Apple crumble bars, welcome to my favorite baked good at the moment. We absolutely love these bars and can’t seem to get enough. I’ve baked them three times in the course of a couple of weeks. A warm, gooey, cinnamon apple-filled center. With a sweet, crumble top. Yes, please! It’s a comfort treat that just so happens to be healthier too!

Last fall I did my best to create an apple loaf. Failed miserably. There was too much moisture and I just couldn’t get them right. I was so disappointed but ultimately decided an apple loaf on my website wasn’t in the cards. This year I decided a crumble or bar might be better. Something that would welcome a softer center. I was totally right and these bars are my favorite fall treat this year.

I initially made the crust base layer and crumble with almond flour and coconut flour combo. I just wasn’t in love with the texture or taste though so I cut out the coconut flour and went to oat flour. Why am I not using oat flour more? It was the missing link to making them hold together better, create a good density, and I honestly like the flavor combo with almond flour a lot more than the ever-so-popular coconut flour. And it’s so easy, just grind the oats, and a lot more cost-friendly than some other flours. I’m looking at you almond and coconut!

These bars envoke fall flavor perfectly, apple and cinnamon. Which is a nice change from pumpkin everything. The warm, gooey cinnamon-spiced apples are nestled nicely between the oat crust and crumble. Speaking of the crust and the crumble, to keep it simple we are going to use the same ingredients for both. So you only have to combine it all once then reserve some of the bases for the top. Pretty simple!

What do you need for this recipe?

Almond flour
Oats – 2 cups full that we will grind into flour
Maple syrup for sweetener
Melted butter or coconut oil. Either works.
Cinnamin
Apples – I use gala and like them best for this
Lemon – going to add a little fresh lemon to the filling
Cornstarch – we use this to coat the apples and help control moisture. Arrowroot powder is a healthy alternative too

Apple Crumble Bars

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Prep Time 8

Cook Time 30

Servings: 9 large bars

Course: Dessert

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

Base Layer and Crumble Top

1 cup blanched almond flour
2 cups rolled oats
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 tbsp butter or coconut oil

Apple Filling

3 cups peeled and diced apple gala is my preference
3 tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp cornstarch & 2 tbsp water, mixed arrowroot powder works too

Method

Preheat the oven to 350F
For the dough, start by blending the oats. I like to do it in the food processor so I can just add the remaining ingredients into the bowl.
After you have a fine flour from the oats, add the almond flour, sale, baking powder, and cinnamon. Pulse until combined. Add the wet ingredients for the base & crumb layer. Pulse until a dough forms. Reserve 1/2 cup of the dough for the top layer.
In a greased or parchment lined square baking tin(I use a 8×8) press the base layer down. Set aside.
For the filling, start by melting the coconut oil or butter in a saucepan. Add the apples and cinnamon. Cook for a few minutes. Stir in the maple syrup and cornstarch mix until the apple filling is nice and thick. Stir through the lemon juice.
Spread the apple layer over the base layer, then crumble the reserved dough over the apple. Bake for 30 minutes