Dutch Apple Pie Bars

All the flavors of your favorite apple pie and the delicious Dutch-style crumb topping make these bar cookies exceptionally yummy! Easy to make as well – Dutch Apple Pie Bars!

Apple Pie….who can resist this delicious fall favorite? I surely can’t!

I definitely crave this delicious dessert, especially in Autumn but sometimes I don’t feel like going through the trouble of making a pastry dough from scratch or even using a store-bought one. Thankfully, these delicious apple pie bars come to the rescue!

All the flavors of your favorite apple pie and the delicious Dutch-style crumb topping make these bar cookies exceptionally yummy! Easy to make as well - Dutch Apple Pie Bars!

I love the combination of cinnamon and nutmeg so I used both to flavor the apples. Also, I love its buttery crumbly Dutch-style topping as it’s so easy to make as well.

Yup, it’s even easier than rolling pie dough! 🙂 How convenient is that?

All the flavors of your favorite apple pie and the delicious Dutch-style crumb topping make these bar cookies exceptionally yummy! Easy to make as well - Dutch Apple Pie Bars!

My little boy and hubby feasted on these scrumptious bars so I am glad I made 2 batches as I knew one just wouldn’t be enough.

I am grateful for this recipe which I found on our church cookbook from Holland, Michigan (definitely Dutch country!) and from now on this is how we will enjoy the fresh apples this fall season and beyond.

All the flavors of your favorite apple pie and the delicious Dutch-style crumb topping make these bar cookies exceptionally yummy! Easy to make as well - Dutch Apple Pie Bars!

Doesn’t that look good? It comes out moist and full of juicy apple deliciousness for sure! I hope you like it, too!

All the flavors of your favorite apple pie and the delicious Dutch-style crumb topping make these bar cookies exceptionally yummy! Easy to make as well - Dutch Apple Pie Bars!

All that crumbly deliciousness!!! Enjoy these yummy apple pie bars, fall season, or not!

If you like what you see and would like to receive new recipe updates, we’d love you to subscribe to our posts or join our site. Needless to say, we’d love you to like us on Facebook and Instagram, too where you can get more recipes and updates. Thanks and happy browsing!

Dutch Apple Pie Bars

By: Manila Spoon

October 21, 2015

All the flavors of your favorite apple pie and the delicious Dutch-style crumb topping make these bar cookies exceptionally yummy! Easy to make as well - Dutch Apple Pie Bars!

All the flavors of your favorite apple pie and the delicious Dutch-style crumb topping make these bar cookies exceptionally yummy! Easy to make as well!

FOR FULL RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS and to PRINT, SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW.

NOTES ON INGREDIENTS FOR DUTCH APPLE PIE BARS

  • Flour – use all-purpose or plain flour
  • Sugar  – white sugar would produce paler bars so if you wish to give it a deeper color use brown sugar or do half and half
  • Butter – use salted butter for some flavor contrast.
  • Ground Cinnamon
  • Ground Nutmeg
  • Apples – use tart apples like Granny Smith because it works better than the sweet variety.

For the Crumb Topping

  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Butter

HOW TO MAKE DUTCH APPLE PIE BARS

  1. Butter a 9×9 square baking dish. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Mix the 1 cup flour and 1/3 cup sugar; cut in butter until crumbly with the use of 2 knives or a pastry blender. Press into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
  2. In a bowl, mix 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, and cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir in the apples to coat. Spoon over the baked layer.
  3. Mix the crumb toppings until crumbly. Sprinkle over the apples. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and the apples are soft. Cool completely and cut into bars. Enjoy!

Yield: 16 Bars
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cooking Time: 45-55 Minutes
Total Time: 1 Hour and 10-15 Minutes

This recipe was adapted from Cooking with Friends Cookbook by the ladies of the Harbor Church, Holland, MI.

All the flavors of your favorite apple pie and the delicious Dutch-style crumb topping make these bar cookies exceptionally yummy! Easy to make as well - Dutch Apple Pie Bars!

If you like what you see and would like to receive new recipe updates, we’d love you to subscribe to our posts or join our site. Needless to say, we’d love you to like us on Facebook and Instagram, too where you can get more recipes and updates. Thanks and happy browsing!

