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These Apple Butter Bars are just an easier way to make apple pie! These bars are basically a slab pie and represent an apple pie so well. They have a crumble topping and are great for fall!

brown layered bars stacked on a white plate.


Best Apple Butter Bars

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! I cannot stress to you enough how incredible it is and it makes this recipe even better!

If you’re a fan of pie, but are looking for something slightly different–this is the recipe for you. Every single bite you take will be like a bite into fall heaven!

Ingredients Needed

  • Unsalted butter softened
  • All purpose flour
  • Granulated sugar
  • Salt
  • Cinnamon: Makes your kitchen smell great and the recipe taste amazing.
  • Apple Butter: The best part of this recipe!
  • Walnuts: Chopped; they taste great with this recipe!

How to make Apple Butter Bars

  • 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.
brown layered bars stacked on a white plate.

Expert Tips

  • Pre-baking the crust will help the bars be crunchy.
  • Use a good quality apple butter; the better it tastes from the jar the better it will taste in the bars!

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

4.08 from 25 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

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

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Last Updated on September 28, 2023



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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66 Comments

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

  2. 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!

  3. 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??

    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!

  4. 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!

  5. Oh this recipe is absolutely mouth watering!! Good thing I just made some
    Apple butter 🙂 how about a strawberry rhubarb pie? Or pecan? Or peppermint meringue? Mmm I love pie! Lol

      1. I live in canada and have never heard of apple butter is their a recipie for apple butter thank you for your time

  6. I’m all for pie/crust month! And you’re lucky your husband even wanted apple crumb pie…all mine every wants is chocolate chip cookies! These bars look amazing…perfect for the fall!

  7. Ugh, drooling. These are making me want like, fifteen all right now. And piping hot with Cool Whip on top. Holy yum.