Fresh Apple Berry Crumble Bars

Serves 12 · 25 min prep · 42 min cook

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 3 cups firm baking apples, peeled cored and diced
• 1 1/2 cups fresh mixed berries (blueberries and raspberries)
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. 1Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the long sides for easy lifting later.
2. 2In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt until evenly mixed.
3. 3Add the cold cubed butter and work it in with a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture forms coarse, pea-sized crumbs that hold together when squeezed.
4. 4Press roughly two-thirds of the crumb mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form a solid base layer.
5. 5In another bowl toss the diced apples and berries with the cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla until the fruit is lightly coated and no dry starch remains.
6. 6Spread the fruit mixture evenly over the pressed crust, distributing apples and berries so every bar will get both.
7. 7Scatter the remaining crumb mixture loosely over the fruit, leaving some larger clumps for a rustic crumble top.
8. 8Bake on the center rack for 38 to 45 minutes until the topping is deep golden brown and the fruit juices are bubbling thickly at the edges.
9. 9Cool the pan completely on a wire rack for at least 1 hour so the filling sets; chilling another 30 minutes makes cleaner cuts.
10. 10Lift the slab out using the parchment overhang, place on a cutting board, and slice into 12 even bars with a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts.
11. 11Arrange the bars on a large platter or board for sharing; they travel well once fully cooled and hold their shape at room temperature for several hours.