This post is sponsored by NOW Foods. All opinions are my own.
Enjoy the taste of fall with these apple crisp crumble bars. They’re made with wholesome ingredients—fresh apples, pecans, oats, and coconut oil—so you get a soft cinnamon apple filling topped with a crunchy oat crumble. The result is a cozy, satisfying treat.
Fall is my favorite season for cooking. I love summer grilling, but autumn brings the hearty, comforting flavors I crave—think soups, roasted vegetables, and rich desserts. Apple picking is a family tradition for us, so I’m always looking for tasty ways to use up crisp apples. Apple crisp is a classic favorite, and these healthier crumble bars give you that same cinnamon-apple goodness in a lighter, grab-and-go form.
These bars are vegan and gluten-free and use mostly pantry staples like NOW Foods Rolled Oats, NOW Foods Coconut Oil, and NOW Foods nuts (I prefer pecans, but walnuts work well, too) along with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. I’ve trusted NOW Foods for years for quality pantry items and whole foods. They test ingredients for purity and are transparent about their sourcing. If you’d like to try their products (they offer natural foods, essential oils, supplements, beauty items, and more), use code AMBER for 20% off at NOWFoods.com.
These bars have an oatmeal crust that’s chewy and a thick apple-cinnamon filling, finished with a crumbly oat and pecan topping. Serve them warm or cooled—warm bars are a bit more crumbly, while fully cooled bars are easier to cut and hold their shape. They’re perfect for dessert or to tuck into a lunchbox, and they’re delicious with vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt.
Below is the recipe plus notes on simple swaps and adjustments.
Substitution notes and tips:
– I use oat flour instead of regular flour for more fiber. The recipe shows how to make oat flour from the oats you set aside. If you already have oat flour, use that and skip the extra step.
– You can swap coconut sugar for brown sugar, though coconut sugar can make the bars slightly drier; I prefer brown sugar for a richer flavor.
– If you don’t have coconut oil, use unsalted butter 1:1.
– To reduce sweetness, omit the 2 tablespoons of brown sugar in the apple filling.
Apple Crisp Crumble Bars
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Total time: 55 minutes
Yields: 9 bars
Ingredients
Crust and crumb topping
– 2 1/2 cups rolled oats, divided (1 cup and 1 1/2 cups)
– 1/2 cup coconut oil, room temperature
– 1/3 cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
– 4 tablespoons pecans or walnuts
Apple pie filling
– 3 1/2 cups apples, peeled and diced or sliced
– 1 teaspoon cinnamon
– Pinch of nutmeg
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1/4 cup water
– 1 tablespoon cornstarch
– 1 teaspoon lemon juice
– 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper and spray lightly with oil.
Apple filling
2. Combine all filling ingredients in a medium saucepan. Cook over low to medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and the apples start to soften. Remove from heat.
Crust and topping
3. Place 1 cup of the oats in a food processor and blend until fine to make oat flour.
4. Add the remaining 1 1/2 cups oats, coconut oil, 1/3 cup brown sugar, salt, and nuts to the oat flour in the processor. Pulse several times until mixed but still slightly chunky—you want a coarse, crumbly texture. Don’t over-process.
5. Reserve 1 cup of this oat mixture for the topping.
6. Press the remaining oat mixture firmly into the prepared pan to form the crust, working to the edges.
7. Spread the apple filling evenly over the crust.
8. Sprinkle the reserved oat mixture over the apples to form the crumble topping.
9. Bake 40–45 minutes, until the crust is golden brown. Let cool completely before cutting for cleaner slices.
Which do you prefer for fall treats—pumpkin or apple?
Don’t forget to use code AMBER for 20% off at NOWFoods.com.