Dutch Apple Pie Bars

Manila Spoon
All the flavors of your favorite apple pie and the delicious Dutch-style crumb topping make these bar cookies exceptionally yummy! Easy to make as well!
4.50 from 40 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 16 Bars

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup flour
  • cup sugar, divided
  • ½ cup (8 tablespoons) butter
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 3 tart apples (like Granny Smith), peeled and thinly sliced

For the Crumb Topping

  • cup flour
  • cup sugar
  • ¼ cup butter, room temperature

Instructions
 

  • Butter a 9×9 square baking dish. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Mix the 1 cup flour and 1/3 cup sugar; cut in butter until crumbly with the use of 2 knives or a pastry blender. Press into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
  • In a bowl, mix the remaining 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, and cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir in the apples to coat. Spoon over the baked layer.
  • Mix the crumb toppings until crumbly. Sprinkle over the apples. Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and the apples are soft. Cool completely and cut into bars. Enjoy!

Notes

TIPS & TRICKS
 
If you want, you can treat this like a crumble and serve warm with ice cream on top! It’s crazy delicious that way, too! 
Keyword cinnamon apple pie bars, dutch apple pie bars, dutch apple pie bars recipe, easy apple pie bars recipe, fresh apple bars, small batch apple pie bars, spiced apple pie bars
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Last updated on October 26th, 2023 at 11:08 am

Follow:

45 Comments

  1. October 21, 2015 / 9:29 pm

    These look fabulous! I make something similar myself, and they're so easy to customise with different fruits 🙂 yummy!

    • October 22, 2015 / 1:21 am

      That is so true Becca and I will definitely try this with other fruits that may be in season! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

    • Marlene Marsolek
      October 10, 2023 / 9:52 am

      I want to add Caramel bits to this.

  2. October 22, 2015 / 1:09 am

    Dear Abby, I'd love to try these delicious bars! What a treat! We went apple picking a week ago and there are still enough apples left to try these bars. That crumb topping…yum!!!

    • October 22, 2015 / 1:22 am

      Thanks, Allie and hope you like it! I haven't done any apple picking this year….sigh.

  3. October 22, 2015 / 1:56 am

    I love making bars but I haven't tried making anything quite like this. I am always looking for apple season recipes.

    • October 24, 2015 / 12:34 am

      Hope you get to try it Erin! Thanks!

  4. October 22, 2015 / 2:39 am

    Wow, these look amazing. It's late, so I'm trying not to run to the kitchen right now to make them. Can you just bring several over? 🙂

    • October 24, 2015 / 12:33 am

      I wish I could send some over Susan! Thanks!

  5. October 22, 2015 / 11:55 am

    I see why you needed two batches!! I would have to keep one for myself 🙂 Wish I had gone apple picking this year 🙁

    • October 24, 2015 / 12:33 am

      Me, too Kacey, you can never have enough apples. Thanks for stopping by.

  6. October 22, 2015 / 12:18 pm

    I can almost taste these through the screen! I bet these would be really good with pears too, but then I have a bit of a pear obsession at the moment.

    • October 24, 2015 / 12:32 am

      I can imagine that to be so. I think you can certainly use other fruits! Thanks Dannii!

  7. October 22, 2015 / 2:43 pm

    I was dicing apples this week, too, to use in a savory dish with chicken–but your recipe looks like what I want now–super sweet and fall-y!

  8. October 22, 2015 / 2:59 pm

    These look amazingly good, I think I'd prefer them over a regular pie! I have three bags of apples sitting in the fridge waiting to be used so I'm making these soon!

    • October 24, 2015 / 12:31 am

      Hope you like these apple bars as much as we do. Thanks Sara!

  9. October 22, 2015 / 9:08 pm

    Omg…just one nibble please! These looks absolutely fantastic!! xoxo

  10. October 22, 2015 / 10:03 pm

    Dear Abigail, these look delightful! I would love one this evening after dinner. xo, Catherine

  11. October 28, 2015 / 1:20 am

    My son adores apple anything, especially if it has a little crumble on top! This recipe has just been printed and saved for the day he comes home from college for Thanksgiving break!

  12. October 28, 2015 / 2:29 pm

    These look delicious, especially with that crumbly topping! I love apples!!

  13. November 27, 2015 / 5:06 am

    Thanks for your feedback Barbette and glad that you liked it. You can certainly cut back on the sugar if you wish. When you think about it, the entire sugar is only 1 cup which isn't much compared to other recipes but it may have felt much because it was divided into 3 parts but overall it's just 1 cup. It wasn't too sweet for me but everyone's taste is different of course. Thanks again!

  14. Tatiana
    September 29, 2021 / 4:20 pm

    5 stars
    I have tons of apples this year from my backyard apple trees. Found your recipe and gave it a try, on my, so delicious! Gave leftover bars to my kids to take to school in a lunch box.

