Cinnamon Apple Raisin Bars

View Instructions

Makes

24 bars
(1x 9-inch/23 cm square pan)

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Cook Time:

45 minutes

Category:

Squares & Bars

Introduction

About this Recipe

Recipe from Baking Day with Anna Olson
Appetite by Random House, 2020

As they bake, these bars will fool everyone into thinking there is an apple pie in the oven. The sweetness from these bars comes from maple syrup but also from apple butter, which is applesauce left to cook down to a smooth, rich dark brown paste with a naturally sweet concentrated apple flavour. Look for apple butter in the jams and spreads aisle of the grocery store, or use homemade if you wish.

Ingredients

1 cup (250 mL) 1% or 2% milk
2 Tbsp (16 g) ground flaxseed
6 Tbsp (90 mL) pure apple butter
6 Tbsp (90 mL) pure maple syrup
2 Tbsp (30 mL) vegetable oil
1 large apple, peeled and coarsely grated (see note)
2½ cups (250 g) regular rolled oats (certified gluten-free, if needed)

2 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp baking powder (certified gluten-free, if needed)
1 cup (150 g) raisins

NOTES: A firm, tart apple is best for baking. Granny Smith is the most common baking apple, but I also like Mutsu (also called Crispin), Spy, Spartan or even Honeycrisp.

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch (23 cm) square pan and line it with parchment paper so that the paper comes up the sides of the pan.

Step 2

Whisk the milk and flaxseed together in a bowl and let sit for 5 minutes. Whisk in the apple butter, maple syrup and oil until smooth, then whisk in the grated apple. Stir in the oats, cinnamon and baking powder until combined. Stir in the raisins.

Step 3

Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 45 minutes, until firm when gently pressed. Cool the pan on a cooling rack completely.

Step 4

To serve, lift out the parchment paper and portion the square into bars. The bars will keep in an airtight container in the fridge or well wrapped in a lunch bag at room temperature for up to 1 week. They can also be wrapped in plastic and frozen after slicing. A frozen bar packed into a lunch bag will thaw gradually throughout the morning.