Apple Butter Pie Bars

Apple pie is delicious, but when you’re short of time, these are so easy and sooo good!

Shortbread

• 1⁄3 c unsalted butter, melted

• 1⁄4 c sugar

• 1 t vanilla

• 1⁄4 t kosher salt

• 1 c flour

Apple Filling

• 1⁄2 c apple butter, purchased or homemade

• 2 apples, peeled, quartered and sliced

• 2 T flour

• 2 T sugar

• 1⁄4 t nutmeg

• 2 t lemon juice

Crumble

• 1⁄4 c brown sugar

• 2 T sugar

• 1⁄4 t ground cinnamon

• 3⁄4 c flour

• 1⁄4 c unsalted butter, room temperature

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line an 8x8” square baking pan with parchment, leaving some paper to overhang the sides.

Make the shortbread by stirring together the butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl. Add in the flour and stir to combine. Press dough into the prepared pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool slightly. Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Combine the apples with the flour, sugar, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Make the crumble by combining the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Use a fork to stir in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Spread the apple butter on the crust. Arrange the apples on top of the apple butter in an even layer. Sprinkle the crumble over the apples, using your hands to squeeze the crumbs into clumps.

Bake 30-35 minutes until light golden brown. Cut into bars once cooled slightly. Serve with vanilla ice cream and/or whipped cream.