Apple Butter Crumble Bars

If you have been following my blog for a long time, or even just a week, then you clearly know that I am seriously obsessed with Seriously Delish, a cookbook from my favorite food blogger and basically my life inspiration, Jessica Merchant, from How Sweet It Is. And in spirit of my obsession with her, her recipes, and all things food, I am once again sharing a recipe from her best-seller. I have already brought you her Green Chile Turkey & White Bean Enchiladas and her BBQ Chicken Pizza, but we are talking dessert today with these perfect-just-in-time-for-fall apple butter bars topped with a sweet, buttery crumble topping. Her recipe was perfect as-is, but I just had to add in some cinnamon, because cinnamon is perfectly indicative of autumn. I basically had to sneak some of these in the dark so that my boyfriend couldn't see me, because he wasn't going to share these with anyone. They're that good. 

Apple Butter Crumble Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter, melted
• 1/2 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 cup apple butter

Crumble Topping:

• 1/3 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1/3 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp. whole wheat pastry flour
• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare an 8x8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of your stand mixer, mix the peanut butter and the brown sugar and whip on medium until light and fluffy. Add in the vanilla and mix until combined. Slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix on low, continue to mix while adding the milk. Continue to mix until a dough forms.

Press the dough firmly into the prepared baking dish. Top with the apple butter and spread out evenly.

To make the crumble topping, mix together the oats, sugar, vanilla, flour, butter, and cinnamon. Mix together with your hands, crumbling the butter into the mixture and crumbling over the top of the apple butter layer.

Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature before cutting into 8 or 16 bars. Will keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days.