These Apple Butter Oatmeal Bars are ridiculously delicious! A soft, buttery crust layered with apple butter and topped with a scrumptious oat crumble and raisins (or nuts).
Not a crumb goes to waste when I make these dessert bars; they’re that good!
Why This Recipe Works
Apple butter oatmeal bars are buttery, apple-y, and cinnamony—the perfect flavor combination for fall. And the crumbly streusel topping takes it all to the next level.
Oatmeal bars with apple butter are everything. They’re perfectly scrumptious alongside a piping hot mug of hot tea or coffee. Or serve them topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Just bake them…they’re the absolute BEST.
Ingredient Notes
- Apple butter – I prefer using unsweetened apple butter that I buy from local farms but when I make my own homemade apple butter recipe, I use that. I’ll bet this caramel apple butter would be delicious too.
- Apple pie spice – The combination of warm fall spices is perfection in this recipe.
- Oats – I use quick-cooking oats for this recipe, but old-fashioned oats would work too, and would result in a slightly chewier texture.
- Apple – I used Honeycrisp, but use whatever you have on hand…except Red Delicious—the most flavorless apple ever.
- Raisins or nuts – I love using a raisin medley, but if you’re not a raisin fan, you could substitute chopped almonds, pecans, or walnuts.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: In a medium bowl, stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and apple pie spice.
Step 2: Stir in melted butter until mixed and holding together.
Step 3: Reserve ⅔ cup of the mixture; set aside. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the pan to form a crust. Bake 15-20 minutes or until crust is lightly browned. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
Step 4: When the bars have cooled, mix together the diced apples and apple butter in a small bowl and spread over the cooled crust.
Step 5: Sprinkle raisins (or nuts) over the top, then sprinkle the remaining oat mixture evenly over the apple butter layer.
Step 6: Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the crumble topping is a light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack completely. Cut into bars.
Recipe FAQ
You can use quick-cooking oats or old-fashioned oats. Either one will work, but old-fashioned oats yield a slightly chewier texture.
Try using pumpkin butter or fruit preserves. I love it with fig preserves!
Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They can be served cold, at room temperature, or warm.
Other Dessert Bar Recipes You’ll Love
And try these yummy Oatmeal Raisin Butterscotch Cookies too!
Apple Butter Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon apple pie spice
- ¾ cup butter melted
- 1 apple peeled, diced or chopped
- ¾ cup apple butter
- ½ cup raisins or chopped nuts; optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 8×8-inch pan with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
- In medium bowl, stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, salt and apple pie spice.
- Stir in melted butter until thoroughly mixed. Reserve ⅔ cup of the mixture; set aside. Press remaining mixture into bottom of pan to form crust. Bake 15-20 minutes or until crust is lightly browned. Let cool completely on wire rack.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In small bowl, mix together the diced apples and apple butter. Spread over the cooled crust.
- Sprinkle on raisins, if using. Crumble remaining oat mixture evenly over the apple butter layer. Bake 30-40 minutes or until the crumble topping is a light golden brown. Cool on wire rack completely. Cut into bars.
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