Sourdough Apple Crumble Bars: Easy Homemade Apple Crisp Bars Recipe

These homemade apple crisp bars are a delightful way to use up soft apples and perfect for easy apple picking recipes.

If you’ve got a bounty of apples, whether from a trip to the orchard or just a great sale at the grocery store, this recipe offers a fantastic solution that’s both delicious and incredibly simple to prepare.

This recipe focuses on creating a comforting dessert that everyone will love, without any complicated steps or exotic ingredients. It’s designed for busy home cooks who want to bring a taste of fall into their kitchen with minimal fuss.

Homemade Apple Crisp Bars

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• Total Time: 50-55 minutes
• Yield: 12 servings 1x

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Description

These homemade apple crisp bars are a delightful way to use up soft apples and perfect for easy apple picking recipes. If you’ve got a bounty of apples, whether from a trip to the orchard or just a great sale at the grocery store, this recipe offers a fantastic solution that’s both delicious and incredibly simple to prepare. This recipe focuses on creating a comforting dessert that everyone will love, without any complicated steps or exotic ingredients. It’s designed for busy home cooks who want to bring a taste of fall into their kitchen with minimal fuss.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes

4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced (about 4 cups)

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

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Instructions

1. 1. Prepare your baking dish and oven: Preheat your oven to 375 F (190 C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray. This prevents sticking and makes for easy removal later.

2. 2. Make the crumble topping and base: In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter. Using your fingertips or a pastry blender, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. This creates that lovely crumbly texture.

3. 3. Form the bottom crust: Press about two-thirds of the crumble mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Gently pat it down to form a firm crust. This will be the base for your apple layer.

4. 4. Prepare the apple filling: In a separate medium bowl, combine the diced apples, granulated sugar, and lemon juice. Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated. The sugar will help draw out some of the apple’s natural juices, and the lemon juice adds a nice tartness.

5. 5. Assemble the layers: Spread the apple mixture evenly over the pressed crust in the baking dish. Try to get a single layer of apples so they cook consistently.

6. 6. Add the top crumble: Sprinkle the remaining one-third of the crumble mixture evenly over the apple layer. Don’t press it down; leave it loose so it can crisp up beautifully during baking.

7. 7. Bake until golden: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork. You should also see the apple filling bubbling around the edges.

8. 8. Cool before slicing: Remove the dish from the oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving. This is crucial for the bars to set properly and hold their shape.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
• Category: dessert
• Method: baking
• Cuisine: american

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 bar

Keywords: apple crisp, apple bars, dessert, fall dessert, easy dessert, apple recipe, baking, sweet treat, fruit dessert, comfort food

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This recipe is a true winner for anyone looking for a straightforward, delicious dessert that comes together quickly. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you crave something sweet but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen, or for a weekend treat that feels special without being difficult. Families with kids will especially appreciate these bars, as they’re easy to eat, less messy than a traditional apple pie, and the sweet, crumbly topping is always a hit. It’s also an excellent choice for potlucks, bake sales, or as a comforting dessert after a family meal. The combination of tender, spiced apples and a buttery, crisp topping is universally appealing, making it a reliable crowd-pleaser every time.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients for these apple crisp bars is incredibly simple, as most items are likely already in your pantry. We’re keeping things straightforward to ensure a stress-free baking experience.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
• 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced (about 4 cups)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

For the apples, choose varieties that hold their shape well when baked, such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Braeburn. You can also use a mix of sweet and tart apples for a more complex flavor. If you only have softer apples on hand, that’s perfectly fine too; they’ll just become extra tender in the bars. For the butter, using unsalted allows you to control the salt content, but if you only have salted, simply reduce the added salt in the recipe by half. Feel free to use your favorite brand of flour and sugar. The lemon juice is key for brightening the apple flavor and preventing browning, so don’t skip it!

Time Needed From Start To Finish

This recipe is designed for speed and efficiency, making it perfect for when you want a homemade treat without a long wait.

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 35-40 minutes
• Total time: 50-55 minutes

This timing includes the brief cooling period needed before slicing, ensuring you get to enjoy your delicious apple crisp bars in under an hour.

