Apple Butter Breakfast Bars

Updated October 1, 2025

Overview

A wholesome, spiced breakfast bar infused with rich apple butter, balanced by a buttery crumble topping. Ideal for morning meals or on-the-go snacks, this recipe combines simplicity with comforting, seasonal flavor.

Ingredients

For the Bar Base

• 5 tablespoons (71g) salted butter, melted (plus extra for greasing)

• 2 large eggs

• ½ cup (120ml) maple syrup

• 1 cup (128g) all-purpose flour

• ½ cup (50g) old-fashioned rolled oats

• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt (e.g., Diamond Crystal); use ½ teaspoon if using fine salt

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• 1 cup (260g) apple butter (preferably spiced, e.g., with cinnamon or nutmeg)

For the Crumble Topping

• 5 tablespoons (40g) all-purpose flour

• 2 tablespoons old-fashioned oats

• 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted

• 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• Pinch of salt

Preparation Instructions

Step 1: Preheat and Prep the Baking Pan

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with salted butter, then line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides for easy lifting later.

Step 2: Prepare the Bar Batter

In a large bowl, lightly whisk the eggs until just combined. Add melted butter and maple syrup, whisking to emulsify. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, oats, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda to aerate dry ingredients. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, whisking until just smooth (avoid overmixing to preserve tenderness). Spread evenly into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface.

Step 3: Distribute Apple Butter

Spoon apple butter in small dollops over the batter, then gently swirl with the back of a spoon to distribute. This creates marbling without disrupting the batter.

Step 4: Make and Add the Crumble

In the same bowl (no need to clean), combine crumble ingredients: flour, oats, melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Use fingertips to squeeze and clump the mixture into uneven crumbs, then sprinkle evenly over the apple butter layer.

Step 5: Bake

Bake 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center (avoiding apple butter) comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter). The crumble will be golden and fragrant.

Step 6: Cool and Cut

Let bars cool 15–20 minutes in the pan. Use parchment overhang to lift the block onto a cutting board. Cut into 9–12 even squares with a sharp knife.

Storage

Store airtight at room temp for 3 days, or freeze wrapped for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temp before serving.

User Tips & Reviews

Pro Tips

• Homemade Apple Butter: Simmer 4 cups cored, sliced apples (skins on) with ¼ cup water and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg) in a slow cooker for 6–8 hours. Cool, blend, and freeze in jars.

• Browning Butter: For deeper flavor, melt butter until golden brown; let cool before adding to batter.

User Revisions

• Dry Batter Fix: Reduce butter to 4 Tbsp, add 2 Tbsp oil to moisten the base.

• Pan Adjustment: Use 8x8-inch pan for a thicker cake layer (avoids dryness).

• Apple Butter Balance: Reduce to ⅔ cup (175g) and use spiced apple butter (e.g., with cloves).

• Texture Upgrade: Increase crumble by 50% (add 1 Tbsp flour/oats) for richer streusel.

Common Substitutions

• Q: Can I use applesauce instead of apple butter?

A: Yes! Replace with 1 cup thick, unsweetened applesauce (spice with cinnamon).

Enjoy this cozy, spiced breakfast staple—perfect with coffee or tea!