These outstanding Apple Bars are so easy to make with only 5 ingredients: cake mix, butter, apples, pecans, and sweetened condensed milk!
Moist, flavorful apple bars are popular year-round, but they really shine during the autumn months. These chewy, tender bars are sure to become a favorite.
What You’ll Find In This Post
Tonia’s Notes
This recipe has been on the blog since the fall of 2013! I love that it only uses a few ingredients. Plus, the recipe is adaptable! If I don’t have any Granny Smith apples, I use whatever I have on hand. It’s also delicious with chopped walnuts, and I’ve also shared a way to make a homemade apple spice cake mix.
I brought these bars to a friend’s house recently; she loved them so much that she planned to make them next weekend! Another lady said they were so good that she planned to have another piece for breakfast. Although they are delicious by themselves, my favorite way to eat them is with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Apple Bars Ingredients
- Cake Mix: Use a spice cake mix or add two teaspoons of apple pie spice to a yellow cake mix.
- Butter: Moistens the cake mix and adds flavor.
- Apples: Choose tart apples for baking.
- Pecans: For flavor and texture. You can also use chopped walnuts.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adds sweetness and moisture.
How To Make Apple Bars
Mix together the spice cake mix and the melted butter. Use half of it to make the crust and set the remaining half aside for later.
Top the crust with diced, peeled Granny Smith apples and chopped pecans.
Drizzle a can of sweetened condensed milk over the apples and pecans layer. Crumble the remaining cake mix mixture and sprinkle it evenly over the top.
Bake the bars at 350˚F for 35-40 minutes. Allow the bars to cool, and then you can drizzle a powdered sugar glaze over the top!
Tips For Success
- You don’t need to add anything besides the butter to the cake mix. The cake mix is a shortcut to making a crumb topping from scratch!
- Although the dough for the crust doesn’t look like enough, it is! Sprinkle the crumbly batter around the pan and then pat it into place.
- Use a fork to break up the remaining cake mix mixture before sprinkling it over the bars.
- The powdered sugar glaze adds contrast and makes the bars look more pretty!
More Apple Recipes
- These Caramel Apple Truffles are full of delicious fall flavors in a bite-sized treat!
- Apple Bread Pudding with baked apples and caramel will make everyone happy.
- This Caramel Apple In A Jar is so much fun and makes a great fall party idea!
- Our easy homemade Applesauce Recipe tastes like apple pie without the crust.
Apple Bars
Ingredients
- 15.25 oz spice cake mix see notes
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 lb Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced about 3 medium
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix together cake mix and melted butter. Pat half of the mixture (about 1 1/2 cups) into a parchment-lined, greased 9×13″ pan. Set the remaining half aside for later.
- Top with diced apples and chopped pecans.
- Drizzle with sweetened condensed milk.
- Crumble the remaining cake mix mixture (about 1 1/2 cups) and sprinkle evenly over the top.
- Bake at 350˚F for 35-40 minutes.
- Allow the bars to cool and then drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze if desired.
Video
Notes
Spice Cake Mix:
- Whisk 2 teaspoons of apple pie spice into a yellow cake mix.
- Or make your own spice mix using 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice and whisk into to a yellow cake mix.
Powdered Sugar Glaze:
- Whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1-2 tablespoons whole milk, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
I prefer using Granny Smith apples, but you can also use Empire, Pink Lady, and Honeycrisp.
Yes, they freeze well! Store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two months.
Reheat one at a time in the microwave. Or reheat the whole pan in the oven at 350˚F for about 10 minutes.
Catherine says
Hi! I have been making this for years!
Didn’t your original recipe have an egg in the crust? I remember the base being more cake like and I’m pretty sure I remember the egg.
Tonia Larson says
Hi Catherine,
Yes, the original recipe included an egg, plus 2 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg for coating the diced apples. When I updated the recipe, I found that they weren’t necessary, but you can still include them if you want!
Happy Baking,
Tonia
Suzi says
This may be an odd question- but is the butter supposed to be cold and not melted? Mine turned into batter and not crumbs for the base and top. Thank you!
