There’s nothing quite like the smell of warm apples and cinnamon drifting from the oven when the weather starts turning crisp. That scent just pulls you right into the kitchen, doesn’t it? For me, baking needs to be comforting, but it also needs to fit into our busy, health-focused lives. That’s why these Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars are one of my absolute go-to recipes. They deliver that cozy, nostalgic flavor without any fuss or heavy indulgence.
As Olivia Bennett, I developed this recipe specifically because I believe desserts should bring joy, not guilt. We’re focusing on simple, wholesome vibes here. You get tender, spiced apples sandwiched between a buttery oat base and topping. It’s the perfect example of a treat that feels nourishing and completely satisfying after a long day.
Why You Will Love These Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
Honestly, these might become your new favorite quick dessert. They hit that sweet spot between rustic and absolutely delicious. You’ll find yourself reaching for them all week long.
- They really are quick! Prep time is barely 15 minutes, making them perfect for weeknights when you need a simple dessert idea.
- The texture is divine: soft, slightly chewy apple filling topped with that perfect, crisp oat crumble.
- They bake up beautifully in an 8×8 pan, meaning you get 12 perfect slices ideal for packing for snacks or taking to a gathering.
- This recipe uses easy desserts with few ingredients, so you probably have everything you need right now! Because we focus on balance here at Sena Recipes, these feel like a wholesome treat, not just an empty indulgence.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
When we talk about quality baking, it always comes down to the ingredients. Since these are so simple, every component really shines through. You’ll notice we group them into the filling, where the magic happens, and the crumble, which holds everything together.
For the Apple Cinnamon Filling
You want apples that hold their shape a little bit, so grab something firm like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp if you can find them. We’re cooking these down slightly to concentrate that wonderful apple flavor.
- 2 C Chopped apples
- 1 Tbs Lemon juice (don’t skip this, it keeps the apples bright!)
- 2 Tbs Brown sugar
- 1 Tbs Butter
- 1 Tsp Cinnamon (don’t be shy!)
- 1/2 Tsp Corn starch (this helps thicken the juices)
For the Crumble Crust and Topping
And here’s the beauty of it—the exact same mixture becomes both the sturdy base and the crunchy top layer. Just make sure your butter is soft enough when you start mixing!
- 1 1/4 c all purpose flour
- 1/3 c old fashioned oats (this provides that necessary texture)
- 1/3 c sugar
- 1/2 c butter softened
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 egg
Step-by-Step Instructions for Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
This is where we bring it all together. Because we are cooking the apples first, we skip the mushy centers that sometimes plague other bar recipes. Don’t worry if your crumble topping looks a bit loose; that’s exactly what we want!
Preparation and Preheating
First things first: let’s get the oven ready. Preheat your oven to 375º F. Next, grab an 8”x8” baking pan. I always line mine with foil and give it a generous spray of cooking spray. The foil acts like a sling, which makes lifting the cooled bars out so much easier later on. Trust me, it saves on cleanup!
Cooking the Apple Cinnamon Filling
In a medium saucepan, combine all those filling ingredients—your chopped apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and corn starch. Set it over medium heat. You need to stir this occasionally until the apples soften up nicely, which usually takes about 5 to 7 minutes. We’re not trying to make applesauce, just tender apples that are bursting with cinnamon goodness.
Assembling the Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
While that’s simmering, make your crumble mixture. In a large bowl, mix all the crust ingredients—the flour, oats, sugar, softened butter, salt, baking powder, and the egg—until you have a loose, crumbly dough. Take about 1 cup of this dough mixture and press it firmly and evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan. Then, carefully spread that cooked apple filling right over the crust. Finally? Take the rest of that dough and just crumble it over the top evenly. Don’t press it down!
Baking and Cooling
Time for the oven! These need 30 to 35 minutes. You’re looking for the edges of the crumble topping to turn a lovely golden brown. This is the hardest part: you must let them cool! Carefully take the pan out and let these sit for at least 10 minutes before attempting to slice them. If you cut them too soon, they’ll just fall apart. Once cooled slightly, slice them up and serve!
Tips for Success with Your Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
I want your first attempt at these to be a total success, so here are a few things I’ve learned from years of testing my favorite comfort food recipes.
- Soft Butter is Key: For the crumble mixture, your butter must be truly softened—not melted—to properly combine with the flour and sugar. If it’s too hard, you’ll just end up hacking away at it instead of rubbing it in properly.
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: When you press the bottom layer, press it just enough to hold together. Overmixing the dough, even for the base, will create a dense, cracker-like crust instead of the tender experience we’re aiming for.
- Seal the Edges: When you cook the filling, make sure the cooked apple mixture doesn’t touch the edges of the pan too much. Any fruit filling touching the pan directly can burn or stick tightly, making removal hard.
- Taste Your Apples: If your apples are already very sweet, try cutting back the brown sugar in the filling just a tiny bit. This is part of keeping these treats balanced and mindful!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
Life happens, and sometimes you’re missing an ingredient. These bars are flexible, but some things, like the oats, really add to the rustic feeling. For more fun apple dessert ideas, check out my tartlets!
If you don’t have old-fashioned rolled oats, you can swap them out for quick oats, but the texture will be slightly softer. You can even swap in some chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the crumble mix if you want extra crunch!
For the apples, stick to firm varieties. Fuji or Gala apples also work well if you don’t have Granny Smiths. Don’t use fresh applesauce, though—that will make the entire bar soggy since we rely on the gentle cooking process to release moisture slowly.
Storage and Reheating Instructions for Homemade Desserts
These are fantastic for meal-prepping because they hold up so well in the fridge. Store any leftover Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars in an airtight container right in the refrigerator. They keep beautifully for up to five days, which is great for workday snacks!
If you prefer them warm, which I sometimes do for an extra cozy feel, just pop a slice onto a microwave-safe plate and heat it for about 15 to 20 seconds. They taste almost as good on day four as they do fresh from the oven.
Serving Suggestions for Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
While these are incredible all by themselves—perfect for an afternoon coffee break—they absolutely sing when served warm with a little something extra. It elevates them from a simple snack to a true dessert!
My favorite way to serve them, especially after dinner, is topped with a small scoop of high-quality vanilla bean ice cream. The cold creaminess against the warm, spiced apple is just magical. If that feels like too much, a dollop of plain Greek yogurt works wonderfully to add a creamy tang, fitting right into our wholesome recipe philosophy.
Estimated Nutritional Data for Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
As a recipe developer focused on balance, I know many of you are curious about the numbers. Keep in mind that this is our estimate for one bar, based on the ingredients used. We like simple, everyday ingredients, so the nutritional profile reflects that wholesome approach.
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: Around 250
- Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Protein: 3g
It’s a totally reasonable way to enjoy a comforting treat without overdoing it!
Share Your Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars Experience
I truly hope these become a staple in your kitchen. Making balanced, flavorful food is what we’re all about at Sena Recipes, and I’d love to hear how this fell in your rotation. Did you try them with pecans in the topping?
Please leave a rating below—it helps other bakers who are looking for the best dessert recipes find this one! And if you snap a picture, please share it on social media and tag us. Seeing your homemade desserts brightens my whole week!
Why You Will Love These Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
Honestly, these might become your new favorite quick dessert. They hit that sweet spot between rustic and absolutely delicious. You’ll find yourself reaching for them all week long.
- They really are quick! Prep time is barely 15 minutes, making them perfect for weeknights when you need a simple dessert idea.
- The texture is divine: soft, slightly chewy apple filling topped with that perfect, crisp oat crumble.
- They bake up beautifully in an 8×8 pan, meaning you get 12 perfect slices ideal for packing for snacks or taking to a gathering.
- This recipe uses easy desserts with few ingredients, so you probably have everything you need right now! Because we focus on balance here at Sena Recipes, these feel like a wholesome treat, not just an empty indulgence. Check out my tips for easy family dinners too!
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
When we talk about quality baking, it always comes down to the ingredients. Since these are so simple, every component really shines through. You’ll notice we group them into the filling, where the magic happens, and the crumble, which holds everything together.
For the Apple Cinnamon Filling
You want apples that hold their shape a little bit, so grab something firm like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp if you can find them. We’re cooking these down slightly to concentrate that wonderful apple flavor. If you ever want to see another amazing apple recipe, check out my apple pie egg rolls!
- 2 C Chopped apples
- 1 Tbs Lemon juice (don’t skip this, it keeps the apples bright!)
- 2 Tbs Brown sugar
- 1 Tbs Butter
- 1 Tsp Cinnamon (don’t be shy!)
- 1/2 Tsp Corn starch (this helps thicken the juices)
For the Crumble Crust and Topping
And here’s the beauty of it—the exact same mixture becomes both the sturdy base and the crunchy top layer. Just make sure your butter is soft enough when you start mixing! We use oats here for that rustic, wholesome texture that makes these bars so satisfying.
- 1 1/4 c all purpose flour
- 1/3 c old fashioned oats
- 1/3 c sugar
- 1/2 c butter softened
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 egg
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
This is where we bring it all together. Because we are cooking the apples first, we skip the mushy centers that sometimes plague other bar recipes. Don’t worry if your crumble topping looks a bit loose; that’s exactly what we want! If you struggle with cookie textures, check out my tips on baking perfect cookies first.
Preparation and Preheating
First things first: let’s get the oven ready. Preheat your oven to 375º F. Next, grab an 8”x8” baking pan. I always line mine with foil and give it a generous spray of cooking spray. The foil acts like a sling, which makes lifting the cooled bars out so much easier later on. Trust me, it saves on cleanup!
Cooking the Apple Cinnamon Filling
In a medium saucepan, combine all those filling ingredients—your chopped apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and corn starch. Set it over medium heat. You need to stir this occasionally until the apples soften up nicely, which usually takes about 5 to 7 minutes. We’re not trying to make applesauce, just tender apples that are bursting with cinnamon goodness.
Assembling the Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
While that’s simmering, make your crumble mixture. In a large bowl, mix all the crust ingredients—the flour, oats, sugar, softened butter, salt, baking powder, and the egg—until you have a loose, crumbly dough. Take about 1 cup of this dough mixture and press it firmly and evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan. Then, carefully spread that cooked apple filling right over the crust. Finally? Take the rest of that dough and just crumble it over the top evenly. Don’t press it down!
Baking and Cooling
Time for the oven! These need 30 to 35 minutes. You’re looking for the edges of the crumble topping to turn a lovely golden brown. This is the hardest part: you must let them cool! Carefully take the pan out and let these sit for at least 10 minutes before attempting to slice them. If you cut them too soon, they’ll just fall apart. Once cooled slightly, slice them up and serve!
Tips for Success with Your Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
I want your first attempt at these to be a total success, so here are a few things I’ve learned from years of testing my favorite comfort food recipes.
- Soft Butter is Key: For the crumble mixture, your butter must be truly softened—not melted—to properly combine with the flour and sugar. If it’s too hard, you’ll just end up hacking away at it instead of rubbing it in properly.
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: When you press the bottom layer, press it just enough to hold together. Overmixing the dough, even for the base, will create a dense, cracker-like crust instead of the tender experience we’re aiming for.
- Seal the Edges: When you cook the filling, make sure the cooked apple mixture doesn’t touch the edges of the pan too much. Any fruit filling touching the pan directly can burn or stick tightly, making removal hard.
- Taste Your Apples: If your apples are already very sweet, try cutting back the brown sugar in the filling just a tiny bit. This is part of keeping these treats balanced and mindful!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
Life happens, and sometimes you’re missing an ingredient. These bars are flexible, but some things, like the oats, really add to the rustic feeling. For more fun apple dessert ideas, check out my tartlets!
If you don’t have old-fashioned rolled oats, you can swap them out for quick oats, but the texture will be slightly softer. You can even swap in some chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the crumble mix if you want extra crunch!
For the apples, stick to firm varieties. Fuji or Gala apples also work well if you don’t have Granny Smiths. Don’t use fresh applesauce, though—that will make the entire bar soggy since we rely on the gentle cooking process to release moisture slowly.
Storage and Reheating Instructions for Homemade Desserts
One of the best things about these bars? They travel well and last longer than a fresh-baked cookie! I’m all about making sure our beautiful baking projects fit into real life, which means they should be fine for snacking later in the week.
You need to store any remaining Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars in an airtight container. I usually just leave mine right on the counter for the first day, but honestly, for the best texture and to keep them fresh, pop them into the refrigerator. They stay perfectly good in there for up to 5 days, which is a lifesaver when you’re trying to stick to wholesome snacking.
If you’re craving that oven-fresh warmth, reheating is super simple. You just need a quick zap! Pop a single bar onto a microwave-safe plate. Heat it for about 15 to 20 seconds—that’s usually plenty to soften the apple filling again. If you want that very slight crispness back on the crumble, use your toaster oven for about two minutes on a low setting instead. I shared my favorite banana bread recipe recently, and these reheat almost just as well! Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
It’s always great to chat about the little things that can make or break a baking session! These questions pop up a lot, and I promise, the answers make these bar recipes even easier to master. Honestly, they are one of the best simple dessert recipes because the technique is so straightforward.
Can I make these Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars ahead of time?
Absolutely, yes! And I encourage you to do so, really, because they set up perfectly overnight in the fridge. Remember what I said about storage? Keep them in that airtight container in the refrigerator. They are just as delicious the next day, which makes them awesome quick dessert recipes for busy mornings or when you need something planned ahead!
What is the best way to get a perfect crumble topping?
This is all about the butter temperature and how you apply the top layer. Make sure your butter is softened, not melted, for the mixture. When you add the remaining dough to the top of the apples, you must avoid pressing it down. Just gently break it up with your fingers so you have nice, chunky crumbles. Those bigger pieces get delightfully crisp in the oven while the pieces closer to the fruit toast up nicely.
Are these considered healthy dessert options?
That’s a fair question, and one I always keep in mind! While they are certainly a treat, I wouldn’t call them heavy. We are using whole oats for fiber and a good balance of natural sweetness from the apples themselves. They are definitely one of the better healthy dessert options you can bake when you want something comforting but still mindful of your ingredients. They are vegetarian, too!
Serving Suggestions for Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
While these are incredible all by themselves—perfect for an afternoon coffee break—they absolutely sing when served warm with a little something extra. It elevates them from a simple snack to a true dessert!
My favorite way to serve them, especially after dinner, is topped with a small scoop of high-quality vanilla bean ice cream. The cold creaminess against the warm, spiced apple is just magical. If that feels like too much, a dollop of plain Greek yogurt works wonderfully to add a creamy tang, fitting right into our philosophy of enjoying cozy, creative hot drink recipes and mindful eating.
Estimated Nutritional Data for Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
As a recipe developer focused on balance, I know many of you are curious about the numbers. Keep in mind that this is our estimate for one bar, based on the ingredients used. We like simple, everyday ingredients, so the nutritional profile reflects that wholesome approach. These are a great way to enjoy something satisfying without derailing your week!
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: Around 250
- Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Protein: 3g
This data helps us understand why these bars are such a great fit for mindful snacking. For more recipes that fit into a balanced lifestyle, you can browse my collection of low-calorie foods and weight loss recipes.
Share Your Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars Experience
I truly hope these become a staple in your kitchen. Making balanced, flavorful food is what we’re all about at Sena Recipes, and I’d love to hear how this fell in your rotation. Did you try them with pecans in the topping or maybe add a drizzle of maple syrup?
Please leave a rating below—it lets other home bakers who are looking for the absolute best dessert recipes know that this one is trustworthy and truly delicious!
And if you snap a picture while you’re enjoying these cozy homemade desserts, please tag us on social media so I can see your beautiful results. Seeing what you create with these simple building blocks always brightens my whole week!
Print
Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars
- Total Time: 50 min
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Simple, comforting crumble bars featuring tender apples spiced with cinnamon and topped with a textured oat crust.
Ingredients
- 2 C Chopped apples
- 1 Tbs Lemon juice
- 2 Tbs Brown sugar
- 1 Tbs Butter
- 1 Tsp Cinnamon
- 1/2 Tsp Corn starch
- 1 1/4 c all purpose flour
- 1/3 c old fashioned oats
- 1/3 c sugar
- 1/2 c butter softened
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375º F and line an 8”x8” baking pan with foil and coat with cooking spray.
- In a medium sized sauce pan combine the filling ingredients and cook over medium heat until the apples are tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the crust ingredients and press 1 c of the dough mix into the bottom of your baking pan.
- Evenly distribute the apple filling over the crust and then crumble the remaining dough mixture evenly over the apple filling.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Carefully remove the pan from the oven and let cool for at least 10 minutes, slice and serve.
Notes
- Store any remaining bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: Apple Cinnamon Crumble Bars, Quick Dessert Recipes, Easy Desserts With Few Ingredients, Easy Cookie Recipes, Simple Dessert Recipes, Easy Dessert Ideas, Homemade Desserts, Baking Ideas, Apple Cinnamon Dessert Ideas, Easy Baking Recipes