These Healthy Apple Pie Crumble Bars have a warm cinnamon apple filling layered between a buttery oat crust and golden crumble topping, all finished with an optional salted caramel drizzle. The perfect wholesome fall dessert!
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If you love classic apple pie, but don’t want the work of rolling out pie dough, these Healthy Apple Pie Crumble Bars are for you! They have all the cozy flavors of homemade apple pie baked into an easy, handheld treat that is perfect for fall.
These bars are made with whole wheat pastry flour, old-fashioned oats and pure maple syrup, then filled with tender cinnamon-spiced apples. The same oat mixture is used for both the crust and crumble topping, which keeps the ingredient list simple. Finish them with my healthier salted caramel drizzle for an extra-special dessert!
Why You’ll Love These
Wholesome ingredients – these bars are naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup and made with rolled oats and whole wheat pastry flour.
Easy to make – the crust and crumble topping are made from the same mixture, so there is no need to prepare two separate layers.
Classic apple pie flavor– tender apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla give you all the cozy flavors of apple pie in bar form.
Great for sharing – they are easy to slice, transport and serve at fall gatherings, holiday parties or Thanksgiving.
That caramel drizzle! – the optional salted caramel sauce takes these apple crumble bars to the next level.
Ingredients You’ll Need
rolled oats – give the crust and topping a hearty texture. Avoid quick-cooking or steel-cut oats, as they won’t produce the same consistency.
whole wheat pastry flour – adds whole grains while keeping the bars lighter and more tender than regular whole wheat flour.
apples – peel and thinly slice about three medium-large apples. A firm baking apple will hold its shape best.
maple syrup – naturally sweetens the oat mixture and filling while helping it hold together.
butter – melted butter adds richness and creates a crisp, buttery crust. You can use vegan butter for a dairy-free option.
lemon juice– fresh lemon juice brightens the apples and balances the sweetness.
cornstarch – mix it with water to create a slurry that thickens the apple juices and prevents soggy bars. You can also use arrowroot powder.
vanilla extract – adds a warm, sweet flavor.
spices – a combination of cinnamon and nutmeg to give these bars that classic apple pie flavor.
salted caramel drizzle – optional topping made with creamy cashew butter (or peanut butter), maple syrup, milk, coconut oil, vanilla extract and sea salt.
What are the Best Apples for Apple Pie Bars?
Firm, crisp apples that hold their shape during baking work best for these apple pie crumble bars. I love using Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Pink Lady or Braeburn apples.
Granny Smith apples are more tart, while Honeycrisp and Pink Lady apples have a naturally sweeter flavor. For the best balance of sweet and tart, try using a combination of two different varieties.
Avoid softer apples such as Red Delicious because they can break down and become mushy as the bars bake. Make sure to slice the apples thinly and as evenly as possible so they cook at the same rate.
How to Make Apple Pie Crumble Bars
Prepare the pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal, and lightly coat with cooking spray.
Make the crumble mixture. In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, whole wheat pastry flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Add the maple syrup, melted butter and vanilla, stirring until the mixture is evenly moistened and crumbly.
Form the crust. Reserve about 1 cup of the oat mixture for the topping. Firmly press the remaining mixture into an even layer in the prepared pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden.
Cook the apples. While the crust bakes, add the sliced apples, maple syrup, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the apples begin to soften and release their juices.
Thicken the filling. Add the cornstarch slurry to the apples and stir well. Continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes, until the juices have thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
Assemble the bars. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the warm crust. Crumble the reserved oat mixture over the apples, gently pressing some of the topping together to create larger crumbles.
Bake. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 28 to 32 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.
Cool and slice. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan for at least 1 hour. For clean slices, refrigerate them for another 30 minutes before lifting the bars out with the parchment paper and cutting into 12 squares.
Make the caramel sauce. While the bars cool, whisk the maple syrup, cashew butter, milk and coconut oil in a small saucepan over low heat for 2-3 minutes, until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt. Add another splash of milk if needed, then drizzle over the cooled bars.
Tips for the Best Apple Pie Crumble Bars
Slice the apples thinly. Thick apple slices may not become completely tender during baking. Aim for slices approximately ⅛-inch thick.
Par-bake the crust. Don’t skip this step! It helps prevent the apple filling from making the bottom crust soggy.
Press the crust firmly. Use the bottom of a measuring cup or glass to pack the oat mixture tightly and evenly into the pan.
Thicken the filling. Cooking the apples with the cornstarch slurry keeps excess juice from soaking into the crust.
Make larger crumbles. Gently squeeze some of the reserved oat mixture together before sprinkling it over the apples.
Let the bars cool completely. The filling and crust need time to set. Cutting the bars while they are warm may cause them to fall apart.
Refrigerate before slicing. An additional 30 minutes in the refrigerator will give you the neatest, cleanest squares.
Variations and Substitutions
Make them dairy-free – replace the butter with your favorite dairy-free butter and use non-dairy milk in the caramel sauce.
Make them gluten-free – use certified gluten-free rolled oats and replace the whole wheat pastry flour with a quality 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour.
Try oat flour – you can substitute oat flour, but the crust will be softer and slightly more delicate. Be sure to let the bars chill completely before slicing.
Add nuts – mix chopped pecans or walnuts into the reserved crumble topping for extra crunch.
Change the fruit – replace some of the apples with pears, fresh cranberries or blackberries.
Skip the caramel – these apple pie bars are still delicious without the drizzle. You can also lightly dust them with powdered sugar before serving.
Serve them warm – heat an individual bar briefly and serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Peeling the apples gives these bars the softest, most pie-like filling. You can leave the peels on if you prefer the added texture, but make sure the apples are sliced very thinly.
Soggy bars can happen if the apple filling contains too much liquid, the crust isn’t par-baked or the bars are sliced before they have cooled. Cook the filling until the juices have thickened, bake the crust before adding the apples and allow the finished bars to cool completely.
Yes! These bars are a great make-ahead dessert. Prepare them a day before serving and store them covered in the refrigerator. Wait to add the caramel drizzle until shortly before serving.
Absolutely. Freeze the bars without the caramel drizzle for up to 3 months. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator and add the caramel before serving.
Oat flour should work, but it will produce a softer and more delicate crust. The bars may not hold together quite as firmly, so allow them to cool and chill completely before cutting. For the most reliable gluten-free option, use a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour along with certified gluten-free oats.
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More Healthy Apple Recipes
Healthy Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Apple Cinnamon Thumbprint Cookies
Hope you all enjoy these Healthy Apple Pie Crumble Bars! If you love these as much as we do, please leave a star rating below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny!
Healthy Apple Pie Crumble Bars
Ingredients
For the Oat Crust and Crumble Topping:
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats1 cup whole wheat pastry flour1 tsp cinnamon1/2 tsp baking soda1/4 tsp salt1/3 cup pure maple syrup1/2 cup butter melted1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Apple Filling:
3 1/2 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples (about 3 medium-large apples)3 Tbsp pure maple syrup1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice1 1/2 tsp cinnamon1/4 tsp nutmegPinch of salt2 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 Tbsp water1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Salted Caramel Drizzle:
2 Tbsp creamy cashew butter2 Tbsp pure maple syrup1 Tbsp milk1 tsp coconut oil1/2 tsp vanilla extractPinch of sea salt
