Name: Apple-Cinnamon Fruit Bars
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 165 min
Ingredients: 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds or hazelnuts) or old-fashioned rolled oats, divided; 3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour (see Tip); 0.75 cup all-purpose flour; 0.5 cup sugar; 0.5 teaspoon salt; 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces; 1 large egg; 2 tablespoons canola oil; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 0.25 teaspoon almond extract; 6 cups diced peeled apples, divided; 1/2 cup apple cider or orange juice; 0.5 cup sugar; 0.25 cup cornstarch; 1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Apple-Cinnamon Fruit Bars

4.0

(4)

4 Reviews

These easy apple-cinnamon fruit bars make a big batch--perfect for fall potlucks and parties.

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Updated on June 19, 2020

Cook Time:

40 mins

Additional Time:

2 hrs 5 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs 45 mins

Servings:

Yield:

18 bars

Nutrition Profile:

Diabetes Appropriate Heart Healthy Low Sodium Low-Calorie

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

Crust

1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds or hazelnuts) or old-fashioned rolled oats, divided
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour (see Tip)
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup sugar
½ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon almond extract

Fruit Filling

6 cups diced peeled apples, divided
1/2 cup apple cider or orange juice
½ cup sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

To prepare crust: Combine 3/4 cup nuts (or oats), whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, sugar and salt in a food processor; pulse until the nuts are finely ground. Add butter; pulse until well incorporated.
Whisk egg, oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla and almond extract in a small bowl. With the motor running, add the mixture
to the food processor. Process, then pulse, scraping down the sides, if necessary, until the mixture begins to clump, 30 to 45 seconds (it will look crumbly). Measure out 1/2 cup of the mixture and combine in a bowl with the remaining 1/4 cup chopped nuts (or oats). Set aside for the topping.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Generously coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
To prepare fruit filling & assemble bars: Combine 4 cups apples, cider (or orange juice), sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is very thick, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining 2 cups apples, cinnamon and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
Transfer the dough to the prepared baking dish. Spread evenly and press firmly into the bottom to form a crust. Spread the fruit filling over the crust. Sprinkle the reserved topping over the filling.
Bake the bars for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake until the crust and topping are lightly brown, 25 to 30 minutes more. Let cool completely before cutting into bars, at least 1 1/2 hours.

Tips

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate the crust and topping (Steps 1-2) for up to 1 day. Cover or individually wrap and refrigerate the cooled bars for up to 5 days.

Tip: Lower in protein than regular whole-wheat flour, whole-wheat pastry flour is milled from soft wheat and has less gluten-forming potential, making it a better choice for tender baked goods. You can find it in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets and natural-foods stores. Store in the freezer.

Easy cleanup: Dessert pans can be a headache to clean. Skip the soaking and scrubbing by lining your pan with parchment paper before you bake.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

193	Calories
9g	Fat
27g	Carbs
3g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 18
Serving Size 1 bar
Calories 193
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 27g	10%
Dietary Fiber 2g	6%
Total Sugars 16g
Added Sugars 11g	22%
Protein 3g	5%
Total Fat 9g	11%
Saturated Fat 2g	11%
Cholesterol 17mg	6%
Vitamin A 110IU	2%
Vitamin C 2mg	2%
Folate 23mcg	6%
Sodium 70mg	3%
Calcium 14mg	1%
Iron 1mg	3%
Magnesium 14mg	3%
Potassium 74mg	2%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.