Easy Apple Crumb Bars Recipe

For all the apple lovers. Here is an easy Apple Crumb Bars recipe for you. It has a layer of buttery cookie base, cooked apples, crumbly topping with lots of almonds, some cinnamon, and a drizzle of caramel.

I can’t believe that Autumn is almost getting over in a week and the year in a few weeks. It was a crazy year for me. Busy at work and home-like all of you guys. Well, health-wise went through some difficulties from time to time. I was away from the blog and missed baking and posting for this reason. Anyways, glad to be back!

Now, let’s talk about crumb bars. First, when I made these Apple Crumb Bars, I used some leftover sugar cookie dough from my freezer. I wanted to incorporate some almonds into the dough and crumble topping. So I mixed some almond flour into the cookie dough and added some in the crumb topping too.
The Apple Crumb Bars turned out great and delicious. It just melts in your mouth!

I have made these bars several times since then and, it is a winner among many of our friends and family. Just after this recipe, I created the Pineapple Cashew Crumb Bars, which is a hit too. Now I have become obsessed with these easy traybakes. These bars are a quick and easy dessert for a crowd & can be made ahead of time.  

How to make Apple Crumb Bars Recipe

I used my favorite sugar cookie dough recipe with a few changes here. You can easily use store-bought sugar cookie dough for this recipe. 

I suggest you pick two different kinds of apples, one sweet and the other tart. I used Gala and Granny Smith Apples. Best combo for the filling. I prefer to cook the apples to layer but, if you want to cut short this step, you can mix all the filling ingredients with 2 Tablespoons of all-purpose flour. Spread the apple filling on top of the cookie dough and top it with the crumb topping. Bake at 180C/356F for 30 – 35 minutes.

As for the crumble topping, I used flour, almond flour, brown sugar cinnamon, unsalted butter and, sliced almonds. You can add nuts to your preference. This crumble recipe makes an excellent topping for an Apple Crumble. 

How to make the apple filling

Wash, peel and dice all the apples and add them to a medium-sized pan. Next, add the lemon juice, cinnamon, and sugar. Mix well and turn on the heat to medium-high. Cook the apple until the water evaporates. Cool the apple filling.  

How to make the cookie dough base

• Using a hand beater or a wooden spoon, mix all the wet ingredients in a large bowl. 
• Next, add in the dried ingredients and mix until combined. Avoid over mixing.  
•  Take a 5×10 inch jelly roll pan or a 13×9 inch rectangular pan and butter the pan well / line it with parchment paper. Spread the cookie dough evenly in the pan and place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. 
• Meanwhile, make the crumb topping and preheat the oven to 180C/356F.  

How to make the crumble topping

Add all the dried ingredients except the sliced almonds in a medium bowl. Mix well to combine. 

Add the cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to rub the butter with the rest of the ingredients to form small clumps which resemble a coarse sand texture. 

Finally, add the sliced almonds and toss them a few times to mix. 

Assemble the Apple Crumb Bars

• Take the sheet pan out from the refrigerator and spread the apple filling evenly. 
• Lastly, sprinkle the crumb topping on top of the apple filling. Bake at 180C/356F for 30-35 minutes, or until the top and the edges are lightly browned. Every oven is different so, always better to check by about 25 minutes.

• Place the pan on a wire rack and cool the bars for 1- 2 hours. Drizzle some caramel sauce on top. 
•  Cut the bars into squares and let them cool completely, and enjoy. Or, serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze them for 3 months. Thaw it and bring it to room temperature before serving.

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below or Mention @celebratingflavors on Instagram and hashtag it #celebratingflavors