Description
Crumbly apple oatmeal bars blend rustic charm with sweet comfort, offering a delightful twist on classic desserts. Warm spices and buttery oat layers invite you to savor each memorable bite of homemade goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (360 milliliters/12.35 ounces) old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup (240 milliliters/4.4 ounces) all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup (180 milliliters/5.3 ounces) brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters/4.2 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
Fruit Filling:
- 3 medium apples (peeled, cored, and diced)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×9-inch baking pan with a light grease coating to ensure easy removal.
- Create the crumb mixture by blending oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl until uniformly combined.
- Incorporate melted butter into the dry ingredients, mixing until the texture becomes a coarse, crumbly consistency that holds together when gently pressed.
- In a separate bowl, toss diced apples with lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch, ensuring each apple piece is evenly coated and the mixture appears glossy.
- Transfer half of the crumb mixture into the prepared baking pan, pressing firmly to create a compact, even base layer that covers the entire bottom surface.
- Carefully spread the seasoned apple filling over the crumb base, distributing the fruit mixture uniformly to guarantee consistent flavor in each bite.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the apple layer, gently covering the filling and creating a textured, rustic top.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, watching for a golden-brown topping and bubbling fruit filling as indicators of doneness.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool in the pan for 30 minutes, which helps the filling set and makes cutting into clean squares easier.
- Slice into squares and serve at room temperature, enjoying the harmonious blend of sweet apples and buttery oat crumble.
Notes
- Choose ripe, firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and balanced sweetness in your bars.
- Gently press the crumb mixture to create a compact base and topping without overworking the dough, which can make it tough.
- Sprinkle additional cinnamon or nutmeg over the top before baking for an extra warm, aromatic flavor boost.
- Allow bars to cool completely to ensure clean, neat slices and help the filling set properly for a more structured dessert.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg