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Easy Apple Crisp Bars Recipe

Easy Apple Crisp Bars Recipe
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★★★★★

4.8 from 19 reviews

These Easy Apple Crisp Bars combine a buttery oat crust with a tender apple filling and a crumbly topping, making a perfect seasonal dessert that’s simple to prepare and delightful to share.

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 after baking.
  2. Make the Crust: In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture is coarse and crumbly. Firmly press half of this mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the crust.
  3. Prepare Apple Filling: In a separate bowl, toss the thinly sliced peeled apples with granulated sugar and vanilla extract until evenly coated. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crust in the baking pan.
  4. Add Crumb Layer: Sprinkle the remaining oat and flour mixture over the layer of apples in the pan, covering them completely.
  5. Prepare and Add Topping: In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and softened butter. Mix thoroughly until the mixture forms a crumbly texture. Sprinkle this crumbly topping evenly over the previous crumb layer.
  6. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
  7. Cool and Serve: Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack. Once fully cooled, lift out the bars using the parchment paper lining, cut into squares, and serve.

Notes

  • Use tart apple varieties like Granny Smith for a balanced sweetness and natural tartness.
  • If apples are very juicy, consider tossing them with 1 teaspoon of cornstarch to avoid a soggy crust.
  • Ensure butter for the crust is cold for better crumbly texture.
  • You can substitute brown sugar with coconut sugar for a subtle flavor variation.
  • Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
  • Reheat bars briefly in the microwave or oven for a warm, freshly baked experience.

Nutrition

Keywords: Apple crisp bars, easy apple dessert, oat crust dessert, fall dessert, apple bars, crumb topping dessert

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