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A plate of Apple Crumble Bars dusted with powdered sugar, served with coffee on the side.
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Apple Crumble Bars Recipe
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
 

My Apple Crumble Bars combine juicy cinnamon apples with a buttery crust and crumble topping for an easy dessert that's better than apple pie.

Servings: 12 bars
Author: Gemma Stafford
Ingredients
Apple Filling
  • 4 large (2 lbs/900 g) Granny Smith Apples , peeled and diced into ¼ inch (6 mm) pieces
  • ½ cup (4 oz/115 g) granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Crust and Crumble Topping
  • 3 cups (15 oz/426 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (8 oz/225 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (8 oz/225 g) butter , cold and diced
  • 1 large egg , cold
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
To Make the Apple Crumble Bars Filling

  1. In a large bowl, toss the apples with the sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg until evenly coated. Set aside.

To Make the Apple Crumble Bars Crust and Crumble
  1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt.
  2. Cut in the butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

  3. Add the egg and vanilla into the flour mixture and mix until evenly incorporated and crumbly.

  4. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Butter and line a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33 cm) baking dish with parchment. Set aside.

To Assemble the Apple Crumble Bars
  1. Press half of the crumble mixture firmly into the prepared pan to form an even crust.
  2. Spread the apple filling over the crust, then sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture over the top.
To Bake the Apple Crumble Bars
  1. Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until the topping is lightly golden and the filling is bubbling.
  2. Cool completely in the pan before slicing into bars.
To Serve and Store the Apple Crumble Bars

  1. Enjoy with a dollop of whipped cream! Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Recipe Notes
  • Dice apples evenly for a consistent texture. This promotes even baking throughout.
  • Granny Smith apples work best here. I recommend using Granny Smith apples for their tart flavor and firm texture, but you can use any apples that you prefer in this recipe. For a similar texture, use Braeburn, Pink Lady, or Jonathan.
  • Press the base firmly to prevent a crumbly crust. A firm, even base will make cutting the bars easier.
  • Add nuts for crunch. Stir 1/2 cup (2 1/2 oz/71 g)  of chopped walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, or almonds into the crumble topping.
  • Add some hearty texture. Replace 1/4 cup (1 1/4 oz/35 g) of the all-purpose flour with old-fashioned rolled oats for a hearty apple oat crumble bites flavor.
  • Be sure the apple filling is bubbling before removing bars from the oven. This ensures that they are cooked fully and will set up properly.
    • If the topping gets too brown before the filling is done, loosely tent with foil.
  • Let the bar cool completely before slicing for clean bars. Additionally, wipe the blade clean between cuts.
  • Enjoy as-is, or make it fancy!  These apple bars are a perfect grab-and-go treat, but you can also enjoy them as a plated dessert with whipped cream or ice cream (or both!) and a drizzle of caramel sauce.