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Easy Apple Crisp Bars Recipe

Easy Apple Crisp Bars Recipe
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★★★★★

5.1 from 7 reviews

Easy Apple Crisp Bars are a delightful fall dessert featuring a buttery oat crust topped with tender, cinnamon-spiced apples and a sweet crumbly topping. Perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy autumn afternoons, these bars combine the comforting flavors of apple crisp into an easy-to-cut bar form, making them simple to serve and enjoy.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust and Crumb:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Apple Filling:

  • 3 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal of the bars after baking.
  2. Make the Crust: In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in the cold cubed butter using a pastry cutter or fingers until the mixture becomes coarse and crumbly. Press half of this mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.
  3. Prepare Apple Filling: In a separate bowl, toss the peeled and thinly sliced apples with granulated sugar and vanilla extract until evenly coated. Spread this apple mixture evenly over the crust layer in the pan.
  4. Add Crumb Layer: Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture evenly over the layer of apples, covering them completely.
  5. Prepare and Add Topping: In a small bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, and softened butter until crumbly. Sprinkle this crumbly topping evenly over the oat crumb layer.
  6. Bake: Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes. The bars are done when the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when tested with a fork.
  7. Cool and Serve: Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack. Use the parchment paper to lift the bars out of the pan, cut into squares, and serve.

Notes

  • For best results, use tart apple varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for a balanced sweetness and texture.
  • Be sure to cool the bars completely before cutting to ensure clean slices.
  • Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
  • You can add a pinch of nutmeg to the apple filling for an extra layer of warm spice.
  • If you prefer a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crisp bars, fall dessert, apple bars, oat crust, easy apple dessert, cinnamon apple bars, baked apple bars

Find it online: https://kitchenwithkai.com/easy-apple-crisp-bars-recipe/