Meet your new favorite apple dessert, apple crisp bars! These bars are tasty and unbelievably easy, perfect for last minute company.
Next time, try making apple roses, beautiful and elegant dessert.
A heaping cinnamon-y apple layer sandwiched between shortbread crust and crunchy oat brown sugar topping. Add some homemade caramel and you'll be hooked. Add a scoop of vanilla homemade ice cream and you'll do your happy dance.
❤️ Why You'll Love It
Fall is just around the corner and fall means apples.. loads of apples.
- These apple crisp bars are a very easy way to enjoy apples sitting around on your kitchen counter.
- Very easy recipe for beginners
- Freezer friendly
🥄 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In your food processor, add butter, brown sugar, flour and salt then process until small lumps form.
- Line a 13x9 baking dish with parchment paper letting it dangle a bit for easy lifting out of the dish.
- Spread the mixture and pressing with hands to level.
- Bake for 15 minutes in a 300F oven.
- While the base is baking we'll make the topping.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the topping ingredients and mix with fork until well crumbled and mixed
- Store in fridge until you finish the filling.
- In another bowl, add apple slices, lemon juice and mix well to coat.
- Then add sugar and flour and mix to coat apple slices
- Take the base out of the oven and increase temperature to 350F.
- Sprinkle half the oat mixture on the base layer.
- Add the apple slices and spread evenly.
- Top that with the rest of the topping and bake for almost 40 minutes until top is nicely browned.
🧺 Storage
Leftover can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days when properly stored.
💬 FAQs
Use apples that holds its shape and does not become mushy too quickly. Examples are granny smith, jonagold, honeycrisp, pink lady.. etc
Place bars on a baking sheet or oven safe dish and reheat in a 300F oven for 5-10 minutes until crisped back up and thoroughly heated.
For the majority of my youth life, I’ve been basically a walking stick!! with literally no desire for desserts at all. Now, guess what? I am a walking sweet tooth. I do not know when or why this has happened. Probably change of location?, or may be getting older??... ignore that last statement. I just seem to always long for that after-dinner dessert.
This is a very quick and easy dessert that can be made, frozen and just take a square or two when craving hits.
📣 Related Recipes
- These puff pastry apple roses are easy to make and great for entertaining with lots of variations to choose from.
- Make these healthy baked apple slices for an after dinner treat , add a scoop of vanilla or yogurt ice cream to get everyone excited.
- Here is an easy recipe for apple strudel made with phyllo dough and full of fall flavor.
- Apple cream cheese bundt is sweet and spicy with creamy goodness inside.
I hope you'll like this recipe and please if you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry — I love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter!
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Apple crisp bars
Ingredients
For the base
- ¾ cup butter cut into ½-inch pieces.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour.
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar.
- ½ teaspoon salt.
For the filling:
- 4 large apples peeled and sliced.
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice.
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour.
- 2 Tablespoons sugar.
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
For the topping:
- ¾ cup all purpose flour.
- ¾ cup old fashioned oats.
- ¾ cup light brown sugar.
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder.
- ⅓ teaspoon ground cinnamon.
- A dash of salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter cut into pieces.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300F.
Make the base:
- In your food processor add base ingredients and pulse until small lumps form.
- Spread mixture into a 13-inch baking pan and press tightly with the back of a spoon or a spatula.
- Bake the base for 15 minutes.
- Take out of oven and raise temperature to 350F.
Make the apple filling:
- In a large bowl, combine filling ingredients and mix well until apple slices are well coated.
Make the topping:
- In a deep bowl, combine topping ingredients and mix with a fork until it resembles small crumbs.
- Spread half the topping mixture over the base then add the apples and level.
- Sprinkle the rest of the topping on top of the apple layer to cover.
- Bake for 40 minutes.
- Let it cool down, cut and serve.
Notes
- Use unsalted butter.
- Granny smith apples work best for this recipe, but you can use any firm apple or apple mix you like.
- Storage: Leftover can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days when properly stored.
- To reheat: Place bars on a baking sheet or oven safe dish and reheat in a 300F oven for 5-10 minutes until crisped back up and thoroughly heated.
- Please check the nutrition disclaimer policy.
Nutrition
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First published Aug 10, 2018 . Last updated September 6, 2022 with important tips, clear step by step instructions and readability.
Jess Evans
Made this tonight with some honey crisp apples- YUM!
Amira
Jess, thanks for trying this recipe, I am glad you liked it.
Susie Lodato
This was one of the best apple desserts we've had and everyone loved it. The recipe was so easy to follow. Thank you.
Amira
Thanks Susie for trying this recipe out. I am happy you've liked it.
Kim Stebbins
I have not commented before, but just want to tell you that I enjoy your charming blog and lovre reading about your family and fascinating recipes. I try to read all your posts that land in my email. I can’t wait to try this one, along with many others I have bookmarked. I live alone, so I save my favorites to try out when my children visit . Thank you for sharing your culture, your recipes, and your interesting stories!
Amira
Kim, thank you so much for your sweet comment. I love talking about my crazy boys :), they are unexpected and full of surprises. I hope you'll like the recipes you try. Please come back and give feedback or shoot me an email with a picture, I love seeing your creations in the kitchen.