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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Sour Cream Apple Squares

    Published: Aug 19, 2021 · Modified: Aug 31, 2023 by Ashlyn Meredith ·

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These Sour Cream Apple Square bars are filled with apples, a hint of cinnamon and have an amazing shortbread crust. Slice these moist apple squares warm or at room temperature into oversized squares and serve with whipped cream or ice cream. They are the most perfect fall dessert!

    Sour cream apple bar topped with whipped cream and walnuts on a white plate.

    These sour cream apple bars taste just like a cinnamon graham cracker. They have the most amazing shortbread crust that pairs perfectly with the soft sour cream and apple topping.

    While you might think these would come out creamy from the sour cream, they actually aren't creamy at all, it's more like an apple pie filling. Adding whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the top makes this a favorite fall dessert!

    For more dessert recipes, try: Homemade Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats with M&M's, Salted Pretzel Scotcheroos or Simple Peanut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Chips (No Flour).

    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love These
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Step by Step Instructions
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQ
    • Storing and Freezing
    • Using Leftover Ingredients
    • Recipe

    Why You Will Love These

    • The shortbread crust. The buttery shortbread crust with walnuts and brown sugar is probably the best part about these delicious bars. It bakes up perfectly under the apple and sour cream mixture.
    • The apples. The apples in these bars bake up nice and tender. The cinnamon and walnuts combined with the juicy apples really create a delicious layer to these bars! This is definitely one of the best desserts to make during apple season.
    • They are easy. So easy to put together! You can make these in about 10 minutes and they don't require any special culinary skills!
    Sour cream apple bar topped with whipped cream and walnuts on a white plate.

    Ingredient Notes

    Here is some helpful information about some of the ingredients to make this delicious dessert. For the full ingredient list, see the recipe card below.

    • Flour: All-purpose flour is best for this.
    • Brown sugar: You can use dark or light brown sugar.
    • Butter: Unsalted, softened butter is best for this recipe. Pull the butter out of the refrigerator about an hour before you plan to use it.
    • Walnuts: I prefer to use walnut chips. If you have whole walnuts or walnut pieces, you will want to be sure to coarsely chop them before adding.
    • Sour cream: Full fat sour cream will work best and give you the best results in this recipe.
    • Apple - I have used both Kanzi and Honeycrisp apples and thought both were a perfect choice for these bars. Fresh apples will be best for this recipe.
    Sour cream apple bars ingredients in varying bowl shapes and sizes.

    Step by Step Instructions

    Here is how to make these delicious apple treats. You will need a hand mixer or a stand mixer to mix the crust and the apple layer.

    STEP 1: Preheat your oven to 350° and spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

    STEP 2: In a large bowl or the bowl of your mixer, combine flour, sugar and butter. Mix at a medium speed until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in the walnuts.

    Sour cream apple bars preparation in a glass bowl.
    Sour cream apple bars preparation in a glass bowl.

    STEP 3: Measure 2 ¾ cups of the flour mixture into your prepared baking pan. Using your fingers or a measuring cup, press mixture into the bottom of the pan. Set this aside.

    Sour cream apple bar preparation.
    Sour cream apple bar crust getting pressed into a pan.

    STEP 4: Add the sour cream, cinnamon, vanilla, baking soda, egg, and salt to the remaining crumb mixture in the bowl of your mixer. Mix on low just until it is combined, then stir in the apples.

    Sour cream apple bars preparation in a glass bowl.
    Sour cream apple bars preparation in a glass bowl.

    STEP 5: Pour the apple mixture on top of the pressed flour mixture in the prepared pan. Spread the apple mixture in an even layer with a spoon or spatula.

    Sour cream apple bars preparation.
    Sour cream apple bars preparation.

    STEP 6: Bake in the 350°F oven for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean and the tops are golden brown. Let the bars cool completely in the pan.

    STEP 7: Once they are cool, cut them into 24 squares and top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

    Whipped cream topping getting spread on sour cream apple bars.
    Cut sour cream apple bars topped with whipped cream and walnuts.

    Expert Tips

    Here are some tips for how to make the apple sour cream bars perfectly every single time!

    • Make a parchment paper sling for easy removal from the pan. To do this use two pieces of parchment paper, one that will fit In the pan lengthwise with some excess hanging over, and one that fits in the pan crosswise with excess hanging over. Spray your pan with cooking spray and press your two pieces of parchment into the bottoms and up the sides of your pan.
    • You can fully cover the tops with whipped cream, plop a dollop on top or pipe a pretty design. You can do whatever you choose!
    • Let the bars cool almost completely before cutting or removing them from the pan.
    Sour cream apple bar topped with whipped cream and walnuts.

    FAQ

    Should I use a certain kind of apple?

    Yes! Not all apples are created equally. When baking, you typically want your apple to maintain its shape and not turn to mush. Some great apples for baking are: Kanzi, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, and Granny Smith apples.

    Do I have to use walnuts?

    No. If you aren't a walnut fan, hazelnuts, pecans or almonds would work great too!

    Can I make these in a smaller pan?

