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You are here: Home / apples / Streusel Topped Apple Oatmeal Bars: Creative Cookie Exchange

Streusel Topped Apple Oatmeal Bars: Creative Cookie Exchange

October 15, 2013 By Laura 13 Comments

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Pecan and Oat Streusel Topped Oatmeal Bars with Dried Apples and Cranberries

It’s time for another Creative Cookie Exchange! This time our theme is a very seasonal apples; I love apple desserts and dishes in the fall, so the choice was really a no brainer. Anything apple counts–I am kind of embarrassed to admit that in this time of (fresh picked apple) plenty, I used dried. Picture my embarrassed face. I found the cutest little bag of dried apples mixed with (about 4:1 ratio) dried cranberries and just instantly knew I was using them.

Pecan and Oat Streusel Topped Oatmeal Bars with Dried Apples and Cranberries

Amusingly, it turns out I am not very good at varying my apple desserts. I suspect if you did a search on here you would discover that every single apple dessert I have includes streusel. If I had made these bars with, for example, dried cherries, I would have just left them as oatmeal bars. But because I was thinking apples, I had to find a way to add cinnamon, crumbly brown sugar, pecans and oats. It is like a compulsion. And I cannot say I regret that fact, even if these are kind of over the top.

The topping itself turned out a little loose; Alex helped me bake these (what am I saying? she basically did it all) and when I told her to add 1/4 cup of flour to the streusel topping, she used the 1 cup measuring cup (my back was turned).  In my attempt to fix it, I did not add enough extra butter. So eating these was a bit messy–but they were all eaten, so clearly we were not dissuaded.

Guys I love this group! Probably because I love cookies so much! So I really hope you guys bake some apple cookies with us this month! To join in the fun, just complete the steps below:

1. Write a blog post with recipe and original photo. The theme this month is apples.  The recipe can use apples in any form-dried, fresh, apple butter, apple brandy, you name it. We would like the recipe to be one you’re making for the first time, and photos must be original.

2. Post the Cookie Exchange badge somewhere on your blog so others can join in the fun:

Creative Cookie Exchange

3. Make a good faith effort to visit and comment on the other cookies in the Linky party. We all love cookies so that should be easy!

4. LIKE the Creative Cookie Exchange Facebook Page

5. FOLLOW the Creative Cookie Exchange Pinterest Board

6. LINK your blog post below using the Linky tool

You can also just use us as a great resource for cookie recipes–be sure to check out our Facebook page, our Pinterest Board, and our monthly posts. You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! Also, if you are looking for inspiration for this month’s theme, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made so far:

  • Almond Apple Cider Cookies from If I Ever Owned A Bakery…

  • Apple Butterscotch Cookies from Noshing With The Nolands

  • Apple Walnut Cream Cheese Cookies from Magnolia Days

  • Brandy Apple Bars from KarenTrina Childress

  • Browned Butter Applesauce Bars from Food Lust People Love

  • Caramel-Stuffed Apple Cider Spice Cookies from All That’s Left Are The Crumbs

  • Ginger Sandwich Cookies with Apple Butter Cream Filling from A Baker’s House

  • Iced Apple Drop Cookies from Karen’s Kitchen Stories

  • Salted Caramel Apple Popcorn Cookies from It’s Yummi!

  • Streusel Topped Apple Oatmeal Bars from The Spiced Life

  • Butterscotch Apple Pie Cookies from At Home with Rebecka

  • Cider Snaps from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt



Pecan and Oat Streusel Topped Oatmeal Bars with Dried Apples and Cranberries

5 from 1 vote
Pecan and Oat Streusel Topped Oatmeal Bars with Dried Apples and Cranberries
Print
Streusel Topped Apple Oatmeal Bars
Adapted from MarthaStewart.com
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Cookies
Author: TheSpicedLife
Ingredients
For oatmeal bars:
  • 3/4 cup (1 1/2) sticks unsalted butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 1/2 cup AP flour
  • 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats not quick-cooking
  • 1 cup dried apples chunks with some dried cranberries mixed in
  • 1 t Vietnamese cinnamon
  • 1/2 t ginger
  • 1/2 t allspice
For streusel topping:
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup white whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, cubed and cold
  • 1/2 vietnamese cinnamon
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, salt and spices. Mix in the dried apples and cranberries and oats. Set aside.
  3. Whisk together the butter and sugars. Whisk in the eggs. Pour into the dry ingredients and fold until combined.
  4. Scrape the batter into prepared pan and level with a spatula.
  5. Whisk together the flour, salt, cinnamon and sugar for the streusel topping. Mix in the oats. Rub or cut the cold butter into the oat mixture, and then mix in the chopped pecans.
  6. Squeeze the streusel topping into clumps and then sprinkle evenly over the oatmeal dough. Press lightly into the oatmeal dough.
  7. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely in the pan. Using paper overhang, lift cake onto a work surface; slice into bars.

