Cozy Autumn Maple Pecan Apple Bars
These delightful autumn bars feature a buttery oat crust, a sweet maple apple filling, and a crunchy pecan topping, perfect for a cozy treat.
Equipment
- Oven
- 9x13 inch baking dish
- Parchment paper
- Large bowls
- Pastry blender (or two knives/fingertips)
- Medium bowl
- Wire rack
- Knife (for checking doneness)
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- ¾ cup cold butter cut into small pieces
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Apple Filling
- 4-5 fresh apples medium, like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji, peeled, cored, and chopped
- ½ cup pure maple syrup Grade A
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch or all-purpose flour
For the Pecan Topping
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Preparing the Crumble Crust
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a 9x13 inch baking dish. Combine dry ingredients and cold butter; mix until coarse crumbs form.
- Press two-thirds of the mixture into the dish, bake for 10-12 minutes, then set aside to cool.
Crafting the Maple Apple Filling
- In a large bowl, combine chopped apples with maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice.
- Stir in cornstarch or flour until apples are evenly coated, then pour over the pre-baked crust.
Assembling the Pecan Topping
- In a medium bowl, combine chopped pecans, brown sugar, melted butter, and maple syrup; stir well.
- Add vanilla extract and mix again, then sprinkle this mixture evenly over the apple filling.
Baking Your Maple Pecan Apple Bars
- Bake for 35-45 minutes at 375°F (190°C), until the apple filling is bubbly and tender, and the topping is golden brown.
- Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting to allow the bars to set and make them easier to cut.
Notes
Cooling completely helps the bars set and makes them easier to cut.