This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Apple pie shortbread squares give you the incredible flavor of apple pie in an easy-to-make cookie bar. This apple pie bar recipe comes together in just a few minutes, and you can easily pick up a square for snacking at a potluck get-together (rather than bothering with a plate and fork, as you would with a traditional pie).
I’m a serious apple pie fiend. I’ve tried it every way you can imagine, even the unconventional. Give me your old-school lard crusts, and I love it.
Make it savory by adding in sage and brie and it’ll be my dinner all week. When I came across a scrumptious summer recipe for blackcurrant shortbread squares, I decided to give it a fall dessert twist using fresh apples. Thus, apple pie shortbread squares were born!
This is a really easy apple square recipe because everything happens in one bowl.
The topping and base are the exact same thing, but the shortbread square base is pressed into the pan, while the topping is sprinkled on so that it forms crisp little bits with toasty brown edges on top. Just look at those tasty nooks and crannies…
The apple pie filling has just enough spice to give it a bit of warmth, but the dominant flavors come from the apples.
Since these are typically made with jam rather than fresh fruit, the filling has a bit more sugar than I’d normally use for a pie, but that helps the sugars and juices caramelize together, and it complements the very lightly sweetened shortbread square base.
The original recipe had a lot of strange measurements, like one cup plus 3 tablespoons. It also had several different baking steps, where one part was baked at one temperature, then more assembly, then more baking. To heck with that.
No crazy measurements and everything gets stuffed into the pan in this easy apple bar recipe. There’s no need to complicate things, and they come out perfectly.
Apple Pie Shortbread Bars
Ingredients
Crust and Topping
- 1 1/4 cups butter, melted (2.5 sticks)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large egg yolks
- 3 cups flour
Apple Filling
- 4 cups Apple Slices, Thin Sliced & Peeled
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together melted butter, sugar, salt, and egg yolks until completely combined.
- Add the flour and mix until just combined. Be careful not to over mix.
- Measure out two cups of the shortbread dough and press it into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan. The remaining crust mixture will be the topping, set it aside.
- Slice and peel apples, making sure to slice them thinly for even cooking. Use a good baking apple for this, a variety that holds its shape and won't turn into a sauce.
- Add the remaining apple filling ingredients (sugar and spices). Toss to coat the apples completely.
- Spread the apple slices over the shortbread crust.
- Using your hands, crumble the remaining shortbread crust into pea-sized pieces and top the apples with the crust crumbles.
- Bake the apple pie squares at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes, until the top is browned and the apple pie filling is bubbling.
- Allow the bars to cool before cutting and serving.
Apple Recipes
Looking for more tasty ways to use apples?
These are so good. We might try increasing the apples to 5 or 6 cups next time, but it’s good as it is, too! Thank you!
These are so good. We might try increasing the apples to 5 or 6 cups next time, but it’s good as it is, too! Thank you!
This looks so good! Which apples are best for this kind of recipe (that hold their shape and don’t fall apart into sauce?). Love your website – thank you for all the work that must go into creating such amazing super helpful content.
PS: with your guidance I did up a big batch of Asian pears yesterday … first time canning them and they look great!
I am so glad you’re enjoying the blog. You can choose one of the apple varieties that is listed in this post for Best Pie Apples. https://practicalselfreliance.com/best-pie-apples/
This looks so good! Which apples are best for this kind of recipe (that hold their shape and don’t fall apart into sauce?). Love your website – thank you for all the work that must go into creating such amazing super helpful content.
PS: with your guidance I did up a big batch of Asian pears yesterday … first time canning them and they look great!
I am so glad you’re enjoying the blog. You can choose one of the apple varieties that is listed in this post for Best Pie Apples. https://practicalselfreliance.com/best-pie-apples/
I made these today, and they were delicious. You mention a savory option with sage and brie – do you include apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg, or leave these ingredients out. I’m curious about variations to this recipe.
The savory option was actually for apple pie and not the shortbread squares. We don’t currently have a recipe on the blog for this but I can add it to the notes and maybe we can work on that for the future.
I made these today, and they were delicious. You mention a savory option with sage and brie – do you include apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg, or leave these ingredients out. I’m curious about variations to this recipe.
The savory option was actually for apple pie and not the shortbread squares. We don’t currently have a recipe on the blog for this but I can add it to the notes and maybe we can work on that for the future.
I love the simplicity of this recipe, and it’s a great way to use up leftover egg yolks! It’s definitely a crowd pleaser, too!
I love the simplicity of this recipe, and it’s a great way to use up leftover egg yolks! It’s definitely a crowd pleaser, too!
I’m so excited to taste these yummy bar cookies! Your wonderful recipe was so easy to follow!
Thank you!!
I’m so excited to taste these yummy bar cookies! Your wonderful recipe was so easy to follow!
Thank you!!