Apple Crisp Bars

These delicious apple crisp bars are like the apple pie version of date squares with a buttery oat crumb base, a flavourful apple layer combining apple sauce and diced apple, and topped with more of that buttery oat crumble on top. 

I am a sucker for any fruit dessert that has a crumble topping. These apple crisp bars are one of my top fall desserts! These are very much like date squares with their crumbly oat base and topping, but instead of a date filling, they have an apple filling made from apple sauce and diced apple.

Apples, brown sugar and oats are a killer combination that is always appreciated, like in this apple butter cake and this apple crumble cake.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Substitutions and Variations
• How To Make Apple Crisp Bars
• Top Baking Tip
• Dessert Bar Baking FAQs
• Other Apple Desserts to Bake
• 📖 Recipe

Ingredients

These applesauce oatmeal bars are easy to make. You probably have all the ingredients you need in your pantry and fridge! Here's what you need to make these apple squares:

• large flake oats, also known as rolled oats, provide texture to the crumble layer, which doubles as the bottom crust for these squares. Don't use minute oats or steel-cut oats for this recipe. These are not good substitutions for rolled oats, though the minute oats will likely work if that's all you've got.
• all-purpose flour is needed to bind all the ingredients together and give the bars structure. If you don't use enough flour, your bars will be too soft, and too much flour will make the crumble dry and powdery.
• brown sugar, light or dark, will add both sweetness and a molasses flavour that pairs nicely with the apple filling.
• butter—use unsalted or salted butter! Salted will work great and balance out the sweetness.
• cinnamon is optional, but pairs really nicely with apple desserts
• salt—this recipe was developed with Diamond Crystal Fine Kosher salt. If using table salt, add half the amount or the bars may be too salty
• apple sauce—use unsweetened so you can control the sweetness of the apple filling
• apples—use an apple variety that can withstand heat without breaking down, like Cortlands.
• cornstarch—as a thickener for the apple sauce so that you can slice and serve the bars more easily.

Please see the recipe card for the exact ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions and Variations

• oats—use large flake oats, also called rolled oats or old-fashioned oats. These are thicker and have a more coarse texture. Do not use minute oats or quick oats which are too fine and will break down too much in the food processor. Do not use steel-cut oats either.
• apples—use a baking apple like Cortland, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp apple varieties that can be cooked and baked and hold their shape well.
• sugar—use light brown sugar which adds a little flavour but not too much. Dark brown sugar will lead to a darker filling and crumble with more molasses character. Another good option would be granulated maple sugar.
• spices—I kept this recipe simple and used a small amount of cinnamon to add a little flavour without overpowering the apples or the buttery oat crumble topping. You can also use apple pie spice blend or a pumpkin pie spice mix instead.
• vanilla bean paste would make a lovely addition to the apple filling

How To Make Apple Crisp Bars

There are two components to these apple crumble bars: a cooked apple filling made from apples and applesauce and an oat crumble that serves as the base and topping for these bars.

Step 1: Whisk the apple sauce with the brown sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon (image 1) until there are no lumps. Set it aside.

Note: The apple filling is thickened with cornstarch, helping to gel the extra water/juice in commercial apple sauce, which is sometimes quite "loose," and too wet for a filling like this. The cornstarch helps the filling set so that you can cut these bars neatly once they've cooled.

Step 2: Sautée the diced apple in a large skillet (image 2). Once the apples are cooked through and translucent, add the apple sauce mixture to the pan (image 3). Heat the mixture until it boils and let it simmer for about 5 minutes until it is very thick (image 4).

Step 3: Combine the dry ingredients for the oat crumble in a food processor (image 5) and pulse to combine them (image 6), then add cubed cold butter (image 7) and work it in to create a crumbly mixture that holds when pressed together (image 8).

Step 4: Scatter half of the crumble mixture on the bottom of the square metal baking pan (image 9) and press it in place with a flat-bottomed glass (image 10) to create a compact, firm base (image 11).

Tip: Use a flat-bottomed glass or mug and take the time to press and tighten the crumbly base to lock it in place and create a firm base that you will be able to slice with ease.

Step 5: With a mini offset spatula, smear the apple filling over the compacted crumble base from edge to edge (image 12). Make sure to spread it in an even layer from edge to edge (image 13).
Step 6: Scatter the remaining crumble over top (image 14).

Step 7: Gently press the topping into the apple filling very lightly to anchor the topping in place (image 15). Bake until golden brown and set (image 16). Let the bars cool completely before slicing.

Tip: Use a big Chef's knife and a ruler to slice the date bars into equal squares. If the bars are too warm and/or soft, you can briefly freeze them so that they cool down faster and firm up enough to cleanly slice into equal squares.

Top Baking Tip

Dessert Bar Baking FAQs

Other Apple Desserts to Bake

If you tried this recipe for the best apple crisp bars (or any other recipe on my website), please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you!

📖 Recipe