Ingredients

125g (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

2 cups (300g) plain/all purpose flour

1/2 cup (100g) white sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

Pinch of salt

1 egg

1/3 cup (30g) rolled oats

3 to 4 large Granny Smith apples, cut into 0.7cm (1/3″) dice (~4 cups)

1/4 cup (35g) plain/all purpose flour

1/4 cup (50g) white sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Salted caramel sauce, for serving

Ice cream, for serving

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a 20cm (8″) square pan and line it with baking or parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.

Step 2: In a bowl, mix melted butter, plain flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until the mixture looks uniformly combined without visible flour.

Step 3: Add the egg and stir until fully incorporated.

Step 4: Lightly press about two-thirds of this mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the base.

Step 5: Bake the base for 15 minutes until slightly golden. Remove from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes.

Step 6: While the base bakes, prepare the apple filling by combining diced apples, plain flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt in a bowl.

Step 7: To make the crumble topping, add the rolled oats to the remaining crumble mixture and mix together with a wooden spoon or fingers until mostly combined.

Step 8: Spread the apple filling evenly over the baked base in the pan.

Step 9: Crumble the oat topping over the apple layer, distributing it evenly by hand.

Step 10: Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the topping turns a deep golden brown.

Step 11: Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan. Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan.

Step 12: Cut into squares and serve. For extra indulgence, top with ice cream and drizzle with salted caramel sauce.

Tips & Variations

Using Granny Smith apples provides a nice tart contrast, but you can substitute with other firm apples like Honeycrisp or Braeburn.

For added texture, mix chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans into the crumble topping.

If you prefer a sweeter filling, increase the sugar slightly or add a splash of apple juice for juicier apples.

Make sure to cool the bars thoroughly before slicing to help them hold together.

FAQs

Can I use frozen apples for this recipe?

Frozen apples tend to release more moisture when baking, which can make the bars soggy. If using frozen apples, thaw and drain excess liquid before preparing the filling.

Can I make these bars ahead of time?

Yes, these bars can be baked a day in advance and stored covered at room temperature or refrigerated. Just add the ice cream and caramel sauce right before serving for the best experience.