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Apple-Cinnamon Fruit Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.3 from 41 reviews

These Apple-Cinnamon Fruit Bars offer a delightful combination of a nutty, crumbly whole-wheat crust topped with a warm, thick apple-cinnamon filling and a crunchy streusel topping. Perfect as a wholesome dessert or a sweet snack, these bars balance the natural sweetness of apples with cozy spices and a satisfying texture.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

  • 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds or hazelnuts) or old-fashioned rolled oats, divided
  • 3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as canola or avocado
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Fruit Filling

  • 6 cups diced peeled apples, divided
  • 1/2 cup apple cider or orange juice
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prepare the crust mixture: Combine 3/4 cup nuts (or oats), whole-wheat pastry flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Pulse until the nuts are finely ground to create an even base.
  2. Add butter and mix: Add the cold butter pieces to the food processor and pulse until the mixture is well incorporated and crumbly.
  3. Incorporate wet ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk the egg, neutral oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and almond extract. With the food processor running, slowly add this mixture. Process and pulse, scraping down the sides if necessary, until the dough begins to clump, about 30 to 45 seconds. Set aside 1/2 cup of this mixture and combine it with the remaining 1/4 cup chopped nuts or oats to create the topping. Reserve this mixture.
  4. Preheat oven and prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Generously coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
  5. Make the fruit filling: In a large saucepan, combine 4 cups of the diced apples, apple cider (or orange juice), sugar, and cornstarch. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and becomes very thick, about 4 to 5 minutes.
  6. Add remaining filling ingredients: Stir in the remaining 2 cups diced apples, ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract into the thickened mixture. Mix well to combine.
  7. Assemble the bars: Transfer the crust dough evenly into the prepared baking dish. Press it firmly into the bottom to form the crust. Spread the apple-cinnamon filling evenly over the crust. Then sprinkle the reserved topping mixture evenly over the filling.
  8. Bake the bars: Bake in the preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes. Then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, or until the crust and topping are lightly browned.
  9. Cool and serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish for at least 1 1/2 hours before cutting into 18 bars. This allows the filling to set properly for clean slices.

Notes

  • For the nuts in the crust and topping, walnuts, pecans, almonds, or hazelnuts work well and can be mixed or used individually.
  • Whole-wheat pastry flour is recommended for a tender crust, but you can substitute with regular whole wheat flour for a heartier texture.
  • If you prefer a sweeter topping, sprinkle a little extra sugar over the reserved topping mix before baking.
  • The bars keep well in an airtight container refrigerated for up to 4 days.
  • For best results, use tart or sweet apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji for balanced flavor.

Keywords: apple cinnamon bars, fruit bars, whole wheat crust, nut topping, fall dessert, homemade fruit bars, apple dessert

Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/apple-cinnamon-fruit-bars-recipe/