Golden raisins, walnuts and spices reminiscent of apple pie make these light and airy Fresh Apple Spice Bars the perfect sweet treat. Make these during apple season or anytime you are craving a apple treat.
Fresh Apple Bars Recipe
If you love celebrating the fall season, these Fresh Apple Spice Bars might be the perfect treat for you. However, don’t restrict making this lovely apple dessert to only September and October. These bars have been enjoyed by so many throughout the year. They are light, airy and fill the house with the aroma of freshly ripened apples.
When I think of the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon session of coffee or tea, these Fresh Apple Spice Bars come to mind (so do mini crumbles, but that’s another story). But let’s not forget about the holidays. These bars are perfect for a holiday dessert buffet because not everyone likes pies! If I’m entertaining, I like to place a walnut on top of each bar as a way to alert anyone with allergies that nuts are part of this recipe.
Looking For More Fresh Apple Recipes? Try These:
- Individual Puff Pastry Apple Tarts with Almond and Cinnamon
- Cinnamon Apple Bundt Cake
- Chunky Apple Snack Cake
- Upside Down Apple Pie
- Baked Apples with Maple-Walnut Sauce
How To Line A Baking Pan With Parchment
- With a pencil, trace the bottom of your baking pan onto a sheet of parchment paper.
- Cut the parchment paper about six inches longer on each side so it hangs over the sides of your pan. It should only hang over on one side, as seen in the above picture.
- Press the paper in the pan, making a crease at the edges, making sure it fits tightly into the bottom. Remove the paper.
- Spray nonstick cooking spray onto the sides and bottom of the pan and place parchment on top. The cooking spray helps the parchment stick to the pan and helps keep the parchment from moving when adding the batter to the pan. Using clothespins to hold the parchment in place during batter addition is also really helpful.
How To Make Fresh Apple Spice Bars
- Prepare your baking pan with parchment (instructions above)
- Whisk together dry ingredients, making sure they are fully combined
- Blend together butter, sugar and other wet ingredients. Gradually mix in flour, making sure to not overmix
- Stir in apples, raisins and walnuts
- Bake in a 350 degree F oven for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean
- Cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing
- Cool completely before dusting with confectioners’ sugar
Tips For Making Fresh Apple Spice Bars
- Measure and prepare all ingredients before getting started
- The recipe calls for a 9 x 13 pan and the Magic Pan is my favorite for baking. It has excellent heat conduction, gives the perfect angles and the sides of your bars/cakes will be edge-less and not over baked. I use it for everything.
- Use parchment to line your pan (directions are above)
- The batter is thick so hold down your parchment with clothespins
- Use a small, offset icing spatula to smooth your batter into place
- Do not overmix the batter once you add the flour
- Start checking bars with a toothpick after 25 minutes in the oven to see if they are done
- Let cool for 15 minutes in the pan before removing to a wire rack.
- If you want perfectly clean cut edges, cover bars tightly once cooled and refrigerate them overnight.
- Use a ruler to measure bars before cutting for uniformity of squares
- Dust with several layers of powdered sugar right before serving.
More Fresh Apple Recipes:
- Classic Apple Pie with Maple Whipped Cream
- Apple Cheese Crisp
- Butterscotch Apple Cake
- Apple Chai Cake with Maple-Cream Cheese Drizzle
- Slow Cooker Apple Pie Spiced Pear Applesauce
Make a batch for yourself and pack up at least a dozen of these bars and run them over to a friend’s house. You know they will truly appreciate it
Fresh Apple Spice Bars
Golden raisins, walnuts and spices reminiscent of apple pie make the Fresh Apple Spice Bars the perfect sweet treat.
Servings: 24 bars
Calories: 161kcal
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsps baking powder
- 1 tsp apple pie spice*
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp table salt
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 2 cups packed golden brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1-1/2 cups chopped Granny Smith apples, peeled, diced (about 2-3 apples)
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium sized bowl, Whisk together flour, baking powder, apple pie spice, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
- With a stand or electric mixer, blend butter and brown sugar; about 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla, blending until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture and blend only until incorporated (do not overmix). Stir in apples, raisins and walnuts. The batter will be very thick.
- Prepare a 9 x 13 pan (my favorite is the magic pan) by either liberally coating it with cooking spray or lining it with parchment, which is the preferred method. (See instructions in the post on how to line a baking pan with parchment paper.) Spread apple batter into the prepared pan and bake in the oven for about 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- If you lined your pan with parchment, let the bars cool for 15 minutes in the pan on a wire rack. Lift them out of the pan with the overhanging parchment on each side, otherwise wait until the bars are completely cool before cutting them into squares before removing.
- Sprinkle squares with powdered sugar when they are completely cool.
Notes
*If you do not have apple pie spice you can make your own by combining 1/4 cup ground cinnamon, 1 Tablespoon ground allspice, 2 teaspoons nutmeg, 2 teaspoons ground ginger and a 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional). Store in an airtight container.
I love to refrigerate my bars overnight before cutting them to get the perfect slices. I wrap them tightly and hold off with the powdered sugar until after I cut them. This is not necessary, but just something I choose to do for presentation.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Fresh Apple Spice Bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 161
Calories from Fat 44
% Daily Value*
Fat 4.9g8%
Saturated Fat 2.5g16%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.7g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.3g
Cholesterol 25.5mg9%
Sodium 94.9mg4%
Potassium 48.2mg1%
Carbohydrates 27.9g9%
Fiber 0.8g3%
Sugar 19.4g22%
Protein 1.9g4%
Vitamin A 10.1IU0%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 3.6mg0%
Iron 1.5mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
