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Cozy Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars

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Tender apples spiced with cinnamon and topped with a buttery oat crumble create a cozy, addictive dessert perfect for fall and winter gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/4 cups (160g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (90g) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (110g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed (use vegan butter for dairy-free)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced (Granny Smith recommended)
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • Optional: 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Optional: pinch of nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
  2. In a large bowl, combine flour, rolled oats, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add cold, cubed butter.
  3. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry cutter or fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces.
  4. Reserve about 1 cup of this mixture for the crumble topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.
  5. Bake the crust for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden.
  6. While the crust bakes, prepare the apple filling by tossing diced apples with lemon juice, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch, and optional vanilla and nutmeg until evenly coated.
  7. Remove the crust from the oven and evenly spread the apple mixture over the warm base.
  8. Sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture evenly over the apples.
  9. Bake for another 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling gently.
  10. Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before cutting.
  11. Use the parchment overhang to lift bars out and transfer to a cutting board. Slice into squares or rectangles.

Notes

Use firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for best texture. Keep butter cold for a flaky crumble. Pre-bake crust to avoid sogginess. Let bars cool before cutting to help them hold together. If apples release too much liquid, add a bit more cornstarch next time.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crumble bars, cinnamon bars, oat topping, fall dessert, easy apple dessert, homemade bars, cozy dessert

Find it online: https://siennaspoon.com/cozy-apple-cinnamon-crumble-bars-recipe-easy-homemade-oat-topping-treats/