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Home Baking

Apple Crumble Bars

By:Nagi
Published:17 May '19Updated:28 Nov '23
95 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

Apple crumble in bar form?? They’re all MINE! (Especially if topped with ice cream and drowned in caramel😂) Apple Bars are a simple apple recipe with a shortbread base, juicy cinnamon apple filling and crumbly topping. You’ll love how it smells when it’s in the oven!

Apple Crumble Bars with ice cream and salted caramel sauce being drizzled over

Apple Bars

There’s no question – apple is my favourite fruit for cooking. From magic Self Saucing Caramel Baked Apples to classic Apple Crumble, Apple Cake and stay-moist Apple Muffins, it is the single most used fruit in my dessert world.

Perhaps because I always have them – an apple a day keeps the doctor away!

Perhaps because apple desserts tend to be less sweet than rich chocolate desserts (not that I’ve ever been known to turn away a slice of chocolate cake).

Or perhaps simply because I just really love cooked apples, cooked until soft with a touch of sugar and hint of cinnamon so they become juicy and syrupy.

I don’t delve too deep into reasoning. I just make. And EAT!!!🤩

Apple filling for Apple Crumble Bars

I use twice the amount of apples compared to similar recipes so there’s plenty of juicy apple filling!

What you need for Apple Bars

Everything I use in Apple Crumble makes an appearance in this Apple Bars recipe. It’s a simple recipe, with one mixture doing double duty as the base and crumbly topping. 

Best apples for Apple Bars?

My favourite is Granny Smith apples, same as what I use for Apple Crumble. I love the combination of slight tartness with the sweet, and also it’s a firmer apple so it holds its shape once cooked rather than collapsing into mush (though mush would still be nice 😂).

Apple Crumble Bar ingredients

The making part

A very easy apple recipe made using cooked fresh apples, here’s how it goes down:

  1. Simple butter-sugar-flour mixture for base & topping

  2. Press some of the mixture lightly into base, bake until light golden

  3. Filling – toss loads of fresh apples, cinnamon, sugar and flour (flour thickens juices that comes out of apples to make it jammy)

  4. Top with apple filling

  5. Mix remaining mixture with oats* then crumble over top

  6. Bake until golden

* Oats – in my world, Apple Crumble isn’t a crumble unless there’s oats in the topping. But I like having a clean shortbread-like base. So I use one dough mixture but I only add oats in for the topping.

How to make Apple Crumble Bars

Apple Crumble Bars cut into slices, ready to be served

Salted Caramel Sauce for Apple Bars!

I like to make sweet treats so they’re tasty enough to eat plain – and certainly these bars are scoffable as they are.

But a little drizzle of Salted Caramel Sauce would certainly not go astray! It’s a 7 minute job, easy enough to do while the Apple Bars are in the oven. That recipe will make more than you need, but you won’t be short of things to use it for!

Salted caramel sauce being drizzled over Apple Crumble Bars

Hands as a treat – or plates for dessert

Like Raspberry Jam Bars, Strawberry Bars and Lemon Bars, these Apple Bars are great for eating with your hands.

But they also make a terrific dessert! There’s always a place for a rustic Apple Crumble but sometimes I’m after something a bit “neater” looking for a dinner party, something easier to make than Apple Pie {coming soon!}.

Plus, I have many people in my life who aren’t a huge fan of really sweet, rich desserts so an apple dessert is an ideal option. 

Here’s how I serve Apple Bars as a dessert

  • Warm slice in the microwave for just 30 seconds (just to get the inside going)

  • Pop under grill/broiler for 2 minutes on medium high to get the top really nice and crispy again (because the juicy apple filling underneath makes the top lose its crispy edge after ~18 hours or so. Still delish, but recrisping makes it oven-fresh again)

  • Place on plate, plonk on big scoop of ice cream and drown in Caramel Sauce.

I say “place on plate”, but to be honest, I ate that piece in the photo below with my hands 2 seconds after I snapped the photo…… 😂 – Nagi x

Apple Crumble Bar with ice cream and salted caramel sauce

Watch how to make it

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Apple Crumble Bars with ice cream and salted caramel sauce being drizzled over

Apple Crumble Bars

Author: Nagi
Prep: 20 minutes mins
Cook: 35 minutes mins
Total: 55 minutes mins
Sweet
Western
4.93 from 27 votes
Servings9 - 12 people
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 83
Recipe video above. Tastes like Apple Crumble - in bar form! Shortbread-like base, jammy apple filling and crumbly top. Take it over the top with a drizzle of salted caramel sauce - and ice cream! Great quick apple recipe ideal for a handheld snack, or transform into a dessert for dinner party.

