Recipe Overview

Author: Linda Nortje

Apple Crumble Bars — a simple, no-fuss recipe with apples, cinnamon, walnuts, and optional caramel drizzle.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/3 + 1/2 cups sugar, divided
• 1 TB sour cream
• 1 egg
• 1/2 t salt
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 3 apples, cored, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 t ground cinnamon

For the topping

• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (or pecans if preferred)
• 2 TB sugar
• 1/2 t ground cinnamon

To serve

• Caramel sauce (optional) or whipped cream

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a 20 x 30 cm (8 x 12 inch) baking dish with baking paper, letting the edges hang over for easy removal.
2. Beat the butter and 1/3 cup sugar until creamy. Add the sour cream, egg, and salt, and beat for another minute to combine.
3. Stir the flour into the butter mixture until it forms a soft dough. Press or spread half of the batter evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish — the dough is soft, but it will set while baking.
4. In a medium bowl, toss the apple slices with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon until well coated. Spread the apples evenly over the dough in the baking dish.
5. Using a teaspoon or your fingers, drop small pieces of the remaining dough over the apple layer. It’s fine if the topping is rustic and uneven — that creates the classic crumble texture.
6. Mix the chopped walnuts (or pecans) with the 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, then sprinkle this mixture evenly over the unbaked bars.
7. Bake for 40–45 minutes or until the topping is golden and the apples are tender. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish before lifting them out using the overhanging baking paper.
8. Once cooled, slice into bars. Drizzle with caramel sauce or serve with whipped cream if desired.

Tips and Notes

• Granny Smith apples are an excellent choice because they hold their shape and provide a pleasant tang that balances the sweetness.
• Walnuts can be swapped for pecans if you prefer a slightly sweeter, more buttery nut flavor.
• Let the bars cool completely before slicing to ensure clean edges and easier handling.
• These bars freeze well. Wrap individual pieces or a whole pan tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving and warm briefly in the oven if you prefer them slightly warm.
• For an even simpler crumble, you can coarsely grate cold butter into the flour to create a streusel-like topping instead of using the soft dough method.

Serve with caramel sauce (optional) or a dollop of whipped cream. These bars are great for dessert, coffee breaks, or as a portable snack in lunch boxes.

LINDA