Classic Maple Pecan Apple Bars
These delicious Classic Maple Pecan Apple Bars feature a sweet and tart apple filling nestled between a crumbly pecan topping and a buttery oat base. Perfect for a dessert or snack, these bars are a delightful treat for any occasion.
Equipment
- Oven
- 9x13 inch baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Large bowls
- Knives
- Cutting board
- Pastry blender or forks
- Wire rack
Ingredients
For the Delicious Apple Filling:
- 4-5 medium apples Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji recommended
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
For the Crumbly Pecan Topping & Base:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup cold butter 1 stick, cut into small pieces
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Pantry Staples:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Lightly grease or line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Peel, core, and dice the apples into small pieces.
- In a large bowl, toss diced apples with maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice; set aside.
- In another large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, rolled oats, and salt.
- Add cold butter pieces to the dry ingredients.
- Cut the butter into the flour mixture until coarse crumbs form with pea-sized butter pieces.
- Stir in the chopped pecans.
- Press two-thirds of the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan to form the base.
- Spread the apple filling evenly over the crumb base.
- Sprinkle the remaining one-third of the crumb mixture over the apple layer.
Baking & Cooling
- Bake for 45-55 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly and tender.
- Cool the bars completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
Ensure apples are diced uniformly for even cooking. For best results, allow the bars to cool completely before slicing to prevent crumbling and ensure clean cuts.