Ingredients
Oatmeal Base
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (use gluten-free if needed)
- 1 cup flour (all-purpose, whole wheat, almond flour, or a blend)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened, or use vegan butter/coconut oil)
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Apple Filling
- 2-3 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or your favorite baking apple)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
Instructions
1. Prep
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and line an 8×8 or 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Oatmeal Crust/Topping
- In a large bowl, whisk together oats, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Reserve about 1 cup of the mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture into the prepared pan, forming an even base.
3. Apple Filling
- Peel, core, and dice the apples into small pieces.
- In a bowl, toss apples with lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch.
4. Assemble
- Spoon the apple mixture evenly over the oatmeal base.
- Crumble the reserved oatmeal mixture over the apples.
5. Bake
- Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
6. Cool and enjoy
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving.
Tips and Variations
Nuts: Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans to the oatmeal mixture for extra crunch.
Dried fruit: Throw in a handful of raisins or cranberries for added sweetness.
Spices: Mix things up with a pinch of nutmeg, cardamom, or ginger for extra warmth.
Dairy-free: Sub vegan butter and a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 2.5 tbsp water)
Sweetness: Adjust the sugar to taste. Drizzle maple syrup or honey over the top for more sweetness.
Serving: Enjoy warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or at room temperature.
These bars store well in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days and can be frozen for longer storage.
