American

Spiced Apple and Cinnamon Streusel Bars

Elevate your baking with these sophisticated Spiced Apple and Cinnamon Streusel Bars. Featuring a tender, buttery base, a warmly spiced apple filling, and a crunchy cinnamon streusel topping, these bars offer a delightful balance of textures and flavors. Perfect for satisfying sweet cravings while aligning with weight management goals, these bars are a testament to creating delicious, restaurant-quality desserts at home.

Created byJacquelyn Halpern with lil' chef

Prep Time

30 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

Total Time

1 hr 10 mins

Calories

300-350

Skill Level

Intermediate

Servings

Prep

30 mins

Cook

40 mins

Total

1 hr 10 mins

Calories

300-350

Skill

Intermediate

Servings

12 servings

Instructions

01
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides.
This overhang will make it easier to lift the bars out of the pan once baked.
02
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and salt for the shortbread base.
Add the cold, cubed butter.
Using a pastry blender, your fingertips, or a food processor, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
This is crucial for a tender, flaky base.
03
Press about two-thirds of the shortbread mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the base.
Reserve the remaining one-third for the streusel topping.
Bake the base for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
Remove from oven and let cool slightly while you prepare the filling.
04
While the base bakes, prepare the apple filling.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the diced apples, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Toss gently to coat the apple pieces evenly.
Add the water and stir to combine.
The flour will help thicken the juices as the apples bake.
05
In the same medium mixing bowl (no need to wash), combine the ingredients for the streusel topping: ¾ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup packed light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
Whisk to combine.
Add the cold, cubed butter and use your fingertips or a pastry blender to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.
Avoid overmixing; you want distinct clumps.
06
Spread the spiced apple filling evenly over the partially baked shortbread base.
Then, sprinkle the prepared streusel topping evenly over the apple layer.
Ensure good coverage for a delicious crunch.
07
Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the streusel topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly.
The apples should be tender when pierced with a fork.
If the topping starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil.
08
Once baked, carefully remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely.
This cooling period is essential for the bars to set properly, making them easier to slice.
Rushing this step can result in crumbly bars.
09
Once completely cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the entire slab out of the pan.
Place it on a cutting board and cut into 12 bars using a sharp knife.
For cleaner cuts, wipe the knife between slices if needed.

Required Utensils

9x13 inch baking pan
Parchment paper
Large mixing bowl
Medium mixing bowl
Whisk

Ingredients

12 servings

For the Shortbread Base:

1 cup (188 g) all-purpose flour
½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, cold and cut into ½-inch cubes

For the Spiced Apple Filling:

3 medium apples (about 1.5 lbs or 680 g), peeled, cored, and diced (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala recommended)
2 tablespoon (25 g) granulated sugar
1 tablespoon (8 g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
of ground cloves
1 tablespoon (15 ml) water

For the Cinnamon Streusel Topping:

¾ cup (94 g) all-purpose flour
½ cup (100 g) packed light brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
6 tablespoon (85 g) unsalted butter, cold and cut into ½-inch cubes

Quick Tip

For perfectly even baking, ensure your oven is accurately preheated. Using an oven thermometer can help verify its temperature, especially for delicate baked goods like these bars.

Recommended Pairings

Instructions

01
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides.
This overhang will make it easier to lift the bars out of the pan once baked.
02
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and salt for the shortbread base.
Add the cold, cubed butter.
Using a pastry blender, your fingertips, or a food processor, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
This is crucial for a tender, flaky base.
03
Press about two-thirds of the shortbread mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the base.
Reserve the remaining one-third for the streusel topping.
Bake the base for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
Remove from oven and let cool slightly while you prepare the filling.
04
While the base bakes, prepare the apple filling.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the diced apples, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Toss gently to coat the apple pieces evenly.
Add the water and stir to combine.
The flour will help thicken the juices as the apples bake.
05
In the same medium mixing bowl (no need to wash), combine the ingredients for the streusel topping: ¾ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup packed light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
Whisk to combine.
Add the cold, cubed butter and use your fingertips or a pastry blender to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.
Avoid overmixing; you want distinct clumps.
06
Spread the spiced apple filling evenly over the partially baked shortbread base.
Then, sprinkle the prepared streusel topping evenly over the apple layer.
Ensure good coverage for a delicious crunch.
07
Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the streusel topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly.
The apples should be tender when pierced with a fork.
If the topping starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil.
08
Once baked, carefully remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely.
This cooling period is essential for the bars to set properly, making them easier to slice.
Rushing this step can result in crumbly bars.
09
Once completely cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the entire slab out of the pan.
Place it on a cutting board and cut into 12 bars using a sharp knife.
For cleaner cuts, wipe the knife between slices if needed.

Storage & Reheating

Store cooled bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer storage, wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe balances classic comfort with refined technique. The key to its success lies in using cold butter for both the base and streusel, which creates pockets of steam during baking, resulting in a tender, crumbly texture. The precise spice blend in the apple filling offers warmth without overpowering, and the careful layering ensures each bite is a harmonious blend of crisp topping, juicy fruit, and buttery base. The cooling step is crucial for achieving clean cuts and a satisfying texture.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using melted or warm butter for the base or streusel: This will result in a greasy, dense texture rather than a tender, crumbly one.
Overmixing the streusel: Overmixing develops gluten in the flour, leading to a tough topping instead of a crumbly one.
Cutting the bars while still warm: The bars need to set completely to hold their shape when cut.
Unevenly distributing the streusel: This can lead to some bars being dry and others overly moist.

Nutritional Information

Serving Size

1 bar (1/12th of recipe)

Calories

Approximately 300-350 kcal (will vary based on exact ingredients and apple size)

Protein

Fat

15g

Saturated Fat

Carbohydrates

40g

Fiber

Sugar

25g

Sodium

150g

Macronutrient Distribution

Values are estimated based on typical ingredients and serving sizes. AI can produce inaccurate values.

Dietary Information

Dietary Tags

egg freenut freesoy freevegetarianpescatarianshellfish free

Contains Allergens

DairyWheat (gluten)

Additional Notes

This recipe is naturally soy-free.
To make it dairy-free, substitute the unsalted butter with a high-quality vegan butter substitute.
To make it egg-free, this recipe already meets the requirement.
For a lower glycemic option, consider using a sugar substitute that measures 1:1 with granulated sugar and brown sugar, such as erythritol or a monk fruit blend, and be mindful of the fruit's natural sugars. Actual impact will vary.
For weight management, consume in moderation and be mindful of portion sizes.
Ensure all spices are pure and do not contain anti-caking agents if adhering to stricter dietary protocols.