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Easy Apple Crumble Bars Recipe with Perfectly Crisp Topping

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These easy apple crumble bars feature a perfectly crisp topping and a lightly spiced apple filling, making them a comforting and crowd-pleasing dessert perfect for gatherings or a sweet treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (90g) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup (200g) packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp recommended)
  • ⅓ cup (67g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
  2. In a large bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup rolled oats, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon salt. Mix until evenly distributed.
  3. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized bits of butter remaining. Do not overmix.
  4. Reserve about 1 ½ cups (roughly 170g) of this mixture for the crumble topping. Press the remaining mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan and pat down firmly.
  5. Bake the crust for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden.
  6. While the crust bakes, toss diced apples with ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch until evenly coated.
  7. Remove the crust from the oven and spread the apple mixture evenly over the warm crust.
  8. Sprinkle the reserved crumble topping evenly over the apples without pressing down.
  9. Bake for another 35-40 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.
  10. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for about 2 hours to let the bars set.
  11. Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars from the pan, cut into squares or rectangles, and enjoy.

Notes

Keep butter cold to ensure a crisp topping. Pre-bake the crust to prevent sogginess. Use tart apples like Granny Smith for best texture. Let bars cool completely before cutting to avoid crumbling. Variations include gluten-free flour, vegan butter substitutes, and adding nuts or berries.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crumble bars, easy apple dessert, crisp topping, cinnamon apple bars, homemade apple bars, fall dessert, potluck dessert

Find it online: https://emmayum.com/easy-apple-crumble-bars-recipe-with-perfectly-crisp-topping-to-try-today/