Apple Crisp Shortbread Bars: The Perfect Dessert for Any Season
Apple Crisp Shortbread Bars are a delightful treat that harmoniously combines the sweet and tart flavors of apples with a buttery shortbread crust, making them an irresistible dessert for any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a family gathering or enjoying a cozy night in, these bars are sure to impress both kids and adults alike. Their unique texture and seasonal flavors make them perfect for fall and winter, but their deliciousness knows no bounds throughout the year. Enjoy them warm with a scoop of ice cream or as a sweet snack on their own!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: Makes approximately 16 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for filling)
- 2 tablespoons sugar (for filling)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (for topping)
- ¾ cup brown sugar (for topping)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a stand mixer, cream together the unsalted butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla extract and salt, mixing well. Gradually incorporate the all-purpose flour until you form a dough.
- Press the dough into the prepared baking pan evenly and bake for about 15 minutes or until slightly golden.
- In a mixing bowl, combine sliced apples with flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Toss well to coat.
- For the topping, mix remaining flour with brown sugar and cut in butter until crumbly.
- Remove crust from the oven, increase temperature to 350°F (175°C). Layer half of the topping over the crust, followed by the apple mixture, then finish with the remaining topping.
- Bake again for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool completely on a wire rack before chilling in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg