If you’ve ever been to San Diego, you’ll probably agree that it’s a little bit of a dreamy place… warm-ish weather all year long, palm trees gently swaying on the horizon, year-round Farmer’s Markets & herb gardens, lots of great beaches, and jaw-dropping sunsets. The down-side to living in such a beautiful place… we don’t really have seasons, per se. The weather does cool down come October but not really more than about 10 or 20 degrees, and the leaves begin to fall off the trees but they don’t really turn the autumnal colors that you see in other areas of the country. Luckily, we can drive just an hour to the local mountains of Julian to experience the change of seasons and pick apples along the way.
We look forward to our family’s annual apple-picking trip. My son marches around the orchard picking everything he can reach, and we come away with several pounds of apples that are fit for baking up a storm. A stop at the Pumpkin Farm on the way home adds to the fun. Ride home discussion revolves around what Mom is going to make with all of those apples. My first apple baking project of the season: Apple Pie Bars.
Here’s the How-To:
A spiced-up shortbread crust is pressed into the bottom of a 15×17-inch pan & baked until golden.
6 pounds of apples are sauteed in butter, sugar and spices until lightly caramelized, then spooned onto the baked crust.
An oat topping is pressed on top.
The whole thing is baked until browned, and cut into bars when cool.
Hope you’re hungry, cause this recipe makes a whopping four dozen bars!
And they truly taste… just like apple pie. Eating these helps bring a bit of fall to an (otherwise) dreamy place to live.
This recipe can be found HERE.
———————————————————————
Check out these bloggers, who are also writing about fall:
A Southern Grace: Fragrant Fresh Apple Cake
Bittersweet: Chai Latte Persimmon Muffins
Sweetnicks: Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
Food Blogga: Fresh Fig Cake
Phe/MOM/enon: Maple Pecan Scones
48 Comments
Guess what I am selling at the next cake sale???? Apple Pie bars of course!!!
Easy and delicious, exactly the two criteria I am looking for in a recipe!!!
[Reply]
Those look amazing! Dense with apples and crunchy on the top and bottom. I’m going to make these for my bridge club!
[Reply]
Where was this recipe a week ago? I am bookmarking for next time I get a bunch of apples! Looks awesome!
[Reply]
I am all over this deliciousness. It looks and sounds absolutely perfect. LOVE it and I love that it makes so many. Im gonna send em off to my husbands coworkers(firemen) theyll love this!!
[Reply]
Your pictures are always so pretty!!!
[Reply]
They’re perfect! I’d never thought of doing these. An easy way to have apple pie!
[Reply]
These look absolutely amazing! How wonderful with a cup of coffee!
[Reply]
Oh my! this is just great! I agree with Donna, I love that it makes so many because they make great snacks to have at home. Now I only need some apples and I’ll be making this pronto!
[Reply]
This look awesome! And they make so many…on my list now! – mary
[Reply]
Holy cow, these looks AWESOME. I love the flavor of apple pie, but not so much the crust. These sound like the perfect solution for me. Bookmarked!
[Reply]
I have got to try these. How about a scoop of ice cream to complete the apple pie reference?
[Reply]
That just may be the yummiest apple treat ever!!
[Reply]
I am in love with these. I love apple desserts, but not a big fan of pie. I think I will make these for our Thanksgiving feast. Thanks Lori!
[Reply]
OMG those look so good.
[Reply]
A picture perfect Fall recipe.
[Reply]
Yum, I love your version of apple pie bars, it looks like a hassle-free and hand-held apple crisp!
[Reply]
GORGEOUS – I will be making these for sure!!!
[Reply]
These look absolutely decadent. (I found you through Foodie Blogroll!)
[Reply]
it’s a good thing i wrote about that apple cake when i did, because fall is now over here. it’s freakin’ freezing–literally! perhaps a move to san diego is in order. awesome bars–totally worth the work!
[Reply]
This would have been perfect for our bake sale at work this week (for United Way). Will mark it for next year though! Looks so yummy!
[Reply]
What a great idea! How long do the bars stay crisp and tasty? I love visiting San Diego. I’m sure it’s a wonderful place to live!
[Reply]
4 dozen bars! I’m sure we could finish them though, they look fantastic! I love that hidden apple layer.
[Reply]
This looks fabulous – I love the oat topping!
[Reply]
Look fabulous. With the oatmeal topping and maybe a little less sugar, they could be breakfast food.
Mimi
[Reply]
Apple-picking = family tradition as well!! Love those bars.
[Reply]
I love how these are like condensed apple pies. Something about the way they are all pushed together makes it sounds more dense and intense. I am sure I would love that.
[Reply]
This is such an amazing bar you made. Would love them.
[Reply]
I went to Cuyamaca and Julian this weekend. We had so much fun but didnt pick apples. After looking at your bars I definitely regret it!
[Reply]
I love San Diego. We used to camp (we have an RV) at Campland on the Bay, a great place. Has everything you need right on site, right across the bay from Sea World. I think my favorite part about SD is that it seems to always be in bloom. While it may not get the autumnal colors, it’s definitely botanical. I love the Wild Animal Park too, though I know that’s a ways west. haven’t been to SD in several years now, almost moved there once! Apple Pie Bars look fabulous. I live 3 minutes from an orchard and still haven’t made my trip this year LOL!
[Reply]
I think I’d like these even better than apple pie. You don’t even need a fork! They look and sound heavenly!
I can totally relate about the climate. It was 92 degrees here yesterday. Every time I get out of my car, my sunglasses fog up!
[Reply]
Four dozen? When it’s that delicious, I’m all-in
[Reply]
Yum. I’ve been craving apples and apple pie lately (I guess fall really is here). Thanks for this recipe, I’ll be trying it soon… we have a couple of large family gatherings coming up in a week or two, so four dozen is probably just about the right number
[Reply]
The look so perfectly made. I love the photo of the pigs, cute!
[Reply]
These sound fantastic!
[Reply]
yummm…that looks good
[Reply]
Looks absolutely delicious … a must try ..
[Reply]
This looks amazing, I bet it would work well with peaches too! Going to give it a try this weekend. Cheers!
[Reply]
Oh how fun! These look perfect for this time of year. I should bake a batch for my husband … they look like the most delicious energy bar I have ever seen.
What’s up with the rain?! I am in total shock and couldn’t be happier. We need it!
[Reply]
These look so good and definitely fallish, Lori!
[Reply]
What gorgeous bars, with perfect layers! I love that they have 3 different textures. That apple filing I could eat it by itself!
[Reply]
A perfect yummy treat ideal to enjoy it with a cup of tea..yum yum
Cheers!
Gera
[Reply]
Hey that’s cool! I’ve got to try those!
[Reply]
My sis.-in-law just brought me a huge bag of apples from her neighbor’s tree and this looks like the perfect recipe for them!!! YUM! Thanks!
[Reply]
‘Tis the season for fall flavors. These look great, another fabulous use for apples!
[Reply]
Oh. My. Gosh. You are so amazing! These apple pie bars look incredible. How are they so perfect looking?
[Reply]
These look so good, but I am having a hard time getting past the 6 sticks of butter… SIX, wow that is a lot of butter. Do you think it would work to lessen that somehow?
[Reply]
Lori Lange Reply:
October 15th, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Brandy- Yeah, I kinda had that feeling too! Pies & stuff like this are best when baked with lots of butter. I wouldn’t change a thing since these were so good, but you just have to look at it from the perspective that this is a “treat,” and a little bit is plenty
[Reply]
Great recipe
[Reply]
Yummy! A short bread crust is genius!
[Reply]