Table of Contents

1. What exactly are oat bars?
2. What are the ingredients in Apple Crisp Oat Bars?
3. Are these bars easier than a pie?
4. How do I make apple crumble oat bars?
5. What kind of apples are best to make apple oatmeal bars?
6. Tips and tricks for the best Apple Oatmeal Bars:
7. Other apple desserts you may like:
8. Recipe

Apple season is starting here in Ontario, and I am so, so ready. We've already gone through a big bag of baking apples that I got less than a week ago... that's how much we like apple desserts here! These apple oat bars have been a huge hit with anyone that has tried them. They taste almost like apple pie, but they are so much easier to make, serve and transport.

What exactly are oat bars?

This is a question my husband kept asking me as I made him try different versions of this dessert. I think he has a pretty solid understanding now, a couple oat-bar-batches later. In case you were wondering the same thing, I think of oat bars as their own category of dessert, but if I had to compare them to something it would be a pie. They're softer than a cookie, sweeter than a granola bar, but have less filling and are hold their shape better than a pie or crumble. They can also be described as an apple crumble slice, or apple crumble square.

What are the ingredients in Apple Crisp Oat Bars?

There are not too many ingredients in these delicious bars:

• flour - for structure in the crust
• oatmeal - for texture and chewiness in the crust
• sugars - both in the apple and the crust to add sweetness
• butter - helps hold the crust together and adds flavor
• cinnamon - nothing adds to an apple dessert quite like cinnamon
• apples - the star of the show here! I like to use granny smith, macintosh or honestly whatever I have on hand at the moment
• lemon juice - adds a bit of tang to the apples that nicely balances the sweetness
• cornstarch - helps stop the apple filling from being too runny
• vanilla - if you follow the blog, you'll notice I add vanilla extract to almost all baked goods - partly due to habit and partly because its delicious!

Are these bars easier than a pie?

Yes, so much easier! The secret to making these bars so quick and easy is the bottom crust and the crumble topping is actually the same mixture, which cuts down on the amount of prep work you have to do. Simply mix together the ingredients for the oatmeal crust, pat about 2/3 down onto your greased or lined pan, spread the prepared apples over it, and sprinkle the remaining oatmeal mixture on top. Bake it for about 45 minutes and allow to cool before you dig in! Simple and so addicting!

How do I make apple crumble oat bars?

These bars come together so quickly and easily - don't blame me if you are making them time and time again!

step one: mix all the dry ingredients for the crust together until well combined

step two: drizzle the melted butter over the dry ingredients and stir until mixed through

step three: peel and chop apples into small cubes (about 1/2")

step four: add chopped apples to a bowl with sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon and vanilla extract and toss to coat

step five: pat approximately 2/3 of the crust mixture down into a lined 9x13 baking pan

step six: spread apple mixture over the crust mixture in an even layer

step seven: sprinkle remaining crust mixture over apples

step eight: bake in preheated oven for about 45 minutes, filling will be bubbly and crust will be golden

What kind of apples are best to make apple oatmeal bars?

These apple oatmeal bars work best with an apple that gets soft while baking such an Macintosh or Granny smith. In a pinch I have also used Gala, and many other varieties, but they tend to stay a bit firmer during baking. Use your favorite type of apple to get your favorite type of bars!

Tips and tricks for the best Apple Oatmeal Bars:

• pat the crust down firmly into the bottom of the pan, you want it to stick together well
• cut the apples into small cubes so they cook properly
• make sure you let it cool before trying to slice into bars; otherwise they will fall apart (or be prepared to dig in with a spoon!)
• dont skimp on cinnamon - it makes a delicious combination with the apple and oatmeal!
• use quick cooking, minute, or large flake oats for this recipe - steel cut will not work

Other apple desserts you may like:

• apple cinnamon muffins
• apple strawberry crumble