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These Apple Butter Bars are just an easier way to make apple pie! These have a thick shortbread crust and topping and are sandwiched with apple butter – they’re like jam bars but even better!

brown layered bars stacked on a white plate.


Have you ever had apple butter? If you don’t know, it’s basically a thick applesauce. The smell and taste of it is incredible! If you’re a fan of pie, but are looking for something slightly different–this is the recipe for you. These are like jam bars or crumble bars and they’re SO good – every single bite you take will be like a bite into fall heaven!

Ingredients Needed

  • Unsalted butter – softened, but you can also use salted butter.
  • All purpose flour – be sure to measure it correctly
  • Granulated sugar
  • Cinnamon: Makes your kitchen smell great and the recipe taste amazing.
  • Apple Butter: Use my homemade apple butter recipe or a jar from the store.
  • Walnuts: Chopped; they taste great with this recipe, but pecans would be fantastic too.
process shot of apple butter pie bars.
process shot of apple butter pie bars.
process shot of apple butter pie bars.
process shot of apple butter pie bars.
process shot of apple butter pie bars.

How to make Apple Butter Bars

  1. Make the crust & crumble: add butter, flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon to a large bowl.
  2. Mix with a hand mixer until it becomes crumbly. (You may need to use your fingers to break up any larger chunks of butter.)
  3. Press into half into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
  4. Spread the apple butter over the shortbread crust in an even layer. Sprinkle with walnuts. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the filling and press gently to compact. Bake until topping starts to turn golden.
  5. Cool completely before removing from pan. Cut into squares.
brown layered bars stacked on a white plate.

Expert Tips

  • Pre-baking the crust will help the bars be crunchy.
  • When you’re mixing the crust it will be very crumbly and not seem like it’s coming together.
  • Be sure to press the crust firmly into the bottom of the pan.

FAQs

Can I freeze these bars?

Yes you can! In an airtight container!

Do I have to refrigerate apple butter bars?

Yes I recommend refrigerating them to keep them good! 

brown layered bars stacked on a white plate.

Apple Butter Pie Bars Recipe

4.12 from 26 votes
Apple Butter Pie Bars – an easy way to make an apple pie! Slab pie or pie bars are so much easier to serve and these are full of rich apple butter with a crumble topping.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield 16 bars
Serving Size 1 serving
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Ingredients
 

For the Crust & Crumble:

  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter softened
  • 3 cups (372g) all purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

For the Filling:

  • 1 ½ cups Apple Butter about 12 ounces
  • ½ cup walnuts chopped
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9×13” pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
  • Make the crust & crumble: add butter, flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon to a large bowl. Mix with a hand mixer until it becomes crumbly. (You may need to use your fingers to break up any larger chunks of butter.) Press into half into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
  • After 10 minutes, remove crust from the oven. Spread the apple butter over the crust in an even layer. Sprinkle with walnuts. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the filling and press gently to compact. Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, until topping starts to turn golden.
  • Cool completely before removing from pan. Cut into squares.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 79mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 362IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Author Dorothy Kern

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Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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4.12 from 26 votes (23 ratings without comment)

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67 Comments

  1. I never thought to make bars with it – I pretty much smeared the apple butter on everything else though:0

    Reply

  3. Oooh, Dorothy, I LOVE apple butter. Seriously love it. And I’m with Sally–I smear it over just about everything (warm biscuits are my fave)–but I’ve never thought to bake with it. These bars are right up my alley, and since apple-type desserts are one of the few my hubby will eat, I’m gonna have to try these!

    Reply

  4. I’ve never tried apple butter. I’ve thought of making my own in the crockpot though. Is there a big difference between jarred and homemade??

    Reply

    1. I have no idea – I’ve never had homemade. I think it’s just really cooked down? Heather’s French Press has a good recipe!

      Reply

  5. I love apple butter Dorothy! I spread it on toast. I hope that doesn’t sound weird, but it’s so good! And on english muffins. 🙂 And pumpkin muffins! I’ve done it all. I’ve never baked with it though. These look like a wonderful way to start!

    Reply