Description
These Warm Cinnamon Apple Crumble Bars combine tender cinnamon-spiced apples with a buttery oat crumble topping. Perfect for cozy fall days, they’re easy to bake and irresistibly delicious served warm. The balance of sweet apple filling and crumbly crust makes these bars a comforting treat ideal for dessert or an afternoon snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Apple Filling
- 3 medium apples, peeled and diced
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Crumble Topping and Crust
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of bars.
- Prepare Apple Filling: In a medium bowl, mix the peeled and diced apples with granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, lemon juice, and cornstarch. This mixture will be the sweet and spiced filling that softens while baking.
- Make Crumble Mixture: In another large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. These dry ingredients will form the base of your crust and topping.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Stir the melted unsalted butter and vanilla extract into the crumble mixture until it reaches a crumbly texture. This mixture needs to hold together when pressed.
- Form the Crust: Press half of the crumble mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan, creating a solid base layer.
- Add Apple Filling: Spread the prepared apple mixture evenly over the crust, distributing it to cover the base completely.
- Top with Crumble: Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture evenly over the apple filling to create a textured topping.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the top turns golden brown and the apple filling becomes tender and bubbling.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool slightly before slicing. Serve warm for the best flavor experience.
Notes
- For an extra crunch, consider adding chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the crumble mixture.
- Use tart apples such as Granny Smith for a tangy contrast to the sweet crumble.
- Let the bars cool completely if you prefer firmer slices, or serve warm with vanilla ice cream for a comforting dessert.
- The lemon juice in the filling helps prevent apple browning and enhances flavor.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
