Apple Crisp Breakfast Bars
by Amanda Keefer
Take your breakfast on-the-go with these apple crisp breakfast bars packed with Autumn Glory apples, whole grains and a touch of sweetness. Just layer your ingredients and bake for a healthy, delicious way to start the day.
Disclosure: This recipe is sponsored by Superfresh Growers®. All opinions are our own.
With my girls on different schedules, mornings are pretty chaotic. My oldest (Mia) is out the door at 7am, which is about the time my youngest (Charli) is waking up, so Mia usually whips up a smoothie or grab something she can take and eat before heading off the school.
It is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Honestly, I would have to agree with this statement!
I know that it can be hard getting the kids ready and getting them off to school, but with a few simple changes in your routine everyone can be full and out the door in no time flat. All it takes to serve your children healthy breakfasts are a little planning beforehand.
Having something healthy on hand that she can grab is always a win-win for me. That’s why we love these Apple Crisp Breakfast Bars. With these healthy breakfast bars, my girls can even make them themselves. We have a video to prove it 😉
It’s that time of year again – Autumn Glory apples are back in season! We’ve worked with our friends at Superfresh Growers for years to share the tastiness of this apple with you.
In the past, we’ve gone the savory route with empanadas and quesadillas but decided to take a sweet spin this time. Enter these delicious breakfast bars.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Autumn Glory apples: These seriously-delicious apples bring hints of cinnamon and caramel. We like to keep the skin on for extra nutrients. Chop finely for these bars.
- Quick oats: Look for instant or quick/quick-cooking plain oats
- Flour: Good ole’ all-purpose flour, or sub for your favorite flour.
- Maple Syrup: to add a touch (but not too much!) sweetness. You can also use honey or agave nectar.
- Butter: Soften at room temperature before prepping the recipe.
- Pantry Staples: Egg, cinnamon, cornstarch and salt to tie it all together.
When making this recipe, make sure to line your baking dish with parchment paper. Parchment paper will make it easy to lift your bars right out of the pan – no sticking!
The key to this recipe is layering your ingredients. Start with a solid base of oats and flour, held together with maple syrup, butter and eggs. Add to your pan and press down firmly to form an even layer.
Then mix your apples with maple syrup, cinnamon and cornstarch and layer on top. Look at all those beautiful apples!
Lastly, add the reserved oat topping on top for the perfect bite. This will get baked to a golden brown.
Once you remove the bars from the oven, let them cool completely before lifting out of the baking dish and cutting into squares. I know – it’s tempting to dig in but trust me on this.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. We actually preferred them cold out of the fridge, but you could also warm them up a bit if you prefer and top with a little Greek yogurt. Yum!
Apple Crisp Breakfast Bars Recipe Modifications:
- To make gluten-free: Look for gluten-free-certified oats and swap the all-purpose flour for your favorite gluten-free flour.
- To make vegan: Swap butter for melted coconut oil and the egg for a flax egg.
- To made dairy-free: Swap butter for melted coconut oil.
Commonly Asked Questions About our Apple Crisp Breakfast Bars
Q: What are the main ingredients in Apple Crisp Breakfast Bars?
A: The main ingredients are quick oats, all-purpose flour, maple syrup, butter, egg, Autumn Glory apples, cinnamon, and cornstarch.
Q: How do you make Apple Crisp Breakfast Bars?
A: To make them, mix oats, flour, salt, maple syrup and butter to form a crumbly mixture. Reserve some for topping. Mix in an egg to the rest to form a dough. Press the dough into a baking pan. Top with chopped apples mixed with maple syrup, cinnamon and cornstarch. Sprinkle the reserved oat mixture on top. Bake at 350°F for 40-50 minutes until golden brown.
Q: What type of apples are used in this recipe?
A: The recipe calls for Autumn Glory apples.
Q: Are Apple Crisp Breakfast Bars gluten-free?
A: No, our recipe uses regular all-purpose flour. However, you can make them gluten-free by using gluten-free oats and a gluten-free flour blend.
Q: How many calories are in one Apple Crisp Breakfast Bar?
A: One bar contains 186 calories, and our recipe makes nine bars.
Q: How long do Apple Crisp Breakfast Bars keep fresh?
A: The recipe states they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Apple Crisp Breakfast Bars
Equipment
- 8×8-inch Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 1 cup quick oats
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. maple syrup, divided
- 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 2 Autumn Glory® apples chopped
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Mix oats, flour and salt in large bowl. Add ¼ cup maple syrup and butter and mix well (should resemble a course texture). Reserve ½ cup for topping.
- Scramble egg in small bowl and add to oats. Mix well until a sticky dough forms.
- Add dough to prepared baking dish. Press evenly into pan with hands until flat.
- Mix apples, 2 Tbsp. maple syrup, cinnamon and corn starch. Pour on top of dough and spread out evenly. Top with reserved oats.
- Bake 40-50 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool at least 30 minutes. Once cooled completely, lift parchment paper out of baking dish and cut into squares.
Love this recipe I make it Gluten Free to include my grandson who was recently diagnosed with the allergy and had to start making it in double batches because they love it so much. It is a perfect addition to their school lunches as well as a quick breakfast or afterschool snack.
So glad to hear that you and your grandson love this recipe too 🙂