Description
Warm Cinnamon Apple Crumble Bars are a comforting, delicious dessert perfect for cozy afternoons or special occasions. Featuring a tender apple filling spiced with cinnamon and lemon juice, sandwiched between a buttery oat crumble crust and topping, these bars deliver the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and spice with every bite. Easy to prepare and bake, they’re ideal for sharing or enjoying warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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 Crust and Topping
- 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 prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Prepare the apple filling: In a bowl, combine the peeled and diced apples with granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss gently to coat the apples evenly, then set this mixture aside to allow the flavors to meld.
- Mix dry crumble ingredients: In another large bowl, stir together all-purpose flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon to create the base for the crumble.
- Add wet ingredients to crumble mixture: Pour in the melted unsalted butter and vanilla extract, then stir until the mixture reaches a crumbly texture that will form the crust and topping.
- Form the crust: Press about half of the crumble mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, forming a solid base layer.
- Add apple filling: Spread the prepared apple mixture evenly over the pressed crust layer, ensuring a uniform layer for balanced flavor in each bar.
- Top with remaining crumble: Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture evenly over the apples to create the crunchy topping.
- Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the apples inside are tender and bubbling.
- Cool and serve: Remove from the oven and let the bars cool slightly, then slice into 9 equal bars. Serve warm for the best flavor and texture experience.
Notes
- Use tart apple varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for better flavor balance.
- Allow bars to cool before slicing to prevent crumbling.
- For extra indulgence, serve warm bars with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
- The crumble topping can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for quick assembly.
