As promised, I present to you the recipe for these amazing little apple butter oat bars I made in my frazzled cooking bender yesterday.
It sounds like I’m not the only one around here that is craving the flavors of fall already. I’m desperately longing for pumpkin butter, warm applesauce, baked apples, kabocha squash, hot cider, and all the other delicious foods we only get to eat around the winter holidays.
I made these same bars last week in another cooking frenzy but with strawberry jam and almonds instead. They were definitely yummy, but I’m just so over all the bouncy summer berries and very ready to break into the firmer fall fruits. Biting into one of these made me feel like I was wearing a fuzzy sweater and snowed in on the couch with a big warm blanket and a cup of hot tea.
Apple butter oat bars
This quick and simple dessert or snack is not too sweet and features the warm flavors of cinnamon and apples.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Yield: 16 bars
Ingredients
- 1 stick of butter (room temp.)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup chickpea flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 3/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup apple butter
Cooking Directions
- Cream together butter and sugars in a mixer.
- Add egg and mix to combine.
- Whisk together flours, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a separate mixing bowl.
- Add dry mix to wet in three parts, mixing gently between each addition.
- Fold in oats by hand and divide mixture into two equal parts
- Press half the dough into a buttered and floured 9x9 baking pan and top with the apple butter.
- Pinch off small pieces of the remaining dough and dot all over the top making sure to get all the way around the edges.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes.
- Let cool in pan, turn out onto a cutting surface, and cut into bars.
These aren’t too heavy on the butter and sugar either. It wouldn’t be naughty for you to pop one or two for breakfast, with a rich cup of coffee or herbal tea. Just enough sweetness for a morning pastry.
I intended on sending half of these to work with Jeff to keep me from eating all of them, but I don’t think I can part with them!
What foods do you most closely associate with fall?
I’ve been saying that I’m ready for fall for the last couple of weeks. I’m ready to curl up, watch movies, and eat big bowls of pasta with meatballs. And, of course, all of the apple-season treats. Like fried pies.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..Raw Kale and Oyster Mushroom Salad + a Review
OMG I haven’t had a fried pie since I was a kid. Now I’ll be craving one until it’s in my hand.
Those look amazing!!!!! Do you have to have to use the chickpea flour or can you just use extra flour?
I’m so ready for fall and I want to make lots of different soups…..lentil, split pea, chicken noodle, etc.
LOVE YOU, MOM
Yeah, you could absolutely just use more all-purpose flour. The chickpea flour just adds a subtle nutty flavor and firm texture.
These look delicious! I’m looking forward to apples and pumpkin. Separate, together, it doesn’t matter.
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Those look fabulous. I have loved apple butter since I was little, so it’s a total comfort food for me. Chili, pumpkin anything, and apple pie all remind me of fall. (I can’t wait until it’s cool enough to make a big pot o’ chili!)
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All of those things sound good. I have never made chili, you’ve inspired me to!
Alayna, you’ve really never made Chili? It’s so easy and I make it even in the summer. I made some about 3 weeks ago with ground turkey and it was just as good if not better and Lula said that she loved it……tasted like taco soup she said. Gotta have all the toppings…sour cream, cheddar cheese and crushed corn chips or Saltines. YUM!!!!
I think it’s because Jeff isn’t a huge fan of it, and while I like it I don’t crave it enough to make Jeff eat it too. I think I’ll give it a whirl soon though.
I love the way these look, with the cobbled crumbs on top with an apple butter layer underneath. They sound great. I’ll definitely be picking up some apple butter for this.
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I warn you, I’m going to boycott all of your pumpkin baked goods posts in future! It’s just too painful, as we can’t get canned pumpkin here.
(What, you want me to roast and puree my own pumpkin and therefore not be forced to poke my tongue out at your blog? Where’s the fun in that? 😀 )
These look loverly, darling!
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Indeed, that is exactly what I intend for you to do. And don’t you know I’ll be filling this blog with pumpkin recipes now out of pure spite!? Mwahaha!
Yum! These look delicious, never seen apple butter before
These look absolutely delish! Definitely captures the feel of Fall.
Pumpkins. Pumpkin beer, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin butter. I love it all!
Alejandra @ Mouthfuls and Morsels recently posted..It used to take a village to make pasta.
I’m loving all the pumpkin beers that are starting to show up! Fall is definitely my favorite time of year for food and drink.
Sweet potatoes = fall
Matt @ The Athlete’s Plate recently posted..Weekend Warrior
I looooove apple butter! These look delicious!
Hi Alayna,
this looks so so so yummy! I’ve never seen apple butter in Germany-what exactly is it, or how does it taste? Like real butter with apple flavour?
Carina recently posted..Football & Pizza
Hey Carina. I think apple butter is basically apple sauce that has been reduced with butter until it’s a very thick and intensely-flavored spread. It has a richer flavor and is smooth and creamy. It’s really good stuff and easy enough to make at home if you can’t find it.