Apple Crumble Bars

Ingredients

• 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar (for filling)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar (for crust and topping)
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Steps

1. 1

   1. Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F) and line a 23x33 cm (9x13 inch) baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides.

2. 2

   2. Toss the diced apples with cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice in a bowl and set aside to macerate while you prepare the base.

3. 3

   3. Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl, then pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture clumps together.

4. 4

   4. Press roughly two-thirds of the oat mixture firmly into the prepared pan to form an even base, then spread the apple filling evenly over the top.

5. 5

   5. Scatter the remaining oat mixture in loose clumps over the apple layer, covering it generously without pressing down.

6. 6

   6. Bake for 40–45 minutes until the topping is deep golden and the apple layer is bubbling at the edges; cool completely in the pan before lifting out and cutting into bars.