Description

Three-layer dessert bars featuring a buttery shortbread crust, cinnamon-spiced apple filling, and golden crumble topping. Perfect fall comfort food that’s easier than pie but just as delicious.

Ingredients

For the Shortbread Base:

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup cold butter, cubed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Apple Layer:

3 large apples, peeled and diced (about 4 cups)
⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pinch of salt

For the Crumble Topping:

1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup brown sugar, packed
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup cold butter, cubed

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Instructions

Heat oven to 350°F

and line your 9×13 pan with parchment. Leave extra hanging over the sides so you can lift these out later without destroying them.

Mix the shortbread stuff

Dump 2 cups flour, the white sugar, and salt in a bowl. Add cold butter chunks and vanilla. Mash everything together with your hands or a pastry cutter until it looks like chunky breadcrumbs.

Press and bake

Smoosh the mixture into your pan really hard. Like, really hard. Bake 15-18 minutes until the edges look slightly golden but not brown.

Deal with the apples

While that’s baking, peel and chop your apples into small pieces. Mix them with brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a tiny bit of salt.

Make crumble

In another bowl, mix 1 cup flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add cold butter and work it in with your fingers until you get clumps.

Layer everything

Take out the crust. Spread apples on top. Sprinkle the crumble over the apples. Back in the oven for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden and the apples are soft when you poke them.

Wait forever

Let these cool completely. I mean it. Two whole hours. Set a timer or you’ll mess this up like I did the first time.

Notes

Freeze your butter cubes for 10 minutes before using. Cold butter makes the difference between “these are good” and “holy cow where’s the recipe.”

Don’t overmix that shortbread – you want butter chunks, not smooth dough.

Mix your apple varieties – I use half Granny Smith, half whatever’s on sale. Tart plus sweet equals perfection.

Toast your flour in a dry pan for 2 minutes before making the crumble. Game changer level stuff right there.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American