Ingredients

Base & crumble topping:

  • 125g / 1 stick unsalted butter , melted
  • 2 cups (300g) flour , plain/all purpose
  • 1/2 cup (100g) white sugar
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 egg

For crumble topping:

  • 1/3 cup (30g) rolled oats (Note 1)

Apple Filling:

  • 3 - 4 large granny smith apples , cut into 0.7cm / 1/3" dice(~4 cups)
  • 1/4 cup (35g) plain flour (all purpose flour)
  • 1/4 cup (50g) white sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Serving

  • Salted caramel sauce
  • Ice cream!

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 180C/350.
  • Grease a 20cm/8" square pan and line with baking/parchment paper with overhang (so it can be lifted out once cooked).
  • Mix together butter, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt until you can no longer see white bits of flour.
  • Add egg and mix.
  • Lightly press 2/3 of the mixture into the bottom of the pan.
  • Bake for 15 minutes until slightly golden, then remove and cool for 5 minutes.
  • Apple Filling: While the base is cooking, mix together Apple Filling ingredients in a bowl.

Crumble Topping:

  • Add oats into reserved crumble mixture. Mix with wooden spoon / fingers until oats are mostly incorporated into the dough.

Assemble:

  • Spread Apple Filling on base, then use hands to crumble topping all over.
  • Bake for 30 - 35 minutes or until the top is deep golden.
  • Remove and allow to cool in the tin before lifting out of the tin using the baking paper.
  • Cut and serve! Eat with hands, or serve on plates. Take it over the top with ice cream and salted caramel sauce!

Recipe Notes:

1. Oats - traditional oats, not quick, instant or steel cut.
2. Apples - I love making apple crumble with Granny Smith apples because I like the slightly tart with sweet flavour. But these bars can be made with any type of apples. If using very sweet red apples, you may wish to reduce the sugar slightly.
3. Storage - keeps for up to 4 days (even 5!) in an airtight container (fridge if hot where you are). Topping softens within 24 hours but still delish. Also easy to recrisp - just pop under grill/broiler for a few minutes!

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 328cal (16%)Carbohydrates: 51g (17%)Protein: 4g (8%)Fat: 12g (18%)Saturated Fat: 7g (44%)Cholesterol: 48mg (16%)Sodium: 107mg (5%)Potassium: 140mg (4%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 23g (26%)Vitamin A: 405IU (8%)Vitamin C: 2.8mg (3%)Calcium: 29mg (3%)Iron: 1.8mg (10%)
Keywords: Apple crumble bars
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

Life of Dozer

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Belated Mother’s Day weekend away with the RecipeTin Family to Rick Stein’s Bannisters in Port Stephens, a couple of hours north of Sydney. Every car is packed with more food than luggage… And Dozer’s bag is as big as mine! 😂

Dozer bags packed Bannisters Port Stephens

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95 Comments

  1. Angela says

    October 9, 2023 at 6:10 am

    5 stars
    This recipe turned out great! The perfect amount of sweetness and richness. Directions were very straightforward and easy to follow. I loved that most ingredients are kitchen staples. Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Les says

    October 3, 2023 at 11:37 pm

    5 stars
    I used to bake the apple bars from sallys baking addiction and wanted to give this one a try. Did use a bit of whole wheat flour and it was really good, however not comparable with Sally‘s. The base was a bit dense but we liked them a lot. 4.5/5

    Reply
  3. Charmaine Flaherty says

    August 3, 2023 at 6:25 am

    please can you tell me if if can be frozen at any stage

    Reply
  4. Charmaine Flaherty says

    August 3, 2023 at 6:23 am

    can this be frozen at any stage please

    Reply
  5. Rosie says

    July 27, 2023 at 12:01 pm

    Made these to take to work and everyone loved them! Recipe worked flawlessly. Held it’s shape reasonably well to my surprise. Would definitely make again.

