Apple Crumb Bars -- Small Pan
Apple bars with a nut and crumb topping.
Servings 12 bars
Cost 5
Ingredients
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar (150 grams)
- ¾ cup rolled oats (60 grams)
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (190 grams)
- ⅜ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅜ teaspoon salt – use a little less if using regular salted butter
- 10 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, divided use (140 grams)
- 2-3 small apples, cored and thinly sliced or chopped cored and thinly sliced or chopped
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice divided use
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ cup water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a square metal pan with non-stick foil or line with parchment paper.
- In a bowl or food processor, combine brown sugar, oats, flour, baking soda and salt. Cut in or process in 9 tablespoons of butter until mixture is coarse and crumbly. Reserve about ¾ cup (you can reserve 1 cup if you'd like more topping and less crust) for topping. Pat remaining into bottom of pan. It will seem dry, but it’s supposed to be.
- Toss apples with half of the lemon juice and arrange in a fairly layer across crust. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
- In a saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch and water. Turn heat to medium and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture begins to boil and thicken. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, remaining 1 tablespoon butter and remaining teaspoon of lemon juice. Pour over apples.
- Sprinkle reserved crumbs on top, then sprinkle pecans over crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-45 minutes or until top is lightly browned.
- If you’d prefer bars that hold together, let the bars cool completely and then chill before cutting. You can bring them back to room temp after chilling.