Sweet Comfort Apple Crisp Bars (Print)

Spiced apples and oat crumble layered on buttery crust for a warm, comforting dessert bar.

# Ingredients:

→ Crust

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup rolled oats
03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

→ Apple Filling

06 - 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
07 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
08 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
09 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
10 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
12 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice

→ Oat Crumble Topping

13 - 3/4 cup rolled oats
14 - 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
15 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar
16 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
17 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
18 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, and salt. Add cold cubed butter and blend with a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Press firmly and evenly into the base of the prepared pan.
03 - Bake the crust for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside while preparing the filling.
04 - In a large bowl, toss diced apples with both sugars, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice until evenly coated. Layer the apple mixture over the pre-baked crust.
05 - In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Add melted butter and mix until the mixture is crumbly. Evenly sprinkle the topping over the apples.
06 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and apples are bubbling.
07 - Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Use the parchment overhang to lift out, then cut into bars for serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Uses everyday ingredients so you can whip it up without a special trip to the store
  • Perfect balance of sweet-tart apples and crumbly oat topping
  • Easy to make ahead and slice for lunchboxes or gatherings
  • Warm and nostalgic with a cozy spiced aroma that fills the whole house
  • You can swap apples for pears or add toasted nuts for variety
02 -
  • Great for making ahead and freezes beautifully
  • Delivers that classic apple crisp flavor in a portable bar
  • Packed with whole grain oats for a fiber boost
03 -
  • For super crisp crumble chill the topping for a few minutes before adding to the apples
  • Use a mix of apple types for more depth in flavor and texture
  • Make sure your butter is truly cold when making the crust for maximum flakiness
  • If you cut the bars while they are still warm they will be softer and gooier which some people love just know they will be harder to lift out cleanly
  • I always stash a few of these in the freezer so a quick comfort dessert is never far away

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