  15. Claudia Lamascolo
    September 29, 2021 / 6:02 pm

    5 stars
    Oh these would be gone so quick here we love that kind of topping and these bars look over the top yummy!

  16. Byron Thomas
    September 30, 2021 / 7:18 am

    5 stars
    I found this recipe at the right time. I had extra apples and I cannot make a pie, because I can never get the crust to work well. These bars tasted just like a traditional apple pie and I didn’t have to make a crust. LOL Thank you!

  17. Gloria
    September 30, 2021 / 7:47 am

    5 stars
    I love apple season. These bars look delicious. I think I need to make some for Thanksgiving.

  18. Julie
    September 30, 2021 / 8:43 am

    5 stars
    These came out perfect! Such great apple flavor and the tender crumble on top is everything. SO good and I will be adding them to my recipe book.

  19. Natalie
    September 30, 2021 / 12:24 pm

    5 stars
    Such a lovely dessert perfect for colder days. I will bake this for sure. I have a box full of apples. Looks delicious!

  20. Sandhya Ramakrishnan
    September 30, 2021 / 2:02 pm

    5 stars
    I am in love with this recipe. It is so simple to make and it tastes amazing with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

  21. Renee Leet
    November 3, 2021 / 7:32 pm

    Made these for a party they were scrumptious, next day made another one but put it in a small cookie sheet pan even better… next time I will try making the crust to include the same amout and make another 1/2 recipe to make it a little thicker and more apples to make it thicker also, ate the batch in 3 day but shared with co workers thought it was better than a apple pie. In my eyes it a keeper.

    • abigail
      Author
      November 4, 2021 / 8:56 pm

      Yay! Glad you enjoyed this. It is a yummy alternative to apple pie for sure. Thanks for letting us know.

  22. Marji Powell
    May 28, 2023 / 12:20 am

    5 stars
    Great recipe as is. I added dried cranberries and toasted walnuts. I’m going to use macadamia nuts for my next batch, toasted almond slices for the next. These barely cooled down and POOF ! Double batch gone. TY.

    • abigail
      Author
      May 30, 2023 / 9:53 pm

      So glad you enjoyed these yummy bars! Love the other combos, too! Thanks for stopping by.

  23. Louise
    September 12, 2023 / 7:37 pm

    I love the look of this. I can almost smell it. . I will make it this week just won’t be able to peel the apples. 71 year old arthritic hands won’t work. I’m sure it’ll still be delicious. Thank.

    • abigail
      Author
      September 13, 2023 / 2:13 pm

      Hi Louise! That should be fine, too. At least you get extra fiber with this!!! Hope you enjoy and thank you for stopping by.

  24. September 14, 2023 / 12:33 am

    5 stars
    Going to make for my monthly desserts to bring for 50 at Doctor’s office. Make 2 different type of desserts monthly and last year’s choice of apple bars were supposedly the best. These are going to outdo those any day. Cannot wait to surprise the staff. Best part I have the appointment next week. Love the topping especially.

    • abigail
      Author
      September 14, 2023 / 7:51 pm

      Yay! That’s awesome! Do let us know how it goes and thank you for letting us know!

  25. Renee
    September 18, 2023 / 11:07 am

    Good afternoon Abigail!! I was wondering if I doubled this could use a 9×13 glass baking pan? I’d love to make and take to our weekly Ladies Prayer Meeting on Tuesdays. Thanks.

    • abigail
      Author
      September 18, 2023 / 12:37 pm

      When I double this I usually just use 2 square baking dishes so I don’t need to adjust the recipe. You can certainly use a 9×13 and feel free to adjust the recipe as needed. Enjoy!

      • March 9, 2024 / 4:29 am

        5 stars
        these bars look super delicious . I see Renee wants to use a glass baking pan. can I use a metal baking pan and just double the recipe?

        • abigail
          Author
          March 11, 2024 / 11:30 am

          Yes, you can use metal baking tin but adjust the cooking time – it may need lesser cooking time so just check with a tester (for one batch). I would adjust the spices a little if you want to make it double not simply double the nutmeg as that is quite a strong flavor. If you want it to taste exactly as written just use two separate baking tins.

  26. Sue
    October 26, 2023 / 11:22 am

    5 stars
    This was sooooo good, it is definitely a keeper !!

    • abigail
      Author
      October 26, 2023 / 11:48 am

      Yay! So glad you enjoyed these apple pie bars. They are absolutely delicious! Thank you so much!!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating