All the cozy magic of apple crisp, baked into a buttery grab-and-go bar. Tender spiced apples under a crunchy oat crumble, finished with a drizzle of warm salted caramel.
1Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two sides for easy lifting.
2In a bowl, whisk the flour, 1/2 cup oats, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Pour in the melted butter and stir until crumbly clumps form. Press about two-thirds of the mixture firmly into the prepared pan to make the crust. Reserve the rest.
3Toss the diced apples with the granulated sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch until evenly coated. Spread the apple mixture over the crust.
4Mix the reserved crumb mixture with the remaining 1/2 cup oats and the pecans (if using). Sprinkle evenly over the apples.
5Bake 40–45 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the apples are bubbling at the edges. Cool in the pan for at least 1 hour — the bars firm up as they cool.
6Lift out of the pan using the parchment, slice into 9–12 bars, drizzle generously with warm salted caramel, and serve.
Recipe Lineage
The family tree of this recipe — trace every fork back to the original.