Description
Rustic Apple Crumble Bars with spiced apples and buttery oat topping. A delightful, easy-to-make dessert for any season. Get the recipe!
Ingredients
Scale
- Crumble Base & Topping:
- 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups (135g) old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup (226g) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Apple Filling:
- 6 medium (about 4–5 cups diced) Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- ½ cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Flavor Boosters:
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Prepare the Crumble:: First things first, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This makes lifting the Apple Crumble Bars out so much easier, honestly. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, rolled oats, granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt. Then, cut your very cold butter into small cubes and use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut it into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs. I usually end up with a bit of a floury mess on my counter at this stage, but it’s all part of the charm!
- Form the Base of Your Apple Crumble Bars:: Take about two-thirds of that glorious crumble mixture and press it firmly and evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. Really get in there and compact it! I’ve definitely made the mistake of not pressing hard enough, and then the base crumbles apart when you try to slice the Apple Crumble Bars. Learn from my oops moment, a firm base is crucial. Pop this into the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes, just until it’s lightly golden. You want a head start on that crispiness.
- Whip Up the Apple Filling:: While the base is baking, peel, core, and dice your Granny Smith apples into small, uniform pieces. This is where I sometimes get a little too enthusiastic with the dicing, but consistency helps them cook evenly. In a separate bowl, toss the diced apples with the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Give it a good stir until every apple piece is coated. The smell alone at this stage? Divine! It smells like autumn magic, honestly.
- Assemble Your Apple Crumble Bars:: Once the base is lightly golden, carefully pull it out of the oven. Spread the apple filling evenly over the warm crust. Don’t be shy; pile those apples high! Then, sprinkle the remaining one-third of the crumble mixture generously over the top of the apples. This is the part that will get wonderfully golden and crunchy, adding that essential texture to our Apple Crumble Bars. I usually try to get an even distribution, but a little haphazardness gives it a rustic charm, right?
- Bake to Golden Perfection:: Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 35-45 minutes, or until the apples are tender when pierced with a fork, and the topping is a beautiful golden brown. Your kitchen will smell absolutely incredible, trust me. I’ve definitely peeked in the oven too many times, which probably doesn’t help with even baking, but I just can’t resist that aroma! The edges of the Apple Crumble Bars should be bubbling gently.
- Cool and Enjoy Your Apple Crumble Bars:: This is the hardest part, honestly – waiting! Let the Apple Crumble Bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before attempting to slice them. I know, I know, it’s tempting to dig in right away, but if you try to cut them warm, they’ll fall apart. I learned that the hard way, with a spoon and a very messy plate. Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the entire slab out and then slice into individual bars. They should look gorgeous, smell amazing, and taste like pure, apple-y bliss!