Description
Delicious and easy-to-make Apple Crisp Bars featuring a buttery oat and flour crumb crust topped with tender cinnamon-spiced apples and crunchy walnuts. Perfect as a snack or dessert, these bars combine the comforting flavors of classic apple crisp in a convenient handheld form.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Apple Filling
- 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later.
- Mix Crust Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the melted unsalted butter until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.
- Set Aside Topping: Reserve about 3/4 cup of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form an even crust layer.
- Prepare Apple Filling: In another bowl, toss the peeled, cored, and diced apples with lemon juice, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, ensuring the apples are evenly coated with the spices and sugar.
- Assemble Bars: Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crust layer in the baking pan.
- Add Topping and Nuts: Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the apples, then evenly distribute the chopped walnuts on top if using.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool for at least 20 minutes. Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan onto a cutting board. Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- For extra crunch, toast the walnuts before adding them to the topping.
- You can substitute the walnuts with pecans or omit nuts altogether for a nut-free version.
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a more tangy filling or sweeter varieties like Fuji or Honeycrisp for a milder taste.
- These bars store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- To reheat, warm in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or in a low oven until warmed through.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
