Description
These Apple Kuchen Bars are a cozy, spiced dessert featuring a buttery crust, tender apple filling, and a sweet, crumbly topping. A cross between pie and cake, they’re perfect for fall gatherings, lunchbox treats, or any time you want to bake something simple and nostalgic.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 large apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
- Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, salt, and baking powder.
- Cut in cold butter using a pastry blender or fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- In a small bowl, beat the egg with vanilla, then stir into the flour mixture until a soft dough forms.
- Press about two-thirds of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.
- In a separate bowl, toss apple slices with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice until well coated.
- Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crust.
- Crumble remaining dough over the apples and sprinkle with walnuts if using.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the top is golden and apples are tender.
- Let cool completely in the pan, then dust with powdered sugar and slice into bars.
Notes
- Add golden raisins to the apple mixture for extra sweetness.
- Mix in pears for a fruit blend twist.
- Skip nuts or sub in oats for a nut-free version.
- Add a pinch of cloves or ginger for extra spice.
- Use a powdered sugar glaze instead of dusting for a sweeter finish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
