One-Bowl Apple Pie Streusel Bars

By srumbel

One-bowl apple pie streusel bars are an easy no-fuss treat you can pack up for lunch, or drizzle with caramel sauce for a more decadent after dinner treat. These bars are a cross between an apple crumble and an apple pie, but so much easier to grab and eat. This recipe makes enough for a 9 x 13 inch baking pan and is so easy to slice up and share. You can choose to leave the skins on or off on the apples. This is one of those rare times I peel the apples because it makes it that much easier to slice and eat on the go. To keep the recipe as mess-free as possible, I use a mandolin to slice up my apples directly into the baking pan, but feel free to use a cutting board and slice thinly by hand. I also like to add a bit of ground ginger and cardamom to my bars to add more of that fall-spice feel to the bars, but it is completely optional.
from centercutcook.com

Ingredients

• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups lightly packed brown sugar, divided
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 14 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced thinly
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom (optional)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Details

Preparation time 25mins
Cooking time 85mins

Preparation

Step 1

Line a 9 x 13 baking sheet with parchment paper. You can use binder clips to hold the ends of the paper to the pan so they stay down. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In the baking pan mix together the oats, flour, 1 cup of brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Mix in the butter until everything is coated and the mixture holds together when squeezed in your hands. Reserve one cup the mixture and press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the baking pan.

Place half the apple slices in the baking pan in even layers. Sprinkle 2 tablesoons of the remaining brown sugar and 1/2 tablespoon of the lemon juice. Place the remaining apples in the pan and sprinkle the remaining sugar and lemon juice over the apples. Sprinkle the vanilla extract over the apples.

Spread the remaining oat mixture over the apples. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 30 minutes.