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce or Rum Butter Sauce for the powder sugar glaze.
  • Optionally serve with a little vanilla ice cream and/or whipped cream .

Storing

  • Store at room temperature, in an air tight container, for up to 4 days.

Notes

Variations: you can replace the apple pie filling with your favorite fruit pie filling: cherry, blueberry, or peach. 
or pop over to this Cherry Pie Bar recipe.
In the Spring try this Lemon Pie Bar Recipe!