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Delicious Apple Pie Brownie Bars with Streusel Topping overhead

Decadent Apple Pie Brownie Bars with Pecan Streusel

These decadent Apple Pie Brownie Bars feature a fudgy brownie base, a spiced apple filling, and a crunchy pecan streusel topping, offering a delightful combination of flavors and textures in every bite.
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Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings 16 bars
Calories 400 kcal

Equipment

  • Oven
  • 9x13 inch baking pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Microwave-safe bowl
  • Large bowl
  • Medium bowl
  • Large skillet
  • Small bowl
  • Pastry blender/Fingertips/Fork
  • Wire rack

Ingredients
  

For the Fudgy Brownie Base

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup vegetable oil (or melted unsalted butter)
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

For the Spiced Apple Filling

  • 3 medium Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

For the Pecan Streusel Topping

  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup unsalted butter very cold and cut into small pieces
  • ½ cup chopped pecans

Instructions
 

Prepare the Brownie Base

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), then line and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
  • Melt the chocolate chips with vegetable oil in a microwave until smooth.
  • In a large bowl, whisk eggs, granulated sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy, then stir in the melted chocolate mixture.
  • Whisk flour, cocoa powder, and salt in a separate bowl; gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing until just combined.
  • Pour and spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.

Assemble the Apple Filling

  • Combine sliced apples, granulated sugar, and lemon juice in a large skillet, cooking over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until slightly softened.
  • Whisk ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and cornstarch, then add this mixture to the apples and cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened; remove from heat.

Create the Pecan Streusel Topping

  • In a medium bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and ground cinnamon.
  • Add cold, cubed butter and cut it into the dry ingredients until coarse crumbs form, then stir in the chopped pecans.

Layer and Bake

  • Evenly spread the spiced apple filling over the brownie base, then generously sprinkle the pecan streusel topping over the apple layer.

Bake to Golden Perfection

  • Bake for 45-55 minutes until the streusel is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the brownie (avoiding apple) comes out with moist crumbs.

Cool and Slice

  • Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 2-3 hours before lifting with parchment and cutting into individual bars.

Notes

For the cleanest slices, ensure the bars are fully chilled before cutting.