Apple-Oat Streusel Bars

Do you love apples? Need a healthy snack or dessert for your family? This is the recipe for you! Crunchy topping is the best! One of my personal favorites... Can be made gluten free too! Perfect Fall or anytime treat, full of apple goodness... less sugar and fiber rich!

Apple-Oat Streusel Bars

Yield: 12 – 16 bars

Ingredients:

Crust/ topping:

1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2/3 cup all-purpose or gluten free flour
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Optional: 1/3 cup chopped nuts, pecans or walnuts

Filling:

5 medium apples, diced (Gala, Cortland, Pink Lady or Golden Delicious)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Equipment needed:

Medium bowl
Food processor or pastry blender
8 x 8-inch baking pan
Cutting board
Chef or utility knife
Dry measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Parchment paper
Vegetable or baking spray... or butter for pan
Rubber spatula

Ingredient pics

I love apples with cinnamon and oats... don’t you? These bars are super simple to make and they won’t last long! We’ve been known to eat these for breakfast too... Soooo good! Two steps… Simple topping that is used for the crust and streusel topping and then the filling. I don’t even peel the apples... The peels add color, fiber and added nutrients. Kind of like apple pie with a much yummier crust... Grab the type of apple you want and lets begin!!

Preheat oven to 350 F.

First step is to melt the butter! Using a microwave-safe bowl, cut the butter into cubes or slices and place it in the microwave for 20- 30 seconds until melted. While the butter is melting, cut a piece of parchment paper wide enough to fit the pan and overlap ~ 2 inches on each side. The paper makes lifting the bars out of the pan easier and in one piece. Spray or butter the pan and paper lightly. Set pan aside while you make the crust.

Place the ingredients for the crust into a food processor or medium bowl. Pulse or cut the ingredients together to form a crumbly topping, as shown above. Measure out 1 1/2 cups of the mixture and place into the prepared 8 x 8 inch pan. Uniformly press crumbs into the pan.
** If using nuts, place nuts into remaining crumbs and pulse a few times to blend, but keep their shape. Set aside while you make the filling.

I prefer not to peel my apples, as I love the color and fiber the peels add to the bars. Cut , quarter and core the apples. Slice each quarter into 3 – 4 slices and chop into a 1/2-inch sized cube. Place apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, flour and spices into a medium bowl and toss to well coat. Use a rubber spatula to scrap the sides as you stir. Place filling evenly into the crust lined pan. Pour remaining crumbs on top and press down firmly into pan.

Now it’s time to bake! Place pan into a preheated 350 F oven and bake for 50 – 55 minutes until topping is golden brown and filling starts to bubble. Apples need to be fork tender too! When pan is removed from the oven, apply downward pressure using a bent edged spatula to compress bars., as shown above. Allow pan to totally cool for at least an hour before attempting to remove from the pan. To serve, remove the bars by carefully lifting the parchment and setting on a cutting board. Using a sharp bread or chef knife, slice bars by directly applying downward pressure. (Resist the urge to slice up and down as bars initially are very delicate and might crumble.)

** Pictured are pans with and without nuts!

These apple-oat streusel bars are delicious!! Go ahead & take a bite… I know you want to eat the whole pan, but please share... Enjoy!!