    Reply
  6. Laura Russell says

    July 24, 2023 at 3:58 am

    5 stars
    This was even more delicious than I imagined it would be! Amazing! Will make again and again!

    Reply
  7. Priya says

    July 17, 2023 at 7:04 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight and they turned out great. I didnt add oats as i prefer the crumble without it, but added shredded coconut instead. Was quite nice and not overly sweet. My apple hating husband even enjoyed picking at it out of the pan as it cooled. I’ll also add more apple as i like more apple than base and topping.

    Reply
  8. Lydia says

    June 22, 2023 at 12:01 pm

    4 stars
    Used GF flour and shredded coconut instead of oats. Very tasty. Next time will cook par-cook the apples first as they were slightly too firm for my taste.

    Reply
  9. Polly says

    April 8, 2023 at 12:50 pm

    5 stars
    Tasty and easy, another winner.

    Reply
  10. Maria says

    January 21, 2023 at 5:49 am

    5 stars
    Nagi, what happened to your salted caramel recipe? I get an error when I click on the link!! Going to make this tomorrow and will serve warm with sauce and cream😁 giving 5 stars because I know it will be amazing!! X

    Reply
    • MWT says

      July 1, 2023 at 11:13 am

      I went looking for it too, and found a recipe in: https://www.recipetineats.com/baked-apple-pie-fries-salted-caramel-dipping-sauce/

      Reply
  11. Esther says

    July 4, 2022 at 8:54 pm

    4 stars
    Easy and delicious! Thanks Nagi-another winner!

    Reply
  12. Yannick says

    December 7, 2021 at 8:12 pm

    5 stars
    I made this today. I used a bigger form so added a bit more of everything. It turned out fantastic! I also added some crushed almonds along with the oats for the topping. Love it!

    Reply
  13. Julie says

    October 19, 2021 at 1:05 pm

    5 stars
    Keeping this recipe forever, these were AMAZINGGG!! My boyfriend and I can’t stop eating them lol, highly recommend and extremely easy! It’s a fool proof recipe!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      October 20, 2021 at 9:41 am

      Thanks! N x

      Reply
  14. Jennie says

    September 30, 2021 at 7:42 pm

    Nagi, this recipe looks like the perfect way to use (and deliciously preserve) my backyard spartan apples. I was hoping to make a double batch and freeze some. Do these apple crumble bars freeze ok?

    Reply
  15. Danielle says

    September 5, 2021 at 10:05 pm

    5 stars
    Made this today and it was yum! Substituted brown sugar for white but other wise everything else as stated. Not too sweet just perfect. Another winner from Nagi. Thanks heaps 👍

    Reply
  16. Louamham says

    June 14, 2021 at 7:29 pm

    5 stars
    I made this with a bunch of rhubarb and it was delicious. Thanks Nagi (as always).

    Reply
    • Anne says

      April 18, 2023 at 4:50 pm

      5 stars
      This is amazing!!! I used 3 cups of chopped apples and added a cup of feijoas from my tree. It was just right and not too sweet. I too looked for the salted caramel recipe but it’s no longer on this site.

      Reply
  17. Tessa says

    May 15, 2021 at 2:11 am

    Hi Nagi,
    Thank you for really awesome recipes
    Can I use this Apple bars base in your Apple crumble?
    Regards
    Tessa.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 17, 2021 at 11:27 am

      Hi Tessa, apple crumble traditionally doest have a base – I haven’t tried making it with this though but would love to know if you give it a go! N x

      Reply
  18. Jenny says

    April 29, 2021 at 12:55 pm

    Hi Nagi, Like another follower, just wondering if you use the egg in the pastry base? I didn’t see it used in the video but it is listed as an ingredient.

    Reply
  19. jess says

    April 28, 2021 at 2:50 pm

    hey Nagi,

    Is egg required in this recipe? judging From your video, you didn’t add them in… thank you in advance.

    Reply
  20. Chrystal says

    February 8, 2021 at 8:20 am

    5 stars
    Made this yesterday. It is soooo good. Doubled recipe and baked in a 9×13, Can I freeze this to enjoy next month? Thank you Nagi! All your recipes are delicious. I’m so glad I found your website!!!!

    Reply
    • Charlotte says

      September 23, 2021 at 12:02 am

      Really yummy and successful recipe! Followed it to a t and they were perfect

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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