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apple bars
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Apple Bars

These light and fluffy, fresh Apple Bars come together with the perfect balance of golden raisins, walnuts, and a spice blend that channels the spirit of apple pie. Whether it's apple season or simply a random apple hankering, these bars are a go-to sweet treat.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Apple Bars, Fresh Apple Spice Bars
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 24 bars
Calories 161kcal

Ingredients

Apple Bar Ingredients:

Instructions

How to Make Apple Bars:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a medium sized bowl, Whisk together flour, baking powder, apple pie spice, cinnamon and salt.  Set aside.
    2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsps baking powder, 1 tsp apple pie spice, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp table salt
  • 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.
    1/2 cup butter, room temperature, 2 cups packed light 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
  • 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.
  • Dust squares with powdered sugar when they are completely cool. And garnish each square with a walnut.
    confectioners' sugar for topping

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.
For optimal outcomes when preparing these apple bars, it's recommended to refer to the recipe details within the post. The recipe post commonly includes valuable notes, expert tips and frequently asked questions, that are not presented in the recipe card, often including how to make this recipe dairy-free, gluten free or vegan and ideas for healthy ingredient substitutions or variations.
 
 
 
 
The provided nutrition information is merely an approximation, as variations can arise depending on the specific ingredients/brands you select.

Nutrition

Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.9g | Protein: 1.9g | Fat: 4.9g | Saturated Fat: 2.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 25.5mg | Sodium: 94.9mg | Potassium: 48.2mg | Fiber: 0.8g | Sugar: 19.4g | Vitamin A: 10.1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3.6mg | Iron: 1.5mg