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Apple Crisp Bars

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Apple Crisp Bars - Apple crisp gets a sweet upgrade with layers of brown sugar shortbread & vanilla bean apples, all tucked under a blanket of crisp topping! | ButtercreamBlondie.com

Hi guys. Is everyone feeling balanced after last week’s post? Good, now we can get back to business! Would you just take a look at that bar! Look at all those beautiful apples peeking out from a blanket of crisp topping, filled with brown sugar, oats, and cinnamon. Then there’s the brown sugar shortbread, which is swoon-worthy all on its own. That’s three layers of fall bliss right there, my friends.

I don’t know about you, but fall baking is in full effect in my kitchen. Temps are starting to get cooler, I’ve had my first pumpkin coffee of the season, and already dreaming about Halloween cakes! Most importantly I can’t get enough of apples, and I wanted to create a dessert that really highlighted them to kick off fall baking. This bar hits all the right notes, and I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I can’t stop eating them!

The first step in this bar is to make the crisp topping. Between the oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon, it is definitely a staple for the fall season. I highly suggest you make a big batch of it and keep it in the freezer. This way whenever you want to make these, a classic crisp, or the beloved Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars, you’re set.

Apple Crisp Bars - Apple crisp gets a sweet upgrade with layers of brown sugar shortbread & vanilla bean apples, all tucked under a blanket of crisp topping! | ButtercreamBlondie.com

Next up is the brown sugar shortbread crust. This stuff is ridiculous, and please know I mean that in the best way possible. I mean shortbread is fantastic to begin with, but the brown sugar gives it a warmth that screams fall.

Last up is the apple compote. This is a another recipe you will always go back to, and so good on its own that I had to make it several times 🙂 I posted the before photo on Instagram last week, and the shot below is the after.  When you let a vanilla bean get cozy with some apples, you will get unbelievable flavor, and check out all those pretty specks!

Apple Crisp Bars - Apple crisp gets a sweet upgrade with layers of brown sugar shortbread & vanilla bean apples, all tucked under a blanket of crisp topping! | ButtercreamBlondie.com

The most important thing when making this is to make sure your apples are all cut the same size so they cook evenly. I also want to mention that the type of apples you use will make a big difference. I’ve made this the bars with a few different varieties throughout the years and granny smith is the one you need to go with. The tartness adds a brilliant brightness to these bars.

Finally, you put it all together and send it off into the oven where everyone can get to know each other. About 25 minutes later your whole house will smell of cinnamon vanilla goodness. The shortbread is warm, buttery, and flaky. The apples take on even more flavor as they bake, and the crisp topping provides the perfect crunch to finish it all off. Paired with a cup of coffee or apple cider, this a great treat to welcome fall. The only question now is who will get the last piece?

Apple Crisp Bars - Apple crisp gets a sweet upgrade with layers of brown sugar shortbread & vanilla bean apples, all tucked under a blanket of crisp topping! | ButtercreamBlondie.com

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Apple Crisp Bars

Apple Crisp Bars

Classic apple crisp gets a sweet upgrade with brown sugar shortbread covered with apples, all tucked under a blanket of crisp topping!

Ingredients

    Crisp Topping
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter, cold
    • Brown Sugar Shortbread Base
  • 8 ounces unsalted butter, room temp
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp. bourbon
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • Apple Compote
  • 4lbs. granny smith apples - I used 9 good sized apples
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 8.5 ounces sugar
  • 1/2 vanilla bean

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
    2. Crisp Topping
  2. Stir dry ingredients together in a bowl.
  3. Cut in butter with your fingers until you have pea sized pieces.
  4. Store in fridge till ready to use.
    5. Brown Sugar Shortbread Base
  5. Spray 9 x 13" pan with nonstick spray, line with parchment paper, and spray with nonstick again.
  6. Cream butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy.
  7. Add vanilla and bourbon.
  8. Mix in flour just until combined.
  9. Press dough into pan and chill until firm.
  10. Bake for about 25 minutes, rotating halfway through.
    11. Apple Compote
  11. Peel and cut apples and place in saucepan with water, lemon juice, sugar, and vanilla bean. Make sure the your pot is big enough.
  12. Bring to a boil (this is just to dissolve the sugar) then drop the heat to medium low and pop a lid on it. Stir every so often to make sure that apples are cooking evenly.
  13. When apples start to get translucent, it's done. This should take 17-20 minutes.If you let them cook longer, they will get mushy.
  14. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Strain before assembling bars.
    15. Assembly
  15. Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees.
  16. Place apple compote on top of cooled shortbread crust. Please make sure you strain the apples first making sure there is no liquid and remove the vanilla bean.
  17. Sprinkle crisp topping evenly over apples.
  18. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
  19. Allow to cool completely in pan.

Notes

Make a big batch of crisp topping and keep it in the freezer. You'll be set to make bars and crisps all season.

Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before you remove them!

I suggest chilling the bars overnight before you cut them if you can wait that long.

https://buttercreamblondie.com/apple-crisp-bars/

Apple Crisp Bars - Apple crisp gets a sweet upgrade with layers of brown sugar shortbread & vanilla bean apples, all tucked under a blanket of crisp topping! | ButtercreamBlondie.com

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Comments

  3. What type of oats do you use for your topping? Quick Cooking? Original?

    Thanks, I’m loving your blog!

    Shirley

    Reply

  5. Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe! I was looking for something to use apples from my tree in a dessert for our neighborhood potluck. This recipe turned out great and everyone loved it. I tried it a second time using persimmons, cooking them the same as the apples but then I pureed them and thickened them with some cornstarch before spreading them over the shortbread base and I added a little nutmeg to the topping recipe. They came out really good. I think this recipe will work well with other fruits too. I’m going to try making it with pears next.

    Reply

  9. Made these the other day. They were delicious. I loved the cookie base with the crisp topping. Totally my kind of dessert. I almost halved the recipe, but then decided to go with the full size. I’m glad I did. The vanilla bean in the compote gave the apples a nice little push in the flavor department. BTW, this is great warmed up with some Haagen Dazs Ducle de Leche ice cream. 😀

    Reply

  10. These were so amazing when I made them this fall my family wants them for our Christmas dessert. I can’t wai tto make them again.

    Reply

  12. Made these for my family and they were wonderful! I wish I’d been better about cutting the apples into more uniform sizes — some of them were smushy and others were still crisp, but they were still amazing! We will definitely have these again. Thank you for the recipe.

    Reply

  19. Reading your post makes me wish autumn rolled in sooner! Love your photos and this recipe is absolutely scrumptious x Have a happy autumn baking Meghan!!

    Reply

  20. Last year I purchased 2 new pair of fall boots, and I have my eye on a few that I’d love to add to my collection. Boots are my favorite fall accessory.

    These bars look so good, and I love honey crisp apples this time of year. Yay for fall baking!

    Reply

  23. Looks just wonderful. I always get a yen to bake with apples as soon as my kids go back to school. It’s the best way to welcome in autumn, even if we’re a little early. Lovely recipe!

    Reply

  36. Love this professional recipe..I am making them tonight with apples I picked:) oh..and changing it to whole wheat flour for added nutrition and nutty flavour:)

    Reply

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