These apple pie bars have been the dessert of the week at my house as I tested several batches with varied fillings to see which one is our favorite. I tested a batch of these oatmeal bars with store bought apple pie filling, which was nice because it was so easy, but found we prefer the homemade filling made with fresh apple slices, flour, sugar and warm apple pie spices. The oatmeal base and topping for these bars is my go-to recipe for any bars with fruit filling and is a recipe that originates from an Amish cookbook. Whenever I make these buttery oatmeal bars with strawberry, cherry, rhubarb or spiced apple pie filling, they are an absolute hit!
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Amish Oatmeal Apple Pie Bars
Equipment
- 9 by 9 inch baking dish (linked below)
- Mixing bowls (linked below)
- Stainless steel measuring cups and spoons (linked below)
- Parchment paper (linked below)
Ingredients
Cinnamon Oatmeal Base and Topping:
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup salted butter softened
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Apple Pie Filling:
- 2 1/2 cups fresh apple slices peeled
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour rounded
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice or 3/4 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350:
- Place all the ingredients for the oatmeal base into a medium sized mixing bowl, then mix by hand or with a spatula until well combined and a coarse, but somewhat wet crumb has formed. Combine peeled apple slices with flour, sugar and apple pie spice (or cinnamon and nutmeg), tossing until well coated.
- Line a 9 by 9 or 8 by 8 inch baking dish with parchment paper (*see note), then press all but 2/3 cup of crumb topping into the bottom until no cracks remain in the base. Spread the apple filling evenly over the base, then sprinkle the reserved crumb topping over top.
- Bake the apple pie bars in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the apples have softened and the crumb topping is golden. Allow to cool completely before slicing. Storage notes below.
Notes
Equipment needed for these Apple Pie Bars with Oatmeal:
- 9 by 9 inch baking dish I prefer to use my 9 by 9 inch glass baking dish to bake these apple oatmeal bars. You can also use an 8 by 8 inch baking dish, but the bars will be a little thicker.
- Mixing bowls Mixing bowls are needed to combine the oatmeal base/topping and for tossing the apples with sugar, spice and flour.
- Measuring cups and spoons Measuring cups and spoons are a must have for measuring out the ingredients listed for these apple pie bars.
- Parchment paper I prefer to line my baking sheet with parchment paper because it makes removing the bars from the baking dish so much easier!
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Ingredients needed for these Amish Apple Pie Bars: sugar, apples, butter, cinnamon, apple pie spice (or cinnamon and nutmeg), salt, baking soda, brown sugar, rolled oats (not quick oats) and all purpose flour.
Can I make my own apple pie spice for the apple pie filling?
Yes, you can! In fact I use a homemade blend that I made last fall and it is still tasting nice and fresh in these apple pie bars. If you want to make a batch of your own apple pie spice you can use this simple Homemade Apple Pie Spice recipe from My Baking Addiction.
Step 1: Place all the ingredients for the oatmeal base into a medium sized mixing bowl, then mix by hand or with a spatula until well combined and a coarse, but somewhat wet crumb has formed. Combine peeled apple slices with flour, sugar and apple pie spice (or cinnamon and nutmeg), tossing until well coated.
What to do with the excess sugar and spice left behind from the apples?
When coating the apples in the flour, sugar and spice, I have noticed that some gets left behind in the bowl after the apples are transferred onto the oatmeal base. I simply sprinkle the extra sugar/spice mixture over the apples and then add the remaining 2/3 cup of oatmeal crumbs on top.
Step 2: Line a 9 by 9 or 8 by 8 inch baking dish with parchment paper, then press all but 2/3 cup of crumb topping into the bottom until no cracks remain in the base. Spread the apple filling evenly over the oatmeal base, then sprinkle the reserved crumb topping over top.
Step 3: Bake the apple pie bars in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the apples have softened and the crumb topping is golden. Allow to cool completely before slicing.
Can these bars be served warm?
Yes, you can serve these bars warm and even add a scoop of ice cream with a drizzle of caramel on top if you wish. If I am taking these bars to a party or church event I prefer to allow them to cool first because they hold their shape better once they have been cooled completely or even chilled in the refrigerator overnight. These bars taste just as good the second day, so they are a great prep ahead option for any event!
Storage for these oatmeal apple pie bars:
I like to keep my oatmeal apple pie bars at room temperature for 24-48 hours, but for longer storage they should be refrigerated because of the fresh fruit filling. You can also freeze these apple pie bars if they are tightly wrapped or placed into an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
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