Spiced Apple Crumble Bars
Spiced Apple Crumble Bars
Ingredients
For the Shortbread Crust
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
For the Apple Filling
- 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
For the Crumble Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line an 8x8 or 9x9 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides to easily lift the bars out later.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
For the Shortbread Crust: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add the 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter cubes. Using a pastry blender, two forks, or your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
Press the crust mixture evenly and firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the crust is lightly golden brown around the edges.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375
- 4
While the crust is baking, prepare the Apple Filling: In a large bowl, combine the diced Granny Smith apples, 1/4 cup light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Prepare the Crumble Topping: In another medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 cup rolled oats, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Add the 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter cubes and cut them into the dry ingredients until the mixture forms coarse, crumbly pieces.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Assemble the bars: Once the crust is pre-baked, remove it from the oven. Spread the apple filling evenly over the warm crust. Then, sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apple layer.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 35 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly and tender when pierced with a fork.
⏱️ 40 min•🌡️ 375
- 8
Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack. This is a crucial step for the bars to set properly and be easy to cut. Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan and cut them into squares.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Spiced Apple Crumble Bars
Ingredients
For the Shortbread Crust
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
For the Apple Filling
- 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
For the Crumble Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line an 8x8 or 9x9 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides to easily lift the bars out later.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
For the Shortbread Crust: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add the 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter cubes. Using a pastry blender, two forks, or your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
Press the crust mixture evenly and firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the crust is lightly golden brown around the edges.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375 - 4
While the crust is baking, prepare the Apple Filling: In a large bowl, combine the diced Granny Smith apples, 1/4 cup light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Prepare the Crumble Topping: In another medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 cup rolled oats, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Add the 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter cubes and cut them into the dry ingredients until the mixture forms coarse, crumbly pieces.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Assemble the bars: Once the crust is pre-baked, remove it from the oven. Spread the apple filling evenly over the warm crust. Then, sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apple layer.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 35 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly and tender when pierced with a fork.
⏱️ 40 min•🌡️ 375 - 8
Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack. This is a crucial step for the bars to set properly and be easy to cut. Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan and cut them into squares.