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    Easy Apple Squares (Cake Bars)

    By Julia | Updated: Sep 15, 2024 | Published: Sep 24, 2013 | 183 Comments

    153.4K shares
    • Facebook1.6K
    Jump to Recipe Print SaveSaved!
    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our affiliate policy.

    Easy apple squares are made with cinnamon and brown sugar.  These delicious cake bars are very moist, thanks to the vegetable oil and the plain Greek yogurt.

    sliced Apple Squares (apple cake bars) sprinkled with powdered sugar on parchment paper

     

    The apple squares are super easy and quick to prepare on a busy weeknight! If you're bored with making the same apple recipes, such as apple crisp,  crumble, or cobbler, try these little apple squares, and you'd be very happy!  These apple cake bars work great as both dessert and breakfast.  Talking about breakfast, have you tried these apple cinnamon pancakes with shredded apples?  Or, maybe you will enjoy this cozy apple crumb coffee cake?

    2 sliced Apple Squares (apple cake bars) sprinkled with powdered sugar on parchment paper

    Apple Squares with Cinnamon and Brown Sugar

    In this recipe, I am using a generous amount of apples, tossed together with cinnamon and brown sugar, folded in the cake batter and baked in a 9x9 square pan. These apple cake bars are really just a lot of apple chunks held together by a relatively small amount of cake batter. 🙂 After all, the apple dessert recipes should be all about apples, shouldn't they?

    The apple squares are very moist, thanks to the vegetable oil and the plain Greek yogurt.

    sliced Apple Squares (apple cake bars) sprinkled with powdered sugar on parchment paper

    Other apple desserts

    If you love all things apple, you will love these quick and easy apple desserts:

    • Sweet Cooked Apples
    • Apple Bundt Cake
    • Apple Crumb Coffee Cake
    • Apple, Blueberry Peach Coffee Cake

    Apple Breakfast recipes

    What could be better than enjoying a small slice of something sweet with apples in the morning? Here are my favorite apple breakfast recipes:

    • Pumpkin Banana Bread with Apples
    • Crepes with Ricotta Cheese and Caramelized Apples
    • Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
    • Apple Cinnamon Crepes

    Apple squares on parchment paper on a table

    apple cake bars
    4.60 from 218 votes

    Easy Apple Squares (Cake Bars)

    Super moist and easy-to-make apple squares.  Made with cinnamon, brown sugar, these delicious cake bars are very moist, thanks to the vegetable oil and the plain Greek yogurt. And they get even moister after the first day!   The apple squares are pretty much an apple cake sliced into imperfect squares.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10 people
    Calories per serving 264 kcal
    Author: Julia

    Ingredients

    • 3 apples peeled, cored, and chopped into small square chunks
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
    • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour sifted
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup white sugar
    • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
    • ⅓ cup Greek yogurt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 eggs
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions 

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×9 square pan.
    • In a medium bowl, toss chopped apples with cinnamon and brown sugar.
    • In a mixing bowl, combine together 1 and ¼ cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ⅛ teaspoon salt.
    • In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup of white sugar, vegetable oil, yogurt, and vanilla until very smooth. Add eggs and whisk until smooth.
    • Add dry ingredients (flour mixture) into wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
    • Pour half of the batter into the greased pan, top with half of the apples, then pour the remaining half of the batter on top of the apple layer. Top with the remaining half of apples. 
    • Bake the cake for about 45 minutes or 1 hour - until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
    • Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Information
    Easy Apple Squares (Cake Bars)
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    264
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    9
    g
    14
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.003
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    6
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    33
    mg
    11
    %
    Sodium
     
    90
    mg
    4
    %
    Potassium
     
    96
    mg
    3
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    45
    g
    15
    %
    Fiber
     
    2
    g
    8
    %
    Sugar
     
    31
    g
    34
    %
    Protein
     
    4
    g
    8
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    82
    IU
    2
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    3
    mg
    4
    %
    Calcium
     
    49
    mg
    5
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutrition Disclaimer:

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Keyword apple cake bars, apple squares
    « Crepes with creamy ricotta cheese filling and caramelized apples
    Greek yogurt chocolate chip muffins »
    153.4K shares
    • Facebook1.6K

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Annie Ricco

      September 03, 2024 at 1:52 am

      I have tried this recipe absolutely beautiful..loved it so much have saved it..so tasty not too sweet soft..thankyou for the recipe

      Reply
      • Julia

        September 03, 2024 at 2:15 am

        Glad to hear you enjoyed this simple recipe. The simplest desserts are the best!

        Reply
    2. Annie Ricco

      September 03, 2024 at 1:52 am

      I have tried this recipe absolutely beautiful..loved it so much have saved it..so tasty not too sweet soft..thankyou for the recipe

      Reply
    3. Lesa

      July 06, 2024 at 2:23 pm

      Beautiful result and easy to follow recipe.

