Spiced Apple Crumble Bars
Spiced Apple Crumble Bars
Ingredients
For the Crust and Crumble Topping
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
For the Apple Filling
- 4 baking apples, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, peeled, cored, and diced (about 4 cups)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides to easily lift the bars out later.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, light brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and salt. Whisk them together until well combined.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingertips, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. This will form both the crust and the crumble topping.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Press about two-thirds of the crumble mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Use the back of a spoon or your fingers to compact it firmly to form the crust.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
In a separate medium bowl, combine the diced baking apples, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, fresh lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and cornstarch. Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Spread the apple filling evenly over the pressed crust in the baking pan.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Evenly sprinkle the remaining one-third of the crumble mixture over the apple filling.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a knife. The filling should be bubbly around the edges.
⏱️ 45 min•🌡️ 375
- 9
Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang. This is crucial for them to set properly and prevent crumbling when cut. Once cooled, cut into squares.
⏱️ 60 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Spiced Apple Crumble Bars
Ingredients
For the Crust and Crumble Topping
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
For the Apple Filling
- 4 baking apples, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, peeled, cored, and diced (about 4 cups)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides to easily lift the bars out later.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, light brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and salt. Whisk them together until well combined.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingertips, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. This will form both the crust and the crumble topping.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Press about two-thirds of the crumble mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Use the back of a spoon or your fingers to compact it firmly to form the crust.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
In a separate medium bowl, combine the diced baking apples, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, fresh lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and cornstarch. Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Spread the apple filling evenly over the pressed crust in the baking pan.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Evenly sprinkle the remaining one-third of the crumble mixture over the apple filling.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a knife. The filling should be bubbly around the edges.
⏱️ 45 min•🌡️ 375 - 9
Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang. This is crucial for them to set properly and prevent crumbling when cut. Once cooled, cut into squares.
⏱️ 60 min