These bakery-style apple slices combine a homemade shortbread-like crust with a classic apple pie filling for a crowd-pleasing dessert. They’re easy to transport, make great leftovers, and can be prepared ahead by making the filling a day or two in advance.
This recipe is sponsored by Crunch Pak.
We like to dress these bars up for special occasions—here, the glaze is tinted pink and topped with Valentine’s sprinkles—but they’re equally delicious plain, with whipped cream, or warmed and served with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
What do Bakery-Style Apple Slices taste like?
Think apple pie flavors compressed into a bar: tender, buttery crust layered with a sweet, lightly spiced apple filling, finished with a thin sweet glaze. Using pre-sliced Crunch Pak apples speeds up prep while keeping the fresh apple texture and flavor.
These bars are meant to look rustic—don’t worry about perfect edges. They cut into handheld squares that travel well, making them ideal for potlucks, picnics, or dessert tables.
Ingredients
- Flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Butter
- Vegetable oil
- Water
- Egg yolks
- Lemon juice
- Apple pie filling made with Crunch Pak apple slices
Glaze:
- Powdered sugar
- Butter
- Vanilla
- Milk
- Food coloring (optional, to match an occasion)
- Sprinkles (optional)
How to Make Bakery-Style Apple Slices
To Make the Pie Filling
Melt butter in a large saucepan. Stir in apple pie spice until fragrant. Add Crunch Pak apple slices, then add sugar and water to create the sauce base.
In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Stir this mixture into the apples and sauce, cooking about one minute until it thickens. Remove from heat and set aside to cool while you prepare the crust.
To Make the Glaze
Combine powdered sugar, softened or melted butter, vanilla, and milk until smooth. Adjust milk to reach desired consistency. Add 1–2 drops of food coloring if you want a tinted glaze. Set aside.
To Make the Pastry
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Sift together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Cut in 3/4 cup softened butter with a pastry cutter or fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a measuring cup, combine 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup water, 2 egg yolks, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Pour the liquid over the flour mixture and gently mix with a fork until combined; the dough will be moist.
Divide the dough in half. Press or roll one half directly into a 9×13-inch pan, bringing it slightly up the sides. Spread the cooled apple filling evenly over the bottom crust. Roll or pat the remaining dough to fit and place it over the apples. Pinch or press the edges together to seal as needed and cut a few slits in the top for steam vents.
Bake 20–25 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until the crust is lightly browned. Transfer to a rack to cool.
When the bars are cooled, spread the glaze over the top and let it set. Add sprinkles if desired, then cut into 2–3 inch squares and serve.
Our Love for Crunch Pak Apples
Pre-sliced apples simplify prep and help make fruits more accessible at home. Crunch Pak’s packages save time without sacrificing flavor and reduce prep mess—ideal when you need apples for baking, snacks, or packed lunches. They offer a variety of options, including tart, sweet, mixed, peeled, and organic slices to suit different tastes.
Related: Apple Pie Filling
More Delicious Crunch Pak Apple Recipes
- Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies
- Apple Cheese Wraps
- Sheet Pan Apple Pancakes
- Bacon Wrapped Apples
Bakery-Style Apple Slices
Equipment
- 1 9×13 sheet pan
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Apple Pie Filling
- 1 (24 oz) bag Crunch Pak apple slices
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch (additional, listed separately)
- 2 tablespoons water (for cornstarch slurry)
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons melted or softened butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons whole milk (more to thin if needed)
- 1–2 drops food coloring (optional)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
To Make Pie Filling
- Melt butter in a saucepan and stir in apple pie spice.
- Add Crunch Pak apple slices, sugar, and water to make the sauce base.
- Whisk cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water, stir into the apples, and cook until the filling thickens, about one minute. Set aside to cool.
To Make the Glaze
- Combine powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, and milk until smooth. Add food coloring if desired and adjust milk for consistency.
To Make the Pastry
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter until coarse crumbs form. Mix oil, water, egg yolks, and lemon juice and add to the flour; stir gently until combined.
- Divide dough in half. Press one half into a 9×13 pan and spread the cooled filling over it. Roll the remaining dough to fit and place on top; press edges and cut vents.
- Bake 20–25 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on a rack.
- Spread glaze over the cooled bars, let it set, add sprinkles if desired, and cut into 2–3 inch squares.
Nutrition
Calories: 90 | Carbohydrates: 19 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 1 g | Sugar: 10 g
Nutrition information is an approximation.
Additional Info
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple, apple pie filling, bars
