Apple Crisp Meets Shortbread – A Delicious Dessert Bar Recipe for Fall Baking Season!

Fall is officially fallin’—and that crisp in the air isn’t just the weather, it’s the Best Apple Crisp calling your name. 🍎 School's back, sweaters are out, and suddenly your kitchen is overflowing with apples from that "quick" trip to the orchard. Been there, done that, still sticky from all the cider donuts.

Now, let’s talk apples. They don’t last long in our house—one day they’re in the fruit bowl, the next they’re part of something warm, sweet, and totally irresistible. And IMO, one of the best ways to use up those beauties? Shortbread Bars Recipes that meet apple crisp in the most glorious fall dessert mashup.

Imagine the buttery goodness of Shortbread Bars layered with cinnamon-spiced apples and a crumbly topping that gives major cozy vibes. It’s like your favorite Apple Dessert Recipes and classic Fall Dessert Recipes got together for a holiday party—and forgot to tell the calories they weren’t invited. 😉

Not into fussy? Good—this is a Dessert Bar that’s low effort, high reward. No need to whip out the stand mixer or break into a sweat. Just a few simple ingredients, one pan, and a house that smells like heaven.

Oh, and pro tip: swap the apples for marshmallows and chocolate sometime and boom—hello, Smores Dessert version. Or toss in some brownie batter for a Brownie Desserts twist. You're welcome.

So if you’re staring at a pile of apples wondering what now?—this one’s for you. Let’s bake something that screams fall louder than a PSL in a plaid scarf. Ready? Let’s get to it! 🍂

Apple Crisp Meets Shortbread – A Delicious Dessert Bar Recipe for Fall Baking Season!

Serves: 16
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Author: Aleda
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

Shortbread Base:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

Apple Filling:

• 3 large apples, peeled and sliced thin
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Topping:

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup butter, melted or softened

Directions

1. Heat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, making sure to leave extra hanging over the edges for easy removal later.
2. For the shortbread: Beat the softened butter in a mixer on high speed for about 5 minutes, until it lightens in color and looks creamy. Add sugar, vanilla, and salt, mixing until fully blended. Stir in the flour until the dough comes together. Press this mixture firmly into the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes.
3. Apple layer: Toss the sliced apples in a bowl with flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until every slice is nicely coated.
4. Topping: Combine flour and brown sugar in a separate bowl. Cut the butter into the mixture using your fingers or a pastry cutter, working it until crumbly.
5. Once the crust is out of the oven, crank the temperature up to 350°F (175°C). Sprinkle half of the crumbly topping evenly over the shortbread base. Layer the apple mixture on top, spreading it evenly to maintain a flat surface. Finish by sprinkling the remaining topping over the apples.
6. Bake for an additional 30 minutes until the topping is golden and the apples are tender.
7. Let the dessert cool completely on a rack before chilling it in the fridge for at least 2 hours to set. Use the parchment edges to lift it out of the pan and slice into 16 squares before serving.

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