Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (for the topping)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a bit of overhang on the sides for easy removal. In a medium bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Stir in 1.5 cups of the flour until the mixture looks crumbly. Press about two-thirds of this mixture firmly into the bottom of your prepared pan. Bake this crust for 12 minutes to ensure it stays crisp under the fruit layer.
- While the crust pre-bakes, toss your sliced apples in a large bowl with the lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Ensure every apple slice is evenly coated in the spices. Once the crust comes out of the oven, layer the apple slices evenly across the warm base. Try to lay them flat to avoid large air gaps between the layers.
- Take the remaining crust mixture and add the final 1/2 cup of flour and the rolled oats. Mix it with a fork until it forms large, pea-sized clumps. Sprinkle this crumble topping generously over the apple layer, covering as much surface area as possible. This adds that signature bakery crunch that everyone loves.
- Place the pan back into the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack. This cooling step is vital for the bars to set properly. Once cool, lift the bars out using the parchment paper edges and slice them into 12 squares.
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes