Print

Apple Bars Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 91 reviews

These Apple Bars are a delightful treat combining a crumbly oat and cinnamon-infused crust with a tender, spiced apple filling. Perfect for fall gatherings, breakfast, or dessert, they offer a nostalgic apple pie flavor in easy-to-serve squares with an optional sweet glaze drizzle. Quick to prepare and bake, these bars balance tart and sweet apples with warm spices for a comforting, delicious baked good.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Crust and Topping:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for crust and topping)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup cold butter, cut into small cubes

For the Apple Filling:

  • 4 cups peeled, chopped fresh apples
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for apple filling)
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)

For the Glaze (Optional):

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1–2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to allow easy removal and even baking.
  2. Make the Crust and Topping: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon designated for the crust and topping. Cut the cold, cubed butter into the dry mixture with a pastry cutter or fork until it resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve about 1½ cups of this crumbly mixture for the topping.
  3. Press the Base: Press the remaining crumb mixture evenly and firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan using the back of a spoon or measuring cup. Bake this base for 10–12 minutes or until it is lightly golden, giving the crust a head start.
  4. Prepare the Apple Filling: While the crust is baking, toss the peeled and chopped apples in a bowl with cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon for the apple filling, and optional nutmeg. Let it sit for a few minutes so the flavors meld and the cornstarch coats the apples evenly.
  5. Assemble and Bake: Once the crust is lightly golden, remove the pan from the oven and spread the apple filling evenly over the warm crust. Sprinkle the reserved crumb topping over the apples completely. Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 30–35 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the apple filling is bubbly around the edges.
  6. Cool and Glaze: Let the apple bars cool completely in the pan to set properly and allow for clean slicing. If desired, whisk powdered sugar with milk to make a glaze and drizzle it over the cooled bars for an added sweet finish. Otherwise, enjoy plain.

Notes

  • The cinnamon ingredient is split between the crust/topping and the apple filling – be sure to use the amounts listed for each section.
  • Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing to ensure clean, firm edges.
  • Optional: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the crumb topping for extra crunch.
  • These bars freeze well for up to 2 months when individually wrapped in plastic wrap and then placed in a freezer-safe container.
  • Flavors improve when bars are refrigerated overnight, making them perfect for preparing in advance.

Keywords: apple bars, apple dessert, baked apple bars, fall dessert, easy apple recipe, cinnamon apple bars, American dessert, oat crust, apple filling

Find it online: https://liamjayne.com/apple-bars-recipe/