Print

Best Quick Apple Pie Bars with Oat Crumble – Easy Fall Dessert

best quick apple pie bars - featured image
Print Recipe

These quick apple pie bars are born from a real-life kitchen disaster, incredibly forgiving, and always delicious. They have all the heart and soul of a classic apple pie without any of the fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (188g)
  • 1 ½ cups rolled oats (135g)
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar (200g)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes (170g)
  • 5–6 medium apples (about 2 ½ lbs / 1.1 kg), a mix of tart and sweet (e.g., Granny Smith and Honeycrisp)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (50g)
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups flour, 1 ½ cups rolled oats, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon salt. Add cold cubed butter. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks like coarse sand with some pea-sized butter lumps remaining. Set aside about 1 ½ cups of this mixture for the topping.
  3. Pour the remaining crust mixture into the prepared baking dish. Press it down firmly and evenly into the bottom to form the crust. Use the bottom of a flat measuring cup to pack it tight.
  4. Peel, core, and chop apples into ½-inch cubes. In a separate bowl, toss the chopped apples with ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (if using). Ensure all apple pieces are coated.
  5. Spread the apple filling evenly over the pressed crust. Sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture evenly over the apples. Do not press down.
  6. Place the dish on a baking sheet. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly around the edges.
  7. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before cutting. This allows the filling to set.
  8. Once completely cool, cut into squares using a sharp knife. Lift out with a small spatula.

Notes

Do not overwork the butter; keep it cold for a tender crust and crunchy crumble. Use a mix of apples (tart and sweet) for best texture. Press the crust firmly to prevent crumbling. Let bars cool completely before cutting to avoid falling apart. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and certified gluten-free oats. For a nutty crumble, add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple pie bars, oat crumble, easy fall dessert, quick apple dessert, apple bars

Find it online: https://vexifood.com/best-quick-apple-pie-bars-with-oat-crumble-easy-fall-dessert/