Sweet and gooey snickerdoodle apple pie bars are the perfect fall dessert. The base layer is a snickerdoodle bar topped with cinnamon-spice apple pie filling and topped with more snickerdoodle. It’s delicious served warm with ice cream!
Looking for more fall desserts? Try gluten-free apple pie, healthy apple crisp, or apple banana bread with crumb topping next.
We are TWO days away from Thanksgiving. What the heck!
I’m obviously in charge of dessert for Thursday. On the menu we’ve got pumpkin pecan toffee bars and paleo caramel apple cake.
My grandpa is making the pumpkin pie and my aunt is making the apple pie. Which means I get to make the more interesting and unique desserts. The not-so-classic desserts!
I pride myself on making desserts that have a unique twist or different take on a classic recipe. I love to do a mashup up two recipes like pumpkin snickerdoodle cobbler or pumpkin pie bars with gingersnap crust.
And that’s how we landed here. With a mash up of two of my favorite desserts. Apple pie and snickerdoodles. Apple pie AND snickerdoodles.
I really wish I could take credit for this recipe but all the creative props go to my fiance. He came up with this mash up. I just executed and took the pictures.
Need another Thanksgiving dessert? Try gooey chocolate chip pie or pecan pie cobbler next.
We like to sit around the house and brainstorm recipe ideas. If you came into our kitchen you’d see random post it notes with recipe ideas we have at random times. Or the notes in my phone and my computer. Just tons of recipe ideas.
That’s what we do on the weekends. We catch up on This Is Us, pretend like we’re going to clean the house, shop online and brainstorm dessert recipes.
Anyone else to 3 out of these 4 things?
Look for another cozy bar? Try chai white chocolate brownies, paleo pumpkin bars, or vegan pumpkin cheesecake next.
Our most recent online shopping includes christmas home decor and candles. Can ya tell we’re home bodies? Give us a good movie, a comfy couch and some hot chocolate and I’m set.
I actually watched 4 Christmas movies in a row on Sunday afternoon. I had every intention of working out or doing something somewhat productive, then I remembered Hallmark movies were on Netflix. I had no chance.
I should have been prepping for Thanksgiving too. Or making these snickerdoodle apple pie bars to take to work for friends. And they aren’t that hard to make so I really could have gotten them done.
How to Make Snickerdoodle Apple Pie Bars
Start making these snickerdoodle apple pie bars by making the snickerdoodle dough. One third of the snickerdoodle dough is going to be the base of this recipe and form the bottom of the bars. They’re chewy and filled with cinnamon.
After you have the base down you’ll add the apple pie filling. It’s a mix of apples, sugar and flour. It gets thick and gooey on the inside when it bakes!
You’ll top the apples with extra snickerdoodle and give it a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar which makes a delicious crust.
I love to serve my snickerdoodle apple pie bars warm with ice cream. All of my favorite desserts involve some sort of warmed up dessert with a serving of cold ice cream.
Anyone else love a dessert a la mode?!
This is my last fall-inspired dessert of the season and I promise you it does not disappoint!
Next week I’ll be starting COOKIE WEEK so get excited! It’s new cookie recipes for the entire week and it’s one of my favorite weeks of the year!
In the meantime enjoy your holiday with family and friends! I’ll be at my parents house with 18 of my family members and I can’t wait.
And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram for daily updates!
More Apple Desserts
- Caramel Apple Skillet Cookie
- Caramel Apple Mini Cakes
- Peach apple crisp
- Healthy apple crisp
- Apple banana bread
Snickerdoodle Apple Pie Bars
Save this Recipe!
Ingredients
Snickerdoodles
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour gluten-free if needed
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- cinnamon sugar for sprinkling
Apple Pie Filling
- 2 large apples peeled and thinly sliced (1/4 inch thick)
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º and grease a 9″-x-9 baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Make the snickerdoodle layer. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- In a separate large bowl or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars until pale and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until just combined. Gradually add prepared flour mixture and mix on low until just combined.3/4 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Press two-thirds of the snickerdoodle dough into an even layer in the bottom of the pan and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.
- While the dough is baking, make the apple pie filling. Combine the sliced apples, flour, granulated sugar, and cinnamon together in a large bowl until all of the apples are evenly coated. Once the bottom layer is baked pour the apple mixture on top and press down firmly.2 large apples, 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour, 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Break up remaining snickerdoodle dough into small clumps and sprinkle over apple pie layer, then sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar.cinnamon sugar for sprinkling
- Place back in the oven until it turns golden brown, about 35-40 minutes. Let cool completely before slicing into squares.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
Hi, this looks amazing and I can’t wait to make it! Can you tell me how to store it and how long it lasts? Also, can you freeze this dessert and if so, how do you recommend it be done.
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful and delicious recipes!
Thank you! Yes—you can make these ahead. Once the bars are fully cooled, store them tightly covered in the fridge for 4–5 days. They stay soft and the apple layer keeps them moist.
They also freeze really well! Let the baked bars cool completely, then cut them into squares and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Place the wrapped bars in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 2–3 months. To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for an hour or two. You can warm them slightly in the microwave if you like them soft and gooey!
Getting ready to make these now! Regarding the butter – melted and cooled but not just softened? Melted but not browned? Thanks!
Great question! For this recipe, the butter should be melted, then cooled — not just softened. And yes, melted but not browned.
Let it cool until it’s no longer warm to the touch (still liquid). This helps the butter and sugars cream properly and gives the bars the right texture.
One of the best dessert recipes ever! I’ve made them 3 times and each time they were a hit. I made them the day before and kept in the fridge overnight and served either at room temp or slightly chilled and they held together perfect. I’ve shared it with all of my baking friends as well! Will definitely be a go to recipe for parties going forward. Thank you so much for such a great recipe!
The dough seemed very sticky. Is that how it was supposed to be?
My family loves these and demands them at any holiday meal. I usually reduce the sugar, up the apples, replace at least 1 egg with a flax egg, up the cinnamon, skip the topping using it all for the crust, but I’ll add oats and more cinnamon to the top. I have also added butterscotch chips to the crust and that was excellent.
Thank you, Kim! We love this one too! Butterscotch chips sounds delicioous!
I know a lot of snickerdoodle recipes (cookies at least) use cream of tartar. I noticed it isn’t in your recipe. Do you ever use it? Do you find it tastes different without it?
Hi Molly! I love your recipes and I have been having them every week to help my PCOS. I have a question about this one. Is there anything I could do to replace the eggs? My husband is vegan and loves apples but can’t have eggs. I know applesauce or egg replacement is an option but I wanted your opinion. Thank you!
Hey Kenzie! Applesauce would be a good idea. You could also try a flax egg. You can google how to make them it’s super easy, just flax seed and water!
Thanks for sharing, Molly! My family loved it so much. 3 people asked for the recipe. You rock!
These were so so delicious! Easy to make and a crowd favorite. Will make these again for sure
This is one of my favorite recipes now! Anyone that eats this will die and go to heaven. I’ve had people tell me that it “tastes better than apple pie” and “I don’t think I can go back to apple pie”. I make a 1.5x batch and use a 9×13 pan. It’s the perfect amount. I also add a little bit of extra vanilla for enhanced flavor. This recipe is one for the books for sure. I’ll probably be making it until I’m 90.
OMG This is the best comment I’ve ever received!! I love this!
TWO APPLES EQUALS?? CUPS. TOPPIING USE LIKE CRUMBLE?