Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease and line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later.
- In a large bowl, combine the gluten-free flour blend, certified gluten-free rolled oats, light brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk everything together until well combined.2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, 1 cup rolled oats, ¾ cup packed light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, your fingertips, or a food processor, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. This is your crumble mixture.¾ cup cold unsalted butter
- Reserve about 1½ cups of the crumble mixture for the topping. Press the remaining crumble mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the crust. Ensure it’s packed down firmly to create a solid base.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake the crust for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. This par-baking step helps ensure a sturdy crust.
- While the crust is baking, prepare the apple filling. In a separate medium bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, gluten-free flour blend, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated with the sugar and spice mixture.4 cups apples, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, Pinch salt
- Once the crust has been par-baked, carefully remove it from the oven. Spread the prepared apple filling evenly over the hot crust.
- Sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture evenly over the apple filling. Make sure to cover the entire surface of the apples.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly and tender when pierced with a fork. If the topping starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This is crucial for the bars to set properly, making them easier to slice. Cooling can take at least 2-3 hours.
- Once completely cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the entire block out of the pan. Place it on a cutting board and slice into bars. Enjoy!
Notes
Storing: Once completely cooled, Irresistible Gluten-Free Apple Crumble Bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator, where they will stay fresh for up to 5 days. Freezing: These bars freeze exceptionally well. Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Reheating: To reheat, place a bar on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on 50% power for 20-30 seconds, or until warmed through. For a crisper topping, reheat in a toaster oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5-7 minutes. If reheating from frozen, allow the bar to thaw slightly at room temperature before reheating.
