These bars are a crowd pleasing make ahead dessert that are perfect for any potluck or Fall occasion!

Old Fashioned Apple Pie Bars with Crumb Topping Recipe

I think the four seasons are so poetic. In a way, they represent our lives and the changes we are forced to go through – whether we are ready or not, winter is coming and our kids are growing! The winter months can be long, just like sleepless nights with an infant. But before you know it Spring is here and our infants are toddlers.

There is beauty in every season of our lives, through both the hills and the valleys. I find that prayer and counting my blessings gets me through it all. It helps me find that beauty, and I can see more clearly how everything eventually works together for good!

The colorful Fall leaves are stunning, then they fall off leaving bare trees for the winter. But Spring comes and it offers different colors of beauty – everything is green and vibrant again. The same goes for our lives. We have losses, but we have gains.

As you snuggle in for the cold months ahead, treat yourself to a cup of Hot Cocoa with extra marshmallows, enjoy a warm bowl of Vegetarian Chili , then have a slice of Grandma’s Apple Pie Bars with Crumb Topping!

Vegetarian Chili

What You’ll Need for the Pie Crust

3/4 cup + 3 cups Flour

6 tbsp Water

Pinch of Salt

1 1/2 cups Crisco

The Apple Pie Filling

1/2 cup Maple Syrup

1 1/4 cup Sugar

1/4 cup Lemon Juice

2 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Vanilla

3 lbs + 2 Apples

And the Topping

1 cup Flour

1/2 cup Cold Butter, Cubed

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

1 cup Pecans, Chopped

How to Make Apple Pie Bars with Crumb Topping

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

To make the crust, combine 3/4 cup flour and 6 tbsp water in a small bowl. Stir until smooth. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine a pinch of salt and 3 cups flour. Cut in 1 1/2 cups Crisco with a fork. Add in the flour/water mixture.

Knead gently until the dough forms into a ball.

Press the dough onto the bottom of a 15 x 10 x 1 inch pan. Use saran wrap to form the crust to the pan. Drizzle 1/4 cup maple syrup over the crust.

To make the apple pie filling, combine 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 2 tsp cinnamon, and 1 tsp vanilla in a measuring cup. Set aside.

Peel, core, and slice 3 lbs apples, plus two additional apples. Arrange apples evenly over the crust, then drizzle mixture from the measuring cup over the apples.

Make the topping by combining 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup cubed cold butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1 cup chopped pecans with a fork or pastry cutter.

Sprinkle topping over the apples.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Then reduce the oven temperature to 360 degrees and bake for 35-40 minutes.