Description
Delight in these Apple Snickerdoodle Bars—chewy, cinnamon-spiced treats filled with tender chunks of apple and baked to perfection. With a buttery base and a sugary cinnamon topping, these bars combine classic cookie flavors in a convenient bar form, perfect for snacks or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup peeled and finely chopped apples
Topping
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish and set it aside to prevent sticking.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon to evenly distribute the leavening agents and spices.
- Mix Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, mix the melted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture until the batter is smooth and uniform.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing which can make bars tough.
- Fold in Apples: Carefully fold in the peeled, finely chopped apples, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
- Spread Batter: Spread the batter evenly in the prepared 8×8-inch baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Prepare and Add Topping: In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon for the topping. Sprinkle this cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the top of the batter in the pan.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean, indicating doneness.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool in the baking dish for at least 10 minutes. Once slightly cooled, cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweetness and acidity.
- Ensure apples are finely chopped to prevent large chunks from disrupting the bar texture.
- Don’t overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added to keep the bars tender.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle a pinch of nutmeg in the dry ingredients.
