Spiced Apple Pie Bars

*These Spiced Apple Pie Bars are the epitome of fall! Sweet and tart apples are swathed in brown sugar, cinnamon, and a hearty oatmeal crust.*

Sometimes I can’t help but laugh at the difference between the real world and the world of Instagram. Perhaps (I mean, very likely, I’d guess, if you’ve stumbled upon an Instagram feed anytime ever) you know what I mean. Scrolling through that endless array of highly filtered photos, all I see are sweeping skylines and majestic, glittering city lights; perfectly pastel pink and purple sunrises over a suspiciously calm ocean; the cutest shots of only the cutest little puppies; and immaculately styled trays of perfect petite pastries. That Instagram world sure looks nice, doesn’t it?

It’s even worse this time of year. The minute fall hits, suddenly those sunrises and skylines are overtaken by everything plaid, flannel, and pumpkin-y. Suddenly, it seems that every person in the world is spending their mornings sipping chai lattes, their afternoons apple picking, and their evenings cuddling in front of a cozy fire, all while decked out in cashmere sweaters, of course. Gosh, it makes me wish that’s how I were spending this random Wednesday. This is the weird irony of Instagram: we’re all caught up in sharing a picture-perfect representation of ourselves, when in reality, if we really think about it, no one’s life could possibly really be so picturesque.

And if this little reminder isn’t enough to eradicate all those Insta-envies, perhaps this recipe will serve as a nice distraction. These Spiced Apple Pie Bars are the epitome of all things fall. It all begins with a rich and crumbly, shortbread-like crust that’s enhanced with rolled oats and brown sugar for a little extra heft and hearty flavor. Of course, this crust is simply a vehicle for the spiced, syrupy filling. Chunks of sweet and tart apples float amidst spirited cinnamon and nutmeg. The topping is a final sprinkle of perfectly crispy, buttery crunch. These bars, a fair rival to any chai latte and cozy fireplace combo you can think of, are the perfect fall addition to your Instagram feed or, more importantly, your actual life.

Spiced Apple Pie Bars

Servings: 12 bars
Difficulty: Easy
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These Spiced Apple Pie Bars are the epitome of fall! Sweet and tart apples are swathed in brown sugar, cinnamon, and a hearty oatmeal crust.

Ingredients

For Filling:

1 tablespoon butter
4 apples
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg

For Crust:

1 ½ cups flour
½ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
8 tablespoons cold butter
1 cup rolled oats

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°. Grease a nine inch square baking pan.
To prepare filling, melt butter in a pan over medium heat.
Wash apples, then core and slice into small chunks.
Add apples and brown sugar to butter and cook until sugar is melted and apples are softened, about five minutes.
Remove from heat, and stir in flour, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
To prepare crust, stir together flour, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
Slice butter into small chunks.
Add butter to flour mixture and, using your fingers, rub butter into flour until small, pea-sized chunks form.
Stir in oats.
Remove one cup of the crust and set aside for the topping.
Pour the remaining crust into prepared pan and press down to form an even layer.
Top crust with apples.
Sprinkle reserved crust over apples.
Bake until golden brown, about thirty five minutes.

The Millennial Cook