      Reply
      • Julia

        July 23, 2024 at 4:35 am

        Thank you for your review, Lesa! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Michaela Martens

      April 16, 2024 at 8:43 pm

      Wow! I just made this. Simple and really delicious! I only had lemon Skyr yogurt but it turned out perfectly. Not too sweet and super moist. Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Julia

        April 20, 2024 at 11:58 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it, Michaela! Using a lemon-flavored yogurt is a nice touch! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Marie

      March 13, 2024 at 11:46 am

      What type of Greek yogurt should I use regular of fat free? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Julia

        March 13, 2024 at 1:09 pm

        Marie, I've tried this recipe with all kinds of Greek yogurt. Any will work: low-fat (that's the most common variety I use) or full-fat. I even used flavored Greek yogurt, such as blueberry flavor and that works too!

        Reply
    6. Reet

      May 25, 2023 at 2:55 am

      My hubby loves apple cakes & desserts & these would be perfect for him to have as a morning tea treat with a cup of coffee. We use raw sugar at home & I was wondering if this could be substituted for the white sugar & could I use a little less than the 1 cup state in the recipe?
      Thank you for a simple & lovely recipe
      Kindest regards
      Reet

      Reply
      • Julia

        June 07, 2023 at 7:38 pm

        Reet, yes, you can use raw sugar. And, you can definitely use 3/4 cup instead of 1 cup. Especially if the apples are sweet to begin with.

        Reply
    7. Eva

      April 09, 2023 at 4:12 pm

      Made this for Easter brunch today..I really liked it..easy..Had to cook about 15 minutes longer. Wasn’t sure if it was my high altitude, oven or pan, but it was good. I added slightly more cinnamon and brown sugar...Going to make another now so I can keep for myself...a keeper for me!!

      Reply
      • Julia

        June 07, 2023 at 10:35 pm

        Eva, I am so happy this recipe was a success for Easter brunch! Thank you for sharing this wonderful feedback!

        Reply
    8. Mary

      February 12, 2023 at 9:02 pm

      This was delicious, I did add a sprinkling of brown sugar and chopped walnuts on top before baking.

      Reply
      • Julia

        February 13, 2023 at 5:50 pm

        Mary, glad you enjoyed this recipe. Adding nuts always elevates any dessert!

        Reply
    9. Geraldine

      February 10, 2023 at 5:55 pm

      Can you substitute sour cream for the Greek yogurt?

      Reply
      • Julia

        February 13, 2023 at 6:18 pm

        Geraldine, yes, you can use sour cream.

        Reply
        • Susan

          September 13, 2023 at 12:05 pm

          Can I double this recipe to make a 9x13 cake

          Reply
      • Ruth Kennett

        September 27, 2023 at 4:26 pm

        If I need to make this GF, would you simply substitute the flour for GF flour? X

        Reply
    10. Bev

      October 23, 2022 at 8:29 am

      Does thus freeze well? I'm thinking it would be a great breakfast item for our bnb

      Reply
      • Julia

        October 28, 2022 at 6:28 pm

        Bev, this should freeze really well!

        Reply
    11. Pam

      May 24, 2022 at 11:11 pm

      What apple do you recommend for this recipe?

      Reply
      • Julia

        August 22, 2022 at 9:53 pm

        I recommend Gala or Fuji apples. Apples that have a more firm texture.

        Reply
    12. Kim Williamson

      November 11, 2021 at 8:42 am

      How would I adjust this recipe for a larger amount for maybe a 9 x 13 cake pan?

      Reply
      • Julia

        November 18, 2021 at 4:43 pm

        Just double this recipe - and it should fit a 9x13 cake pan just fine!

        Reply
        • Pat

          February 09, 2023 at 10:05 pm

          Hi, made today. Very good. Had to sub Greek plain yogurt for Greek black cherry! I was worried squares would be pink!. But, all okay and tasted pretty darn good. TU4 sharing..Pat

          Reply
          • Julia

            February 13, 2023 at 6:30 pm

            Pat, so glad you gave this recipe a try! Flavored Green yogurt works just fine in this recipe - glad you improvised and that cake turned out well.

            Reply
    13. Michelle

      September 03, 2021 at 12:37 am

      Can the plain flour be substituted by almond flour?

      Reply
      • Julia

        September 22, 2021 at 4:58 pm

        I've never tried this with almond flour.

        Reply
        • Susan D Turner

          October 03, 2021 at 12:04 pm

          Do you suppose I could substitute heart Smart Bisquick for a couple of the ingredients?

          Reply
          • Julia

            October 04, 2021 at 2:03 pm

            I haven't tried this with a Bisquick mix, so I am not sure what the result would be. If you do try it, let me know!

            Reply
    14. D

      August 30, 2021 at 4:24 pm

      I make these all the time you’re around. So easy and yummy.

      Reply
    15. Marijana

      January 18, 2021 at 6:34 pm

      The best apple recipe on the www. I have been making this for years and all my friends love it.

      Thank you!

      Reply
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    Hi, I'm Julia!

    I am a full-time food blogger living in beautiful Colorado. I focus primarily on savory recipes (protein-based & fiber-rich main dishes, pasta, salads) using fresh & seasonal ingredients. A food blogger since 2012, I help home cooks create well-balanced and visually appealing dinners (many of which are 30-minute ONE-PAN meals). Find out more about me and my cooking philosophy. 

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