Servings
Font
Back
0 from 90 votes

Get the Recipe: Apple Crisp Bars

These apple crisp bars have all the flavors and textures of the classic dessert but they are easy to make and share! These bars feature a shortbread crust, gooey cinnamon apple layer and crumble topping. They are absolutely delicious!

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 16 bars
Calories: 248 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Shortbread Crust
  • 10 tbsp cold butter
  • ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 ¼ cups gluten free 1 to 1 flour or all purpose flour
  • pinch cinnamon
Apple Filling
  • 3 red apples I used McIntosh, peeled, cored and sliced
  • 1 granny smith apple peeled, cored and sliced
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp tapioca flour or cornstarch
  • 3 tbsp water
Crumble Topping
  • ½ cup gluten free old fashioned oats or regular
  • ⅜ cup gluten free 1 to 1 flour or all purpose flour
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • pinch cinnamon
  • ¼ cup cold butter sliced into small cubes

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8 inch by 8 inch pan with parchment paper.
  2. First, make the crumble topping.
  3. Add all crumble topping ingredients to a mixing bowl. Use your hands, a pastry cutter or fork to incorporate butter into mixture. Mix until a crumbly mixture forms. Place bowl in fridge.
  4. Next, make the shortbread crust. Add cold butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar to a stand mixer bowl. Beat until no clumps of butter remain.
  5. Add in vanilla extract, flour and cinnamon to bowl. Stir until combined. Place dough into lined pan. Press into an even layer.
  6. Bake shortbread crust for 15 minutes. Then remove from oven.
  7. While shortbread crust bakes, make apple filling. Peel and core apples. Slice into ¼ inch thin slices.
  8. Add all apple filling ingredients to a skillet over low heat. Stir gently to combine and stir occasionally for 5 minutes or until apples have softened. If needed, add more water to the skillet to prevent burning.
  9. Once shortbread crust has finished baking, pour apple filling on top. Spread into an even layer. Then, top apples with crumble topping.
  10. Bake for 35 to 36 minutes. Remove pan from oven. Allow to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Gluten free 1 to 1 flour or all purpose flour work in this recipe.
  • Use pastry cutter, a fork, or your hands to mix together crumble topping.  Mixture will be crumbly, not uniform.
  • For best results, use a mixture of red apples and green apples.  I used 3 McIntosh apples and 1 Granny smith apple. 
  • For the shortbread crust, use very cold butter right from the fridge.  Beat with sugars until no clumps of butter remain.
  • Sauté apples until slightly softened.  Add more water to the skillet to prevent burning if needed.
  • Allow to cool completely before slicing into bars and serving.  The apple layer is gooey!
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the fridge for up to 7 days.

Nutrition Information

Calories 248kcal (12%) Carbohydrates 38g (13%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 3g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 26mg (9%) Sodium 92mg (4%) Potassium 90mg (3%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 22g (44%) Vitamin A 332IU (7%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 20mg (2%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 16bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 248

% Daily Value*

Calories 248kcal 12%
Carbohydrates 38g 13%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 26mg 9%
Sodium 92mg 4%
Potassium 90mg 2%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 22g 44%
Vitamin A 332IU 7%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 20mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.