Apple Bars Recipe

Introduction

These apple bars combine a tender crust with a warm, spiced apple filling and a crumbly topping. Perfect for autumn gatherings or a cozy dessert, they’re easy to make and delightfully flavorful.

Ingredients

• 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
• 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)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Set aside 1½ cups of this mixture for the topping.
3. Step 3: Press the remaining crumb mixture evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 10–12 minutes until lightly golden.
4. Step 4: While the crust bakes, toss chopped apples with cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and nutmeg if using. Let the mixture sit a few minutes to blend flavors.
5. Step 5: Spread the apple mixture evenly over the baked crust and sprinkle the reserved crumb topping over the apples.
6. Step 6: Bake again for 30–35 minutes until the top is golden and the apples are bubbly around the edges.
7. Step 7: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before lifting them out. Mix powdered sugar with milk to create a glaze and drizzle over cooled bars, or enjoy plain.

Tips & Variations

• Use a tart apple variety like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweetness and acidity.
• Add chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans to the crumb topping for extra crunch.
• To make dairy-free, substitute butter with a vegan margarine or coconut oil.
• For a festive twist, mix in a pinch of ground cloves or allspice to the apple filling.

Storage

Store apple bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to one week. Reheat gently in the microwave or oven before serving for a warm treat.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen apples instead of fresh?

Yes, but be sure to thaw and drain the frozen apples well to prevent excess moisture from making the bars soggy.

How do I avoid the crust being too soft?

Make sure to bake the crust for 10–12 minutes before adding the apple filling. This helps it set and prevents sogginess from the apples.

Apple Bars Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.4 from 148 reviews

These delicious Apple Bars feature a buttery oat crust topped with a warm, spiced apple filling and a crumbly topping. Perfect for dessert or a cozy snack, they combine the flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla with fresh apples baked to bubbly perfection. Finished with a simple powdered sugar glaze, these bars are easy to make and wonderfully flavorful.

• Author: Emma
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 12 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

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Crust and Topping Ingredients

• 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 Ingredients

• 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 Ingredients

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Prepare Crust and Topping Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve about 1½ cups of this crumb mixture for the topping.
3. Bake Crust: Press the remaining crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the crust turns lightly golden.
4. Mix Apple Filling: While the crust is baking, toss the peeled and chopped apples with cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and nutmeg if using. Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes to let the flavors meld.
5. Assemble Bars: Spread the apple filling evenly over the prebaked crust. Then sprinkle the reserved crumb topping evenly over the apples.
6. Bake Bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the crumb topping is golden brown and the apples are bubbly around the edges.
7. Cool and Glaze: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before lifting them out with the parchment paper. For the glaze, whisk together powdered sugar and milk until smooth; drizzle over the cooled bars before serving or leave plain if preferred.

Notes

• Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweetness and acidity.
• Cold butter is essential to achieve the crumbly topping texture.
• You can adjust the cinnamon and nutmeg amounts to your taste preference.
• Make sure bars are completely cooled before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting.
• These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.

Keywords: apple bars, apple dessert, baked apple bars, crumb bars, fall dessert, cinnamon apple bars