Tonia Larson says
Hi Suzi,
Thank you for reaching out with your question! Yes, it is supposed to be melted and it should turn into a thick mixture somewhat like thick cookie batter (not thin like cake batter). In the first photo under, “how to make apple bars” you can see how mine looks. Is that how yours turned out? If not, may I ask how much butter you melted? You can also see how it looks in the video, if that helps.
Happy Baking,
Tonia
Suzi says
Thanks for the quick reply! I couldn’t open the video. I figured it out. I was thinking a stick was a 1/4 cup, not a 1/4 lb. So if you double the butter it’s really runny. Ha ha ha. It’s still going to be delicious and I’m going to buy another cake mix and more butter and try again. This is what happens when one rushes!!!
Tonia Larson says
Bummer! But you are right they will probably still be delicious!
Girl from UK says
5 stars most definitely….literally the most amazing caramel apple bars you’ll ever eat🤤😍
Tina Clemons says
This looks really delicious but if I am going to attempt to do it I need something friendly for diabetes prone health. Is there a substitute for the condensed milk?? As in maybe using 2% and some powdered sugar instead? I have to be careful not to overdo my sugar carbs and that just has too much sweetness to it. As much as I would like to use it I shouldn’t. The tart apples get enough sweetness from the cake mix and I would add nuts to this of course! Is that possible to do and still be accepted to eat for a dessert??
Mattie says
I can hardly wait to try this mouth watering recipe. Can you freese the bars? Before or after baking?
Tonia says
I would freeze them after baking them. Happy Baking! ~Tonia
Madison says
Hi! I want to make this recipe for Thanksgiving but I spend the holiday at another house and would have to transport the dessert. How would I approach re-warming the bars when I arrive at the house? I would really like to serve them warm and with ice cream. Thank you!
Tonia says
Hey Madison! Sorry I’ve been away from my computer. Had a grooms dinner last night and baking/cooking for Thanksgiving today. I would just warm them up in the microwave. Start with 30 seconds and check them. Keep heating in 15 second intervals until warm. Enjoy! ~Tonia
Guerin Danielle says
Hi i am from France and i dont know what is a spice cake mix. Can i change it for a home made cake mix like a victoria sandwich mix with all spice ( 2 eggs, 100g of sugar, 100 g of butter, 100 g of flour.)
Tonia says
It is a yellow or white cake mix with spices in it. Here is a recipe from my friend Amanda at I Am Baker to try: http://iambaker.net/homemade-spice-cake-mix/ Best of luck! ~Tonia
Ashleigh says
Hi Tonia, these sound great, I have two questions though: 1. by stick of butter, do you mean a quarter cup stick or a half cup stick? 2. Do you think I can add extra condensed milk? I really want them to by caramel-y. I can’t wait to make these for Thanksgiving, thank you for sharing this.
Tonia says
Hi Ashleigh,
It’s a half cup of butter and I’ve never tried adding extra condensed milk, but I think that it would work. You could also try adding caramel ice cream topping like they do in Oatmeal Carmelita recipes. Happy Baking!
~Tonia
Angie says
SHUT the Front DOOR OMG These just came out of the Oven and the Smell is Amazing . Can’t wait to share it after dinner
Deanne Richard says
I just took these out of the oven. Made mine in my cast iron skillet lined with parchment paper. Is it me or it seemed to take alittle longer to set?
Looks beautiful though & bought ice cream and of course caramel too!! Can’t wait to try! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Shannon Odom says
Sooooo good! Makes the house smell like thanksgiving!
Jennifer Fischer says
In the pictures you posted, it looks like the cake is baked before you add the rest of the toppings then bake again. Is that the case or is the cake mix raw when you add the rest of the ingredients?
Tonia says
Hi Jennifer,
The cake mix layer is raw. It is very thick and pressed onto the bottom of the pan. Happy Baking!
~Tonia
Jennifer Fischer says
Thank you so much! I have two potlucks this week…any guesses as to what I’m making?
Ms.Devon says
Ooh my goodness I love baking things that make my house smell like Thanksgiving. I can’t wait to put mine in the oven. 😃
Barbara says
could you substitute something non-dairy for the condensed milk do you think?
Tonia says
Hi Barbara,
The sweetened condensed milk caramelizes and really holds everything together. I think that you could use melted, non-dairy caramels instead.
Happy Baking!
~Tonia