Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Easy Apple Crumb Bars taste like apple pie bars in square form. Tart Granny Smith apples cook with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then bake between two layers of golden brown oat crumble. An easy layered fall dessert.

a stack of apple crumb bars sitting on a cutting board
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below and get the recipe link sent to your inbox. PLUS, you’ll get fresh new recipes weekly!

I love when my kitchen smells like warm spices and sweet apple pie. These apple crumb bars give you all the apple pie vibes in bar form with a simple oat crumble that bakes up golden brown. I love them chilled for tidy squares or slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

They are perfect for bake sales, lunchbox treats, and last-minute dessert cravings. The filling cooks on the stovetop while you mix the crumb topping, then everything bakes into a slab of crumbly goodness you can slice and share.

This dessert can be cut into squares, or rectangles and enjoyed with some whipped cream, a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream, or a drizzle of homemade caramel sauce. 

Table of Contents

Why You Will Love Easy Apple Crumb Bars

  • Tastes just like apple pie without the fuss of rolling a pie crust.
  • Simple ingredients from the grocery store and a few pantry spices.
  • Family friendly apple dessert that slices clean and travels well.
  • Flexible recipe that works with different kinds of apples.
all of the ingredients for apple bars on a white tabletop

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the apple filling:

  • Granny Smith apples: Tart apples hold their shape and balance the sweet brown sugar. Feel free to mix in Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala for a blend of sweet apples.
  • Butter (filling): Adds rich flavor and helps the apple mixture turn syrupy while it simmers.
  • Brown sugar: Sweetens and adds a light caramel note to the apple pie filling.
  • Warm spices: Cinnamon and nutmeg create that classic apple pie flavor. A pinch of ground cloves adds depth.
  • Lemon juice: Brightens the apple mixture and keeps the apple slices from browning.
  • Cornstarch: Thickens the apple layer so the bars set well.

For the oat crumble:

  • All-purpose flour + whole wheat flour: The combo makes a sturdy, flavorful crumb base. If you are out of whole wheat, just use all-purpose.
  • Old fashioned oats: Give the crumble topping a hearty texture. Skip quick oats since they make the topping sandy.
  • Light brown sugar: Sweetens the crumb topping and helps it bake golden brown.
  • Kosher salt: A small amount balances sweetness.
  • Warm spices: A little cinnamon and nutmeg (plus a pinch of ground cloves) season the streusel topping.
  • Butter (crumble): Softened butter binds the dry ingredients into coarse crumbs for a tender, buttery crust.
  • Honey and heavy cream: Help the dough clump into coarse crumbs for an even layer and a tender bite.

How To Make Apple Crumb Bars

  1. Cook the apples: To a skillet, add the butter and sugar and turn on low heat. Add the prepared apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice and stir to combine. Bring the heat to medium and let the apples simmer for 10-15 minutes total time until the sauce begins to form and thicken. 

mixing together the ingredients for the apple filing in a saucepan
  1. Assemble the filling: Once the sauce is thickened, whisk in the cornstarch until no lumps are present. Remove the filling from the heat, set it aside, and let it cool completely. 
  2. Prepare for baking: While the filling is cooling, preheat the oven to 350F. Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper and set it aside. 
  3. Make the crumb topping: Add all of the dry ingredients into a bowl and whisk to combine. Then, add the butter and honey. Mix with your fingers to form a crumbly coarse mixture. Pour in the heavy cream and work it into the crumb mixture. 
mixing the ingredients to make a crumble topping.
  1. Assemble and bake: Add 3/4 of the apple crumb mixture to the bottom of the parchment-lined baking pan and firmly push down creating a crust that goes all the way to the edges. Spread the cooled apple filling on top, then distribute the remaining apple crumb on top and bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown on top. 
  2. Cool and serve: Remove the cooked apple crumble squares from the oven and let them cool completely before slicing and serving with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. 
layering the ingredients in a square baking dish before baking

Expert Tips

  • Flour swaps: No whole wheat flour on hand? Use all all-purpose. For a gluten free option, use a 1:1 gluten free all-purpose flour blend.
  • Oats: Stick with old fashioned oats. Quick oats change the texture and make the topping less coarse and crumbly.
  • Press the bottom layer firmly into the pan. A tight, even layer keeps your apple bars from crumbling.
  • Cool completely before slicing. Let the bars rest until the apple pie filling sets for clean slices and neat squares. 
  • Tools: A pastry blender or food processor makes quick work of the crumb topping. Pulse just until coarse crumbs form.
  • Bigger batch: Double the recipe for a 9×13-inch baking pan and bake a bit longer, checking for golden brown edges.

Variations

  • Use any type of apple – While we used granny smith apples for this apple pie bar recipe because we love the balance of tart and sweet, you can use any variety of apples you enjoy. 
  • Spice blends: Replace the cinnamon and nutmeg with 1 to 1½ teaspoons apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice.
  • Sweeteners: Swap honey with maple syrup for a subtle maple note.
  • Add-ins: Stir ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts into the crumble for crunch. A teaspoon of vanilla extract in the apple filling is lovely. 
  • Don’t like apples? Try making this apple crumb bars recipe with your favorite pears or a mix of apple and pear. 
apple crumb bars sliced and on a piece of white parchment paper

More Apple Dessert Recipes

Enjoyed these Apple Crumb Bars? Leave a quick review and tell us how yours turned out!

a stack of apple crumb bars sitting on a cutting board
5 from 8 votes

Easy Apple Crumb Bars with Oat Crumble

By Katie G.
Apple Crumb Bars are made with fresh apples and a butter crumble topping to make a sweet treat for the fall season! 
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 9 servings
Pin Recipe Comment Print Recipe
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox. PLUS, you’ll get fresh new recipes weekly!

Ingredients 

For the apple filling:

  • 4 granny smith apples, peeled & cubbed
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • Pinch ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 1 tablespoons cornstarch

For the oat crumble:

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Pinch ground cloves
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream
US Customary – Metric

Instructions 

  • In a medium saucepan, combine the butter and sugar together over low heat. Add the apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon and stir. Turn the heat up to medium and let the mixture simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until thickened.
  • Whisk in the cornstarch, smoothing out any lumps, then remove from the heat. Let cool as completely as possible before assembling the bars.
  • Line an 8×8″ pan with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Combine the flours, oats, sugar, salt + spices in a bowl. Add the butter and honey and use your fingers to combine into a crumbly mixture. Add cream and continue to work the dough with your hands. Pour 3/4 of the mixture into your prepared pan, firmly pushing it down evenly and into the corners.
  • Spread the apple filling on top, then sprinkle the remaining crumble across the fruit mixture. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving (otherwise they may be too soft and fall apart). Keep in the fridge until ready to eat.

Notes

Storing: Leftover apple crumble bars can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Freezing: To freeze, wrap any completely cooled apple crumb bars in plastic wrap, then again in aluminum foil. Add them to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and freeze for 3-4 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 0g, Calories: 317kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 32mg, Sodium: 172mg, Potassium: 182mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 30g, Vitamin A: 418IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 31mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @spoonfulflavor or tag #spoonfulflavor!

You May Also Like

5 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

10 Comments

  5. Delicious, and ingredients most of us have around. Just curious how you sliced the apple crumb bars to get 10 servings out of an 8” x 8”??

    Reply

  6. I got to this recipe via your caramel sauce (WHICH I LOVE!!!) so I thought I’d give these a go. Holy Moly!!! These are amazing, the kids and I pretty much finished the batch in one sitting! 
    So delicious!

    Reply