Apple Crisp Bars {Sharable & Delicious}
Buttery. Fruity. Crispy. My favourite Apple Crisp Bars are filled with maple-sweetened apples piled on top of a buttery crust, and finished with a pecan crumble. They are easy to prepare and share for your next autumn celebration! If you are looking to fill your home with irresistibly sweet fall aromas, my easy Apple Crisp Bar recipe is for you!
What is the difference between apple crumble and apple crisp?
Apple crumble refers to a baked apple dish topped with a crumbly, streusel-like topping that consists of flour, sugar, and butter. Apple crisp is thought to be a more crunchy, oat-based topping that, in addition to butter and sugar, could include nuts. Apple Crumble is most popular in the UK and apple crisp is most popular in America however the terms “apple crisp” and “apple crumble” are often used interchangeably to describe a baked apple dessert with a crumbly topping. As per their definitions, my Easy Apple Crisp Bars are technically a fusion of the two desserts as they include nuts (pecans), oats, flour, sugar, and butter. The resulting topping resembles a streusel and is loaded with crispy nuts and oats!
What kind of apples should I use for this recipe?
I recommend using an apple that is tart, sweet, and firm enough to hold its shape during the baking process. In this recipe I used Crimson Crisp apples, a sweet and tangy apple similar in flavour to the Honey Crisp, and it was the perfect fruity complement to the buttery crust and streusel topping! At the end of the day, use whatever apple is your favourite and you’ll love the end result.
How can I make this recipe nut-free?
If you have a tree nut allergy or simply don’t want to use nuts in this recipe I recommend either substituting the nuts for an equal amount of additional rolled oats or using seeds, such as pumpkin seed, for a similar crunch.
Can I make this recipe without peeling my apples?
Absolutely! This is very much a personal preference. For me, I like the smoothness and texture of peeled apples in this dessert. When I am looking to make a more rustic apple dessert, I will keep the apples unpeeled so their colours can shine through.
To make this recipe you will need:
- Apples (firm, tart, and sweet, apples – such as Honey Crisp, Braeburn, Granny Smith)
- Butter (unsalted, cubed)
- Sugar (granulated sugar or maple sugar)
- Maple Syrup
- Flour (All-purpose)
- Oats (rolled-oats)
- Pecans (roughly chopped, raw)
- Apple Crisp Bar Essentials: Cinnamon, Salt
Let’s make my favourite Apple Crisp Bars!
Shortbread Crust
Preheat your oven to 350F (325F convection bake). Line a 9″x 13” baking pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, use clean hands to blend butter into sugar, flour, and salt. Continue combining until mixture resembles wet sand.
Press mixture into the bottom of your lined baking pan. Bake for ~15 minutes. Remove from the oven and prepare the pecan topping and apple filling.
Apple Filling
Peel and core 6 firm, sweet, and tart apples. Cut each apple in half.
Using a sharp knife or mandolin, cut apples into thin slices. Sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent browning.
In a large bowl, combine apples with flour, cinnamon, maple syrup, and salt. Mix until evenly combined. Pour apples and their juices over baked shortbread crust.
Apple Crisp Topping
In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add butter and mix together with your hands. Mixture will resemble clay clumps. Add roughly chopped pecans and mix together one final time. Sprinkle over apple layer.
Bake apple crisp at 350F (325F convection oven) for 60-70 minutes. You will know when this apple crisp is done by taking it out of the oven and sticking a knife into the centre. If the knife goes into the apples easily with few crunches and some soft patches, it is done. Start checking readiness at 60 min, and check every 5 min thereafter.
Allow apple crisp bars to cool in pan, slice, and enjoy!
Apple Crisp Bars {Sharable & Delicious}
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust
- 2 1/4 cups All-purpose Flour + additional for work surface/rolling pin
- 3/4 cup Unsalted Butter room temperature, cubed
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar or Maple sugar for a special treat!
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
Apple Filling
Apple Crisp Topping
- 1 cup All-purpose Flour
- 1/2 cup Rolled Oats
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 tsp Cinnamon ground
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter softened, cubed
- 1/2 cup Pecans roughly chopped
Instructions
Shortbread Crust
- Preheat your oven to 350F (325F convection bake). Line a 9"x 13” baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, use clean hands to blend butter into sugar, flour, and salt. Continue combining until mixture resembles wet sand.
- Press mixture into the bottom of your lined baking pan. Bake for ~15 minutes. Remove from the oven and prepare the pecan topping and apple filling.
Apple Filling
- Peel and core 6 firm, sweet, and tart apples. Cut each apple in half.
- Using a sharp knife or mandolin, cut apple halves into thin slices. Sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent browning.
- In a large bowl, combine apples with flour, cinnamon, maple syrup, and salt. Mix until evenly combined. Pour apples and their juices over baked shortbread crust.
Apple Crisp Topping
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add butter and mix together with your hands. Mixture will resemble clay clumps. Add roughly chopped pecans and mix together one final time. Sprinkle over apple layer.
- Bake apple crisp at 350F (325F convection oven) for 60-70 minutes. You will know when this apple crisp is done by taking it out of the oven and sticking a knife into the centre. If the knife goes into the apples easily with few crunches and some soft patches, it is done. Start checking readiness at 60 min, and check every 5 min thereafter.
- Allow apple crisp bars to cool in pan, slice, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Unsure what kind of apple to use? Any baking apple will do! I recommend using your favourite firm and crisp apple! Popular picks include Honey Crisp, Braeburn, and Granny Smith.
- Tired of peeling your apples?! Use unpeeled apples for added colour and crunch!
- These bars can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 weeks or in the freezer for up to a month. Once ready to use, simply thaw in the refrigerator and warm briefly in the oven for the best “freshly-baked” flavour!
I made this with a friend and it was amazing! The seasoning on the apples made them taste so great we had to stop ourselves from just eating the apples.
Hi Madiha, I’m so happy you and your friend liked my Apple Crisp Bars! Happy Baking – Sofia
I made this today, but in your topping section you say “add butter” but no butter amounts are listed in the ingredients for the topping.