These Healthier Apple Crumb Bars taste just like a warm apple pie, but they’re better for you! Featuring spiced apples and a crispy crumb topping, the bars are made with maple syrup and oats for an extra wholesome treat! They’re perfect served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a snack, dessert, or even breakfast.
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Before You Get Started
- Use your favorite apples. I prefer to use Honey crisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith apples for baking!
- Press the bottom layer firmly. This ensures the bars won’t fall apart when you serve them.
- Wait until cool. I know it’s hard to resist a warm apple crumb bar, but wait until they cool before slicing them so they have time to set up. This makes them so much easier to cut.
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- Apples: Use your favorite apples! I like to use honey crisp, fuji or Granny Smith apples. They hold up the best to baking!
- Maple Syrup: Instead of regular sugar, I use maple syrup. It adds a natural sweetness and a warm maple flavor that goes perfect with the sweet apples. You could also use honey in place of the maple syrup!
- Cornstarch: It thickens the apple filling!
- Lemon Juice: A little lemon juice brightens up the filling.
- Butter: Makes the filling extra rich and delicious.
Crumb Topping
- Oats: Gives the crumb topping a chewy crunch that makes these bars so good!
- Flour: Flour holds everything together, but I also like using almond flour too for a bit of a nuttier texture and flavor.
- Butter: Butter makes the topping taste like a classic crumble.
- Maple syrup: I like to use maple syrup in the topping too. It adds natural sweetness and keeps the crumble moist so it stays together.
- Vanilla: Adds a warm, cozy flavor.
How to Make Healthier Apple Crumb Bars
- Add Filling Ingredients: Add diced apples, maple syrup, cornstarch, lemon juice and butter to a medium saucepan.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes, over medium high heat, stirring often or until thickened.
- Mix the Crumb Topping: Add the oats, flour, melted butter, maple syrup, salt and vanilla to a large bowl. Mix to combine and set aside.
- Add Everything to the Pan: Press half of the crumb mixture into the prepared pan. Top with apple filling then top with the remaining crumb mixture.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top looks set and golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Allow for the bars to cool completely before slicing and serving.
More Apple Recipes to Try
Apple Pie Bars
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Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 4 medium apples, peeled, cored and diced
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Crumb Topping
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 cup all purpose flour or almond flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter or coconut oil
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
Apple Filling
- Add diced apples, maple syrup, cornstarch, lemon juice and butter to a medium saucepan.Cook for 3-5 minutes, over medium high heat,stirring often or until thickened.
Crumb Topping
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9 x 9 pan with non stick cooking spray.Add the oats, flour, melted butter, maple syrup, salt and vanilla to a large bowl. Mix to combine and set aside.
- Press half of the crumb mixture into the prepared pan. Top with apple filling then top with the remaining crumb mixture.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top looks set and golden brown.Allow for the bars to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Nutrition Information
Did You Make This?
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