Description
Pioneer woman apple pie bars blend homemade comfort with classic American dessert traditions. Sweet cinnamon-spiced apples nestle between buttery crumb layers that invite warm memories and happy gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (454 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- 3 large Honey Crisp apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup + ¼ cup (225 g) light brown sugar
- 3 tbsps pure maple syrup
- ¾ cup confectioner’s sugar, sifted
- 1 ½ tsps vanilla extract
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 ½ tsps apple pie spice
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 oz (28 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 tbsp milk or heavy cream
Instructions
- Crust Preparation: Whip butter, sugars, and vanilla until fluffy and aerated. Gently fold in flour and salt, blending until a cohesive dough forms.
- Pan Setup: Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray, line with parchment paper. Press approximately 75% of the crust mixture into the pan’s base and sides, reserving remaining dough.
- Initial Baking: Chill crust for 15 minutes, then bake at 350°F until golden brown, approximately 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Apple Filling: Toss Granny Smith and Honey Crisp apple slices with apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, cornstarch, apple pie spice, and salt, ensuring thorough coating.
- Assembly and Topping: Spread apple mixture evenly over cooled crust, leaving a slight border. Combine reserved crust with chopped pecans, crumbling over apple layer.
- Final Baking: Return to oven, bake for 1 hour at 350°F, rotating midway, until apples become tender and topping turns golden brown.
- Glaze Creation: Whisk maple syrup, butter, cream cheese, confectioner’s sugar, and milk until smooth and glossy.
- Serving: Once completely cooled, lift bars using parchment paper, transfer to cutting board, drizzle with glaze, slice into squares, and serve.
Notes
- Chill Crust Effectively: Refrigerate the crust for 15 minutes before baking to ensure a firmer, more stable base that prevents crumbling and creates a perfect texture.
- Choose Apple Varieties Wisely: Combine Granny Smith and Honey Crisp apples for a balanced flavor profile – tart and sweet – which creates depth and complexity in the filling.
- Control Moisture Carefully: The apple cider vinegar and cornstarch help manage apple moisture, preventing soggy bars and maintaining a perfect pie-like consistency.
- Glaze for Gourmet Finish: The maple-cream cheese glaze transforms these bars from simple to spectacular, adding a luxurious, professional-bakery touch that elevates the entire dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg