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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!
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.
How to make Apple Butter Bars
- 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.
- 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.
- Cool completely before removing from pan. Cut into squares.
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!
Apple Butter Pie Bars Recipe
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
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
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
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I’m so excited to try this recipe! In the fall, my boyfriend made a ton of pear butter, which at the time was very cute and exciting, but it’s been sitting there for months because we don’t actually know what to do with it. This recipe sounds perfect.
I made the Apple Butter Pie Bars last night – let me say – they are amazing! I was looking for something exactly like this when I found your recipe. Thanks so much for another GREAT recipe!
Yay!! I’m so glad you liked them Connie!
Yummm those look amazing! They almost look like (but definitely don’t taste like haha) Carmelita bars – have you ever had those before?
No! What do those use? Is it dulce de leche or something? I’m intrigued….
Here is a great recipe – http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2012/01/06/oatmeal-carmelita-bars-recipe/
I make them without the pecans. If you go to Sams or BJs Wholesale, they usually sell mixes which are just as good as homemade. And like I said – same sort of bars (I love making bars) but totally different taste.
Thank you for sharing your recipe at Cast Party Wednesday! Have a GREAT week! ~Sheryl @ Lady Behind The Curtain~
I love November just because I really do think of it as “pie month”.
I think you should make coconut cream. I’ve made 3 kinds in the last year or two and can’t find “the one” for the life of me.
Your bars look yummy!
I totally need to try coconut cream. It’s on my list!
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