Bavarian Apple Bars
Bavarian Apple Bars are layered with a base of buttery sweet crust, creamy bavarian custard, and topped with cinnamon sugar apples. It is a quintessential apple season treat and an easy shareable dessert for celebrating the holidays.
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What are Bavarian Apple Bars?
Bavarian apple bars are a bar dessert style take on an apple streudel. They are easy to make and consist of three layers - crust, custard, and apple cinnamon topping.
Ingredients
Butter - when mixed with flour and sugar it forms the delicious pastry base of the bar.
Flour - makes the base sturdy.
Sugar - adds sweetness to every layer.
Vanilla - adds flavor and sweetness to the crust and the custard.
Cream cheese - when mixed with eggs, this creates a cheesecake-like Bavarian custard.
Eggs - holds the custard together and provides protein.
Apples - adds sweetness and tartness to the dessert. Try using a tart and crisp apples like Granny Smith or Fuji. Tart apples will make the dessert a good balance of sweet and tart.
Cinnamon - when paired with apples, adds spicy sweet flavor that will get you in the mood for fall!
Recipe Tips for Bavarian Apple Bars
Try coring your apples and slicing them in full rings. This takes a little bit more work, but looks really pretty!
Don’t be alarmed if the Bavarian filling seems to deflate after you take the bars out of the oven, this is completely natural. The egg in custard causes it to puff up full of air and then naturally release once it is removed from heat.
How to Store Bavarian Apple Bars
Store Bavarian apple bars at room temperature in an air tight container for up to two days, or store in the refrigerator for up to five days. If stored in the refrigerator, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, or pop in the microwave for five to ten seconds to warm to room temperature.
You can also freeze Bavarian apple bars easily. Just place (fully baked and cooled) in an air tight freezer container and store in the freezer for up to three months. Remove from the freezer and place in the refrigerator 24 hours prior to serving.
How to Make Bavarian Apple Bars
Ingredients
Crust
1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
Filling
16 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
Topping
3 large apples (or 3 cups), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
Set oven temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to preheat while you prep the ingredients. Grease a 13x9 inch glass baking dish.
With an electric mixer, cream the butter and 2/3 cup sugar together. Add the vanilla and mix. Gently mix in the flour. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the baking dish.
With an electric mixer, mix the cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar. Mix until smooth. The mixture will be smoother if your cream cheese is room temperature. Add vanilla and eggs and mix until well combined. Spread the mixture evenly over the crust in the pan.
In a medium size bowl, mix the sliced apples with cinnamon and 2/3 cup sugar. Place over the cream cheese layer in the pan. You can arrange these however you like (I usually go with a random arrangement).
Bake 50-60 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown.
Cool in the pan 1 hour, then store in the refrigerator for two hours before slicing and serving.
More fall desserts, please!
Try this pumpkin spice cake with cinnamon swirl or my favorite spiced bourbon chocolate banana bread. You can’t go wrong with these blueberry muffins with streusel topping, either!