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Creating these apple crisp bars is a straightforward process, even for beginner bakers. Follow these steps for perfect results every time.

1. Prepare your baking dish and oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray. This prevents sticking and makes for easy removal later.
2. Make the crumble topping and base: In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter. Using your fingertips or a pastry blender, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. This creates that lovely crumbly texture.
3. Form the bottom crust: Press about two-thirds of the crumble mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Gently pat it down to form a firm crust. This will be the base for your apple layer.
4. Prepare the apple filling: In a separate medium bowl, combine the diced apples, granulated sugar, and lemon juice. Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated. The sugar will help draw out some of the apple’s natural juices, and the lemon juice adds a nice tartness.
5. Assemble the layers: Spread the apple mixture evenly over the pressed crust in the baking dish. Try to get a single layer of apples so they cook consistently.
6. Add the top crumble: Sprinkle the remaining one-third of the crumble mixture evenly over the apple layer. Don’t press it down; leave it loose so it can crisp up beautifully during baking.
7. Bake until golden: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork. You should also see the apple filling bubbling around the edges.
8. Cool before slicing: Remove the dish from the oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving. This is crucial for the bars to set properly and hold their shape.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

These apple crisp bars are wonderfully versatile and can be customized to suit your family’s tastes or what you have on hand. For a touch of extra warmth, you can add a pinch of ground cloves or allspice to the apple mixture. If you love nuts, a handful of chopped pecans or walnuts can be added to the crumble topping for extra crunch and flavor. For a richer, more decadent topping, you could melt a tablespoon of butter and drizzle it over the crumble before baking, or even sprinkle a little extra brown sugar on top.

When it comes to serving, these bars are fantastic on their own, but a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream takes them to the next level. A light drizzle of caramel sauce also makes for a delightful addition. For a fun, kid-friendly option, serve them warm with a glass of milk or a small scoop of their favorite ice cream. They’re also perfect for packing in lunchboxes as a sweet treat or serving at a casual get-together.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have small pitfalls. Here are a few common mistakes to watch out for when making these apple crisp bars:

• Overworking the crumble mixture: When combining the butter with the dry ingredients, avoid overmixing. You want a crumbly texture, not a smooth dough. Overworking can lead to a tough crust and topping. Use cold butter and work quickly with your fingertips or a pastry blender.
• Not cooling completely before slicing: This is a big one! If you try to slice the bars while they’re still warm, they will likely fall apart. The filling needs time to set and firm up. Patience is key here; let them cool for at least an hour, or even longer if you can.
• Using too much liquid in the apple filling: While lemon juice is important, don’t add extra water or juice. The apples will release their own moisture as they cook, and too much liquid can make the bars soggy.
• Uneven apple chunks: Try to dice your apples into roughly similar-sized pieces. This ensures they cook evenly. If some pieces are much larger than others, they might remain too firm while the smaller ones turn to mush.
• Overbaking or underbaking: Keep an eye on the bars during the last 10-15 minutes of baking. The topping should be golden brown, and the apple filling should be bubbling. If the topping starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent the dish with foil. If the apples aren’t tender, give them a few more minutes.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

These apple crisp bars are wonderful for making ahead and storing, making them a convenient option for busy schedules.

Storage: Once completely cooled, store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you live in a warm or humid climate, or if you want to extend their freshness, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just be aware that the topping might lose a bit of its crispness in the fridge.

Reheating: To revive the crispness, you can gently warm individual bars in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, or pop them in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5-10 minutes until warmed through. This will help bring back some of that freshly baked aroma and texture.

Make Ahead: You can prepare the crumble mixture and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days before baking. Keep it in an airtight container. The apple filling is best prepared just before baking to prevent browning, though you can peel and dice the apples and toss them with lemon juice a few hours in advance, keeping them covered in the fridge. Assembled but unbaked bars can be covered and refrigerated for up to 24 hours, but the topping might become slightly less crisp if left too long. For best results, assemble and bake on the

FAQs

• Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
• How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
• Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
• Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.