    Yes. You can make these in a 9x9-inch square baking pan. To do this, cut the recipe in half and bake for 25-27 minutes. To use half of an egg you can weigh the cracked egg, whisk the white and yolk together and then discard half, or whisk the egg to combine the yolk and the white and then measure out 2 tablespoons to use. The other tricky measurement is when you measure out some of the flour mixture to press into the pan. You will want to use 1 ⅓ cups plus 1 tablespoon of the flour mixture to press into the pan for the crust.

    Storing and Freezing

    This sour cream apple squares recipe should be covered tightly and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They are delicious cold from the fridge, at room temperature, or place them in the microwave for 20 seconds to warm them up a bit.

    Alternatively, store these bars in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let them come to room temperature before serving.

    Sour cream apple bar topped with whipped cream and walnuts on a white plate with a bite on a fork.

    Using Leftover Ingredients

    If you have some sour cream leftover after making these bars, try one of these recipes:

    • Veggie dip preparation in a glass bowl.
      Creamy Veggie Dip with Sour Cream and Crispy Shallots
    • Mini bell pepper nachos with chorizo, sour cream and cilantro.
      Easy Mini Sweet Bell Pepper Nachos
    • A taco cup on a thie plate with a bit taken out of it.
      Crunchy Wonton Taco Cups
    • Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns With Orange Zest

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    Recipe

    A sour cream apple slice bar topped with whipped cream and walnuts on a white plate.

    Sour Cream Apple Squares

    These Sour Cream Apple Square bars are filled with apples, a hint of cinnamon and have an amazing shortbread crust. Slice these bars warm or at room temperature into oversized squares and serve with whipped cream or ice cream. They are the most perfect fall dessert!
    4.66 from 20 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24
    Calories 184 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups flour
    • 2 cups brown sugar
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
    • 1 cup chopped walnuts
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 egg
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 cups chopped apple, peeled and cored

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray.
    • In the bowl of your mixer, combine flour, sugar, and butter. Mix at medium speed until crumbly. Stir in walnuts.
      2 cups flour, 2 cups brown sugar, ½ cup unsalted butter, softened, 1 cup chopped walnuts
    • Measure 2 ¾ cups of flour mixture into prepared 9x13-inch pan. Press the mixture into the pan using your fingers or a small measuring cup. Set aside.
    • Add the sour cream, cinnamon, vanilla, baking soda, egg, and salt to the remaining flour mixture in the bowl of your mixer. Mix on low just until combined. Stir in apples.
      1 cup sour cream, 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 egg, ½ teaspoon salt, 2 cups chopped apple, peeled and cored
    • Pour apple mixture on top of the pressed flour mixture in your 9x13-inch pan. Spread with a spoon to create an even layer.
    • Bake in 350°F oven for 35-40 minutes. Let cool in pan. Serve topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 184kcalCarbohydrates: 23.4gProtein: 3gFat: 9.2gSaturated Fat: 3.9gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 141mgPotassium: 93mgFiber: 1.2gSugar: 13.8gCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword apple, cinnamon, sour cream, walnuts
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @heysnickerdoodle on Instagram.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Robin

      November 02, 2021 at 3:15 am

      How would I make it in a 9+9 pan it’s just me . A 9+13 is just to much for me.

      Reply
      • Ashlyn Meredith

        November 02, 2021 at 1:02 pm

        That’s a great question! I would cut the recipe in half. The baking time should remain the same but I would watch both the crust and the apple filling and remove from the oven when just beginning to brown.

        When it comes to halving the egg, here is my tip: crack the egg into a bowl and whisk with a fork until it is fully combined, then measure out 2 tablespoons to use in the recipe.

        Hope this helps!

        Reply
      • Joan

        March 25, 2022 at 2:18 am

        When I read the ingredients in your recipe, I knew it was a keeper!
        It certainly did not disappoint!
        The shortbread crust only enhanced the deliciousness of your recipe.
        Thank you so much for sharing this
        gem with us. It will be on our Easter table for all to enjoy when we give thanks

        Reply
        • Ashlyn Meredith

          March 25, 2022 at 2:53 am

          Thank you, Joan! I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe!

          Reply
    2. Joan

      March 25, 2022 at 2:27 am

      ... and most of all, thank you to your grandmother.🙏You made her heart smile🥰

      Reply
    3. Joan

      March 26, 2022 at 2:18 am

      5 stars
      ... so good! Can't wait to try the
      Easy Taco Soup

      Reply
    4. terre berkland

      April 10, 2022 at 4:18 pm

      5 stars
      My husband asks for these—can you make that apple bar..the one I love?
      We are leaving for a trip & he asked if I could make some to take!!!

      Reply
      • Ashlyn Meredith

        April 10, 2022 at 8:01 pm

        Yay! I'm so happy to hear these apple bars are so well loved!

        Reply

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    Hey, there! I'm Ashlyn and I'm the human behind Hey, Snickerdoodle where you will find approachable, simple recipes that are attainable for any home chef. As a parent to three busy boys, my recipes have been developed and tested with busy families in mind. Hey, Snickerdoodle is a place where you can find a collection of recipes I have developed, photographs I have taken and some simple background information, tips, and tricks I have written about my recipes.

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    Sour cream apple slice bar on a white plate toped with whipped cream and walnuts with a bite on a fork.