This addictive Dutch Apple Crisp Bars recipe features tons of apples, a brown sugar shortbread crust, and a buttery brown sugar crumb topping! Top with homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for your go-to easy dessert that’s perfect all year long or for your holiday dessert table!

I LOVE Apple desserts. In my (humble) opinion, apples and cinnamon were made for each other! AND they’re right up there in my book with pumpkin desserts (like these easy pumpkin pie bars).

But…when people think of apple desserts, good old classic apple pie often comes to mind. Unfortunately, I don’t always love dealing with apple pie because pie crust isn’t always my favorite thing.

So many years ago, I discovered how great Apple Crisp was – the parts I loved about apple pie (the apple filling and the topping) without the crust.

Then more recently, I took apple crisp to another level by adding a crust to the bottom – not pie crust, though! A brown sugar shortbread crust. It’s my new favorite!

This recipe is kind of a twist on my Healthy Apple Crisp Recipe, which is the most delicious apple crisp I’ve ever had…with a guilt-free healthy twist!

Now, if you LOVE apple pie but don’t want the work, make these Dutch apple crisp bars and you’ll NEVER miss the lack of pie crust!

Plus, the recipe is SO easy!

You COULD say it’s apple pie at its best 😉

Do you love apple recipes? Be sure to check out this Caramel Apple Wrap (TikTok Tortilla Wrap Hack) and my Apple Nachos too!

Ingredients Needed For Apple Crisp Bars

Here’s everything you’ll need to make these Apple Crisp Bars.

With only a handful of ingredients, you’ll create a dessert that’s simple enough to make all year long but also delicious and elegant enough to add to your holiday dessert table!

• Unsalted butter – you can use salted butter if that’s what you have on hand.
• Light brown sugar
• Pure vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour
• Apples – peeled and sliced
• Granulated sugar
• Cinnamon
• Salt

How To Make Dutch Apple Crisp Bars

Follow these steps to make the last apple crumble bar recipe you’ll ever need!

Prepare For Baking

In an 8×8 glass pan, line the pan with two strips of parchment paper horizontally and vertically. Grease with butter or cooking spray.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Shortbread Crust

Mix together in a large bowl your butter and brown sugar. Mix until well incorporated – it should look light and fluffy.

Once incorporated, add in your vanilla. Mix well. Finish your crust by adding in your flour. Mix until well combined.

Add your crust to the pan on the parchment paper. Using a spoon, or your finger, press the crust down trying to have it even across the bottom of the pan.

Bake for about 12-14 minutes. It should look light brown and slightly puffed. Set aside.

Apple Filling

Take your apples, and peel. Slice them thin, about a quarter inch thick.

Add them to a large bowl. Add to your sliced apples the flour and sugar. Mix well with a spoon, or your hands.

Pour the apples over the crust in your pan evenly. Set aside.

Crumble Topping

Take a medium bowl, and mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well.

Using two knives, or a pastry cutter, add your cubes of chilled butter until it becomes crumbly.

Spread over the apples evenly.

Bake Your Apple Crumble Bars

Cook your bars uncovered for about 45 minutes. The topping should be golden. Let it cool.

Once cooled, remove the bars from the pan lifting the bottom parchment paper from the dish, and transfer to a plate or cutting board.

Cut into 12 squares. Serve and enjoy!

Apple Crisp Bars Variations To Try

Crumble Topping – If you would prefer to have oats or chopped nuts in the crumble topping, feel free to replace 1/4 of the flour in the topping with oats or nuts. Want both? Replace 1/4 cup flour with oats and add 1/4 cup chopped nuts.

Sauce – Take these apple crumble bars to a whole new level by drizzling some caramel sauce on top. Oh. My. Word.

Topping – Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of homemade whipped cream. Mmmmm good. 😍

FAQs

Is apple crisp the same as apple crumble?

Because the two terms are often used interchangeably, it can be confusing whether they’re the same thing. So are they?

As it turns out they are…and they’re not. In the U.K. and in Australia, apple crumble and apple crisp are used interchangeably.

However, in the U.S. and Canada the two dishes are slightly different. Apple crumble has a streusel-type of topping while apple crisp has oats or nuts into the streusel topping.

So, technically if you want to be a stickler for details, these apple crisp bars are apple crumble bars. 🤷 But I tend to use the terms interchangeably myself, so there ya have it.

Should apple crisp bars be refrigerated?

If you have any leftovers (which, really will you??), yes, they should be refrigerated. They’ll stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Or, freeze them in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 1 month.

What type of apples are best for apple crisp bars?

Personally, I love using apples that hold their texture when baked, so a good crisp apple like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp are my go-to’s. I’ll also use Gala, Jonagolds, Braeburn, Rome, or Pink Lady.

I recommend staying away from softer apple varieties such as Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, etc.

Also, this recipe is developed with tart Granny Smith or Pink Lady apples in mind. If you use a sweeter variety such as Honeycrisp or Jonagold, I recommend reducing the sugar amount a little bit.

More Fall-Themed Delicious Treats

If you love these apple crisp bars, you won’t want to miss these other recipes!

• Healthy Apple Crisp
• Homemade Chunky Applesauce
• Apple Nachos
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites

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