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Easy Apple Crisp Bars Recipe for Cozy Baking

Easy Apple Crisp Bars

These apple crisp bars combine a short oat crust, tender cinnamon apples, and a golden buttery crumb topping. They make 16 cozy dessert bars and are delicious plain or served with vanilla ice cream.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 minute
Servings: 16 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Apple Filling
  • 5 apples, about 2 pounds medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
Crust and Crumb Topping
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on the sides to lift out the cooled bars.
  2. Whisk together the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the melted butter and vanilla until the mixture is evenly moistened and crumbly.
  3. Press about two-thirds of the crumb mixture firmly into the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes while you prepare the apples.
  4. Combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, flour or cornstarch, lemon juice, cinnamon, optional nutmeg, and salt. Toss gently until every slice is coated.
  5. Spread the apple mixture over the warm par-baked crust. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture evenly over the apples.
  6. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. If the topping browns too quickly, loosely cover the pan with foil.
  7. Cool the bars completely in the pan for at least 1 hour before slicing. For especially clean bars, chill them briefly after cooling, then lift them out using the parchment.

Notes

Use a mixture of tart and sweet apples for the best flavor. Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days. Rewarm individual bars briefly before serving.