Easy Apple Crumble Bars
These easy apple crumble bars have a buttery shortbread-style base, a soft cinnamon apple filling and a generous golden crumble topping. The same simple mixture is used for both the base and topping, which saves time and keeps the recipe nice and straightforward.They are perfect for holiday gatherings, potlucks, bake sales or an easy fall dessert. Let the bars cool completely before slicing. It makes a big difference.
Equipment
- 8-inch square baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Paring knife
- Vegetable peeler
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
Ingredients
Crumble Base and Topping
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup butter unsalted and softened
- 1 egg large
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon Apple Filling
- 4 cups apples peeled and finely diced, about 4 medium apples
- ⅓ cup brown sugar packed
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1½ tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
Prepare the baking pan.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang along the sides. This makes the cooled apple crumble bars much easier to lift out.
Make the crumble mixture.
- Add the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt to a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine. Add the softened butter, egg and vanilla, then mix with a fork or your fingertips until a soft, crumbly dough forms. The mixture does not need to look perfectly smooth.
Press in the base.
- Set aside about one-third of the crumble mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Prepare the apple filling.
- In a separate bowl, combine the diced apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, vanilla and salt. Stir until the apples are evenly coated. Dice the apples fairly small so they soften properly and the squares slice neatly.
Assemble the apple crumble bars.
- Spread the cinnamon apple filling evenly over the base. Sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture over the apples, leaving a few small spaces where the filling can show through.
Bake until golden.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling lightly around the edges.
Cool and slice.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan for at least 1 hour. Lift them out using the parchment paper and cut into 12 squares with a sharp knife.
Let the easy apple crumble bars cool completely before slicing. The cinnamon apple filling thickens as it rests, helping the squares hold together and giving you cleaner, neater pieces.
Notes
- Use firm baking apples such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp or Pink Lady for the best apple crumble bars. A mix of tart and sweet apples works especially well.
- Dice the apples fairly small so they soften evenly and the apple crumble squares hold together when sliced.
- Use softened butter, not melted butter. The crumble mixture should look a little rough but hold together when pressed.
- Press the bottom layer firmly into the pan to create a sturdy base for the cinnamon apple filling.
- Let the baked bars cool completely before cutting. The apple filling thickens as it cools, and the slices will be much neater.
- For extra flavour, add a pinch of ground ginger or a handful of chopped pecans to the crumble topping.
- Serve these easy apple crumble bars at room temperature or slightly warmed with vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition
Serving: 1squareCalories: 286kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 165mgPotassium: 87mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 397IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg
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