Description
Delicious homemade apple bars featuring a buttery oat crust, tender cinnamon-spiced apple filling, and a crisp crumb topping. These bars are perfect for a cozy dessert or sweet snack, with a delightful balance of sweetness and spice.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Topping
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for crust and topping)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cold butter, cut into small cubes
Apple Filling
- 4 cups peeled, chopped fresh apples
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for apple filling)
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
Glaze
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal of the bars.
- Make crust and topping mixture: In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, and the first portion of ground cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside 1½ cups of this crumb mixture for the topping.
- Bake crust: Press the remaining crumb mixture evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the crust is lightly golden and set.
- Prepare apple filling: While the crust bakes, toss the peeled and chopped apples with cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla extract, the second portion of ground cinnamon, and nutmeg if using. Allow this mixture to sit for a few minutes to blend the flavors.
- Assemble bars: Spread the apple filling evenly over the pre-baked crust. Then sprinkle the reserved crumb topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 30 to 35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are bubbly around the edges.
- Cool and glaze: Let the bars cool completely in the pan. Mix powdered sugar with 1 to 2 tablespoons milk until smooth to make a glaze, then drizzle it over the cooled bars before serving, or enjoy them plain.
Notes
- Using cold butter is key to achieving a crumbly and tender crust and topping.
- Letting the apple mixture sit for a few minutes helps thicken the filling as the cornstarch activates.
- For a dairy-free glaze, substitute milk with almond milk or another plant-based milk.
- These bars store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- Feel free to substitute nutmeg with allspice or cloves for a different warm spice flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: apple bars, apple dessert, cinnamon apple bars, crumb bars, baked apple dessert, easy apple bars
