Apple Snickerdoodle Bars
Soft, chewy, and warmly spiced, these Apple Snickerdoodle Bars bring together cinnamon, nutmeg, and fresh apples for the ultimate cozy fall dessert. Quick to mix, easy to bake, and perfect for sharing.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Hand mixer or whisk
- 8x8-inch Baking Pan
- Parchment Paper
- Rubber Spatula
Ingredients
For the Bars
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar light or dark
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 medium apple peeled and finely diced
Topping
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy lifting.
- Cream softened butter with granulated and brown sugar until light and fluffy (2 minutes with a mixer or whisk).
- Beat in egg and vanilla extract until well combined and smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients gradually, stirring until just combined — do not overmix.
- Fold in diced apple gently until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Mix topping sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle over batter.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean and edges are golden.
- Cool completely before slicing. Lift from pan using parchment, then cut into squares.
Notes
Use fresh, crisp apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. For extra flavor, swap butter for browned butter. Let the bars cool fully before slicing to keep them neat and chewy.