These apple crumb bars make the perfect breakfast, incredibly delicious dessert or even an indulgent snack. Serve them warm for a comforting treat, cold when on the go or with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
There’s something about this season that makes us all crave apple treats. However, making an apple pie from scratch can be a painful process. There’s a lot of refrigeration involved, a rolling pin and a good share of craftiness (hello, pie crust toppings that seem incredibly difficult to replicate).
These apple crumb bars pack all the apple flavors we crave + all the deliciousness of a homemade apple pie but in a super easy to make form.
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You don’t need a lot of fancy ingredients and definitely not a ton of technique the process is as simple as it can get and only takes around 15 minutes of active time.
Now let’s dive deep into this super easy recipe.
How to make delicious apple crumble bars?
For me, the secret to delicious apple pie bars is a great crust and topping and a super flavorful filling.
For the crust, I like to go with a combination of:
- Oats
- Flour
- Butter
- Sugar
- Spices
Some people prefer to keep their crust neutral but I prefer to infuse it with flavor so every part of the crumble bar is delicious (and not just the filling!).
Adding some oats also make the crust more resistant so you can take your bars on the go + it’s a great way to make them a bit healthier so you don’t feel too guilty when you eat the whole batch by yourself because they are so good you just couldn't share.
For the filling we use:
- Apples
- Lemon juice
- Cornstarch
- Sugar
- Spices
Again, the spices add the kick. The lemon juice and cornstarch help to bind everything together so when you slice your apple bars they hold their shape.
Do you need to cook the filling before baking the apple crumb bars?
Not at all! That’s what I love about this recipe, there aren’t any extra steps complicating everything. Just place the filling over the crust, top it with extra crumbs and take everything to the oven to bake.
Are the crust and crumble the same when making crumb bars?
Yes! I told you this was an easy recipe. The difference is that we are going to press tightly the crust so it really holds up. The crumble, on the other hand, is lightly sprinkled on top.
Make a big batch - more like a HUGE batch - and freeze half for later, then just eat the rest for breakfast, snack and dessert.
Tools needed for Apple Pie Crumb Bars
Apple Crumb Bars
Ingredients
For the crumble
- 1 Cup oats
- 1 Cup flour
- ¼ Cup sugar
- ½ Cup brown sugar
- 1 Tsp cinnamon
- ¼ Tsp nutmeg
- ¼ Tsp ginger
- ½ Cup butter, melted
For the filling:
- 2 Apples, peeled and diced
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 3 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tsp cinnamon
- ¼ Tsp nutmeg
- ¼ Tsp ginger
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a bowl combine all the filling ingredients and toss until everything is well coated. Set aside.
- In another bowl combine oats and flour. Mix in sugar, brown sugar and spices.
- Pour melted butter and stir to combine.
- Press half of the crumb mix into prepared pan, pressing firmly so the mix is tightly packed. Cover with the apple filing and finish with the rest of the crumb topping.
- Take to the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until the crumb is golden brown and the filling is slightly bubbly.
Pin Apple Crumb Bar for later
Apple Pie Crumb Bars
Ingredients
- For the crumble
- 1 Cup oats
- 1 Cup flour
- ¼ Cup sugar
- ½ Cup brown sugar
- 1 Tsp cinnamon
- ¼ Tsp nutmeg
- ¼ Tsp ginger
- ½ Cup butter melted
- For the filling:
- 2 Apples peeled and diced
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 3 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tsp cinnamon
- ¼ Tsp nutmeg
- ¼ Tsp ginger
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a bowl combine all the filling ingredients and toss until everything is well coated. Set aside.
- In another bowl combine oats and flour. Mix in sugar, brown sugar and spices.
- Pour melted butter and stir to combine.
- Press half of the crumb mix into prepared pan, pressing firmly so the mix is tightly packed. Cover with the apple filing and finish with the rest of the crumb topping.
- Take to the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until the crumb is golden brown and the filling is slightly bubbly.
Hi, my name is Melissa! I live in Spanish Fork, Utah. I'm happily married to Rob, and together we have five wonderful kids. Our family loves to embark on adventures, often in our RV, exploring the great outdoors. I'm an avid reader and a big fan of Hallmark movies – they always have a way of lifting my spirits. Hiking is another passion of mine; there's nothing like the tranquility of nature. I have a sweet tooth for chocolate and a love for Mexican food, both of which make life a little more delicious. In my downtime, I enjoy playing games with my family, creating memories and sharing laughter. Life is an adventure, and I'm here to enjoy every moment of it! I'm the blogger and creative mind behind the blog A Sparkle of Genius! Check out our posts on recipes, crafts, kid stuff, printables, travel and more!