 

For the collage fans…

Pecan and Oat Streusel Topped Oatmeal Bars with Dried Apples and Cranberries: these are autumn in a bar cookie--but thanks to dried apples they can be enjoyed year round!

Filed Under: apples, bar cookies, blog events, cookies, cranberries, dried fruit, fall spices, kids cooking, oats, pecans, streusel, whole grains Tagged With: #CreativeCookieExchange, apples, bar cookies, bars, cinnamon, cookies, cranberries, dried apple, dried fruit, oatmeal, pecans, streusel

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Comments

  1. Joanne says

    October 15, 2013 at 6:27 am

    Streusel paired with apples should definitely be a MUST. Actually streusel should just always be a MUST. No matter what.

    Reply
  2. Stacy says

    October 15, 2013 at 11:00 am

    I do believe that “more is more” so I am completely behind the addition of streusel. I add it every chance I get as well. I love this group and love your apple oatmeal bars, Laura!

    Reply
  3. Tara says

    October 15, 2013 at 12:37 pm

    5 stars
    Keep going with the streusel, love those cookies. They look perfect!! Happy to finally make it to my first Creative Cookie Exchange!!

    Reply
  4. Rebecka says

    October 15, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    Laura, your cookies look so yummy! I’m with you in saying this is a great group…wonderful recipes, and awesome people! Thanks for hosting The Creative Cookie Exchange with me, and getting all the little details worked out without pulling out all your hair!

    Reply
  5. Renee says

    October 15, 2013 at 4:03 pm

    Streusel gets me every time and it is such an awesome pairing with apples. Funny about the extra flour. I bet that would take adding a whole lot more butter and all to make it the right texture.

    Reply
  6. Becca from ItsYummi says

    October 15, 2013 at 6:30 pm

    These look like the perfect treat with a warm mug of Apple cider!

    Reply
  7. Holly says

    October 15, 2013 at 9:32 pm

    Yes, keep going over the top if you continue to create beauties like these! I think they are perfect for autumn, although I’d eat them yearround– that is the added bonus of using dried fruits.

    Reply
  8. The Ninja Baker says

    October 16, 2013 at 2:10 am

    So glad you do include streusel with apple, Laura. Your apple oatmeal bars do look irresistible with all the wholesome flavors of oats, brown sugar and apples =) Thank you for this very fun group, Laura.

    Reply
  9. Felice/All That's Left Are The Crumbs says

    October 18, 2013 at 2:50 am

    I’m craving streusel now. I definitely agree that apples and streusel is a match made in heaven, and your bars look delicious. After all these years I finally got used to calling them bar bookies, because in Australia they are called a slice.

    Reply
  10. Sophia Remer says

    October 18, 2013 at 12:44 pm

    Mmm, apples and streusel. Such a good pair! 🙂 These look delicious!

    Reply
  11. Greenthumb says

    October 21, 2013 at 7:00 pm

    tHese sound really good.

    Reply
  12. Miranda says

    October 22, 2013 at 11:17 am

    wow! these look like a great treat with a cup of coffee. What a wonderful fall bar, Laura!

    Reply
  13. Ashley says

    October 24, 2013 at 4:48 pm

    I don’t do streusels very often, but this makes me want one! And once I get some more original baking recipes under my belt, I’m gonna be all over this CCE group! 🙂

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Laura and I am a recovering history major who has re-channeled all of my passion for learning about the history of different countries to learning about their food culture. That doesn’t mean every dish on here is strictly authentic, but it does mean that even my adaptations are not undertaken lightly. My goal is to show you–by doing–that these dishes are possible in your kitchen. Including desserts because I have quite the sweet tooth! Read More…

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