Cinnamon Apple Crumble Bars
Cinnamon 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
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold, cubed
- 1 cup rolled oats
For the Apple Filling
- 4 Granny Smith apples, medium, peeled, cored, and diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Optional Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
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. Lightly grease the parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and salt for the crust and crumble topping. Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter and cut it into the dry ingredients using a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingertips, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Stir in the rolled oats until just combined. Press about two-thirds of this mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the crust. Reserve the remaining one-third of the mixture for the crumble topping.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
In a separate medium bowl, combine the diced Granny Smith apples, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, lemon juice, cornstarch, and vanilla extract. Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Spread the apple filling evenly over the pressed crust in the baking pan. Crumble the reserved topping mixture over the apple filling.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly and tender. If the topping browns too quickly, you can loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil.
⏱️ 45 min•🌡️ 375
- 7
Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang. This is crucial for the bars to set properly.
⏱️ 60 min
- 8
While the bars cool, prepare the optional glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, add a few more drops of milk; if too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Once the bars are completely cool, drizzle the glaze over them. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
⏱️ 10 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Cinnamon 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
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold, cubed
- 1 cup rolled oats
For the Apple Filling
- 4 Granny Smith apples, medium, peeled, cored, and diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Optional Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
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. Lightly grease the parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and salt for the crust and crumble topping. Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter and cut it into the dry ingredients using a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingertips, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Stir in the rolled oats until just combined. Press about two-thirds of this mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the crust. Reserve the remaining one-third of the mixture for the crumble topping.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
In a separate medium bowl, combine the diced Granny Smith apples, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, lemon juice, cornstarch, and vanilla extract. Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Spread the apple filling evenly over the pressed crust in the baking pan. Crumble the reserved topping mixture over the apple filling.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly and tender. If the topping browns too quickly, you can loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil.
⏱️ 45 min•🌡️ 375 - 7
Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang. This is crucial for the bars to set properly.
⏱️ 60 min - 8
While the bars cool, prepare the optional glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, add a few more drops of milk; if too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Once the bars are completely cool, drizzle the glaze over them. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
⏱️ 10 min