Some of my favorite memories are during the fall season while living in New England. We’d go out in the crisp fall air for apple and pumpkin picking, apple cider and doughnuts, then home to bake a homemade apple crisp. This year, I searched for a new recipe that would include my love of apple crisp. I wanted a recipe that would be easier to share because I can’t eat an entire apple crisp by myself. This recipe is amazing! Although I didn’t really measure the cinnamon and sugar that covers the apples. Instead I went by experience when making my apple crisps and apple pies but measurements work too!

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper.
Shortbread Base
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
Mix butter on high for 5 minutes or until white. Next mix in sugar,
vanilla, and salt. Once combined, add flour and mix well.
Press into pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
Apple Filling
3 Large apples, sliced or chopped
2 Tablespoons flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
In bowl combine apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until
apples are coated.
Topping
1/2 cup flour
3/4 brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
Mix 3/4 cup brown sugar. Cut in butter and knead together. Butter can
be melted or room temperature. Remove crust from oven and turn heat
up to 350 degrees. Sprinkle 1/2 of the topping on shortbread. Layer
apples on top. Sprinkle topping remainder and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool fully before placing in the fridge to set for at least 2 hours. Once it’s set, remove from the baking dish by lifting out the parchment paper, cut into squares and enjoy! 🙂
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Apple Crisp Shortbread Bars
If you love apple crisp, these apple crisp shortbread bars are for you! Individual cut bars to enjoy especially during the fall when apples are in abundance!
- Total Time: 55-60 minutes
Ingredients
Shortbread Base
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all purpose flour
Apple Filling
- 3 Large apples, sliced or chopped
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Topping
- 1/2 cup flour
- 3/4 brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
Instructions
Shortbread Base
Mix butter on high for 5 minutes or until white. Next mix in sugar,
vanilla, and salt. Once combined, add flour and mix well.
Press into pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
Apple Filling
In bowl combine apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until
apples are coated.
Topping
Mix 3/4 cup brown sugar. Cut in butter and knead together. Butter can
be melted or room temperature.
Remove crust from oven and turn heat
up to 350 degrees. Sprinkle 1/2 of the topping on shortbread. Layer
apples on top. Sprinkle topping remainder and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool fully before placing in the fridge to set for at least 2 hours. Once it’s set, remove from the baking dish by lifting out the parchment paper and cut into squares.
Notes
This can be “crumbly” when eaten but definitely delicious!
I use gala or honeycrisp apples but any apple will do based on your preference.
- Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
