Apples are one of my favorite fruits to bake with, especially in the fall. There is just something so delicious about a tart apple pared with brown sugar and warming fall spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. This week, I wanted to make something a little different than the traditional apple pie. I was eating apple cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast one morning, and the idea hit me! Why not top oatmeal cookies with apple filling and a crispy crumble topping? These Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars took a little experimentation to get right, but I’m really happy with how they turned out!
I like to make this recipe with Granny Smith apples because the tart flavor provides a great contrast to the sweetness of the oatmeal cookie base, but you can use any good baking apple. Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Braeburn, Gala, Fuji, or Pink Lady apples would also work well in this recipe! I personally prefer to peel my apples for any dessert, but if you like the peels, it’s completely fine to leave them on. I would recommend letting these bars cool slightly before cutting and serving to give the cookie base time to set. If you can’t wait, it might be a little crumbly, but still just as delicious!
If you combined an apple pie and an oatmeal cookie, this would be the result! The cookie base is sweet and chewy, that apple filling is tart and cinnamon spiced, and the crispy topping provides that crunchy finishing touch! These Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars would fit right in at your Thanksgiving table, or at any fall gathering. In addition to being a great dessert, I’ll admit that I’ve eaten these for breakfast as well! However, my favorite way to enjoy these bars is warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, just like a slice of pie! I hope you enjoy these bars as much as I do!
Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
Oatmeal Base
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ⅔ cup all purpose flour
- 1 ½ cup oats
Apple Filling
- 3 apples
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Crumble Topping
- 2 tbsp butter melted
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp oats
- 2 tbsp flour
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Oatmeal Cookie Base
- Cream together the unsalted butter and brown sugar until smooth.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Mix in cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Add in baking powder and flour. Mix until just combined. Stir in oats.
- Press into a lightly greased 9×9 baking dish.
- Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes, or until cookie base is lightly browned around the edges.
Apple Filling
- Peel and slice the apples.
- Sauté the apples in the unsalted butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon, and stir until all apples are coated.
- Sauté until apples are slightly softened and have released some juice, about 5 minutes.
- Pour apple mixture over the baked oatmeal base and distribute evenly.
Crumble Topping
- Mix brown sugar, oats, flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl until combined.
- Pour over melted butter and stir to combine. Mixture should form clumps.
- Sprinkle crumble mixture over the top of the apple filling. Bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, or until apples are soft and crumble topping is crispy.