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Apple Crisp Bars

Apple crisp bars with a buttery oat crumble base and topping, plus a thick spiced apple filling that bubbles as the bars bake. Slice into neat layered bars once fully cooled for clean, crisp edges.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 330
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For oat crumble base and top
  • 2 cup rolled oats
  • 1.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
For apple filling
  • 4 cup apples, peeled and finely diced
  • 0.333 cup granulated sugar
  • 1.5 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Preheat and prep the pan
  1. Preheat the oven to 375F and line a 9x13 pan with parchment for easy lifting.
Make the oat crumble
  1. Combine rolled oats, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt, then drizzle in melted unsalted butter and toss until evenly moistened.
Bake the base
  1. Press 2/3 of the oat mixture firmly into the prepared pan, then bake for 10 minutes.
Fill and top
  1. Toss apples with granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch, and lemon juice, then spread the apple mixture over the hot base.
Add the topping and finish baking
  1. Scatter the remaining oat crumble over the apples, then bake for 30 more minutes until the topping is golden and the filling bubbles.
Cool and slice
  1. Cool completely before slicing into bars so the layers set cleanly.

Notes

For the cleanest bars, cool fully (no rushing) before lifting and slicing. Store covered at room temperature up to 2 days or refrigerate up to 5 days; freeze up to 2 months. For a lighter option, use unsalted butter with a lower-fat baking spread in equal volume, and expect a slightly softer crumble.