Apple Walnut Crumb Bars
Tender apple walnut crumb bars made with a buttery oat crust, warm cinnamon-spiced apples, and a crisp crumb topping. A classic baked dessert that balances sweetness, texture, and comfort in every bite.
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Servings: 0
Ingredients
Crust and Crumb Topping
- 1 ½ c all-purpose flour
- 1 c firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 1 ¼ c rolled oats
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¾ c unsalted butter 1½ sticks, cut into 1-inch pieces
Apple Filling
- ¼ c firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp grated lemon zest
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 lb apples peeled, cored, and diced
- ½ c walnuts finely chopped
- ¼ c fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted and cooled
Instructions
Prepare the Pan and Oven
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter the bottom and sides of a 9×13-inch glass or light-colored metal baking pan. Line the pan with parchment paper, allowing excess to extend over the short sides for easy removal. Butter the parchment and set aside.
Make the Crumb Mixture
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, brown sugar, oats, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Pulse briefly to blend. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Form and Bake the Crust
- Reserve 1¼ cups of the crumb mixture for the topping. Transfer the remaining mixture into the prepared pan and press firmly into an even layer, ensuring it reaches the edges. Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow the crust to cool on a wire rack. Keep the oven on.
Prepare the Apple Filling
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, lemon zest, cinnamon, and flour. Add the diced apples, walnuts, lemon juice, and melted butter. Gently toss until the apples are evenly coated.
Assemble the Bars
- Spread the apple mixture evenly over the cooled crust. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly over the top.
Bake
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for 35–45 minutes, rotating the pan every 15 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
Cool and Serve
- Transfer the pan to a wire rack and allow the bars to cool completely. Once cooled, lift from the pan using the parchment overhang and cut into squares before serving.
Notes
To make these apple walnut crumb bars gluten free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend that contains xanthan gum. Additionally, ensure the rolled oats are certified gluten-free, as standard oats may be cross-contaminated. No other adjustments are required.