When you need a dessert that feeds a crowd without a lot of fuss, this simple potluck-style bake is hard to beat. It borrows the cozy flavor of classic apple pie and streamlines it with refrigerated crusts and canned filling, a practical shortcut that still delivers plenty of nostalgic appeal. The slab format makes it especially useful for parties, picnics, and bake sales because it slices neatly and travels well.
Serve these bars slightly warm or fully cooled with coffee, iced tea, or cold milk. For a dessert table, they pair nicely with fresh berries, vanilla ice cream, or a spoonful of lightly sweetened whipped cream. If you are bringing them to a summer gathering, they fit right in alongside barbecue, fried chicken, pasta salad, and other classic potluck dishes.
Oven Baked 5-Ingredient Apple Slab Pie Bars
Servings: 16 bars
Ingredients
2 boxes refrigerated pie crusts
2 cans (21 oz each) apple pie filling
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease or line a rimmed sheet pan, then unroll enough pie crusts to cover the bottom, pressing the seams together and trimming as needed to fit.
2. Spoon the apple pie filling evenly over the crust and sprinkle the cinnamon across the top. Spread the filling into an even layer so every bar gets plenty of apples.
3. Unroll the remaining pie crusts and place them over the filling, pressing or pinching the seams together. Cut a few slits in the top so steam can escape during baking.
4. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the crust is deeply golden and the filling is bubbling through the slits. Let the slab pie cool completely in the pan so the bars slice cleanly.
5. Stir the powdered sugar and milk together until smooth, then drizzle the glaze over the cooled pie. Cut into squares and serve.
Variations & Tips
Crust handling: If the refrigerated crusts warm up too much and become sticky, chill them for a few minutes before unrolling. Cold dough is easier to fit into the pan and holds its flaky layers better in the oven.
Neater slices: For bars that cut cleanly, let the pie cool fully before adding the glaze and slicing. If you cut it while still hot, the filling will be softer and more likely to run.
Extra spice: Add a pinch of nutmeg or apple pie spice if you want a deeper autumn flavor. This is an easy way to make the filling taste a bit more homemade without adding much work.
Glaze consistency: If you prefer a thicker icing, use slightly less milk; for a thinner drizzle, add a few drops more. Drizzle with a spoon or a small zip-top bag with the corner snipped for more control.
Make-ahead tip: These bars travel very well, which is one reason they are so popular for potlucks. Bake them the day before, cool completely, then cover the pan tightly and glaze either before serving or after you arrive.