Cheddar Apple Oat Bars
These Cheddar Apple Oat Bars are a delightful combination of sweet and savory flavors. The rich taste of cheddar cheese complements the spiced apple filling for a unique twist on traditional dessert bars. Perfect for gatherings or a delightful treat at home, they balance the tartness of apples with the creaminess of cheese, all wrapped in a crumbly oat crust. This recipe was a standout winner at our recent Iron Chef competition, and one bite will tell you why!
9
Servings
N/A
Calories
13
Ingredients
Ingredients
apples
4 (peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/2-inch slices)
sugar
1/3 cup
lemon juice
3 tablespoons
ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon
rolled oats, large flake
1 1/2 cups
flour
1 cup
brown sugar, packed
2/3 cup
salt
1/4 teaspoon
butter, melted
1/2 cup
vegetable oil
2 tablespoons
cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup
water
optional, 1 tablespoon (add if needed to moisten oat mixture)
cornstarch
1 teaspoon (optional, for thickening apple mixture if too runny)
Instructions
1
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch square metal cake pan with aluminum foil, extending the foil over the edges to create handles. Set the prepared pan aside.
2
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, and salt until well combined.
3
3. Pour in the melted butter and vegetable oil. Mix until the mixture starts to clump together and becomes crumbly. If the mixture is too dry, add an extra tablespoon of oil or water to help it bind.
4
4. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until evenly distributed.
5
5. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the oat mixture for the topping. Press the remaining oat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.
6
6. Bake the crust in the preheated oven until the edges are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let it cool slightly.
7
7. While the crust is cooling, prepare the apple filling. In a medium saucepan, combine the sliced apples, sugar, lemon juice, and ground cinnamon.
8
8. Place the pan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir occasionally and add up to 1/4 cup water if the apples start to stick to the pan.
9
9. If the apple mixture becomes too runny, sprinkle the cornstarch over the top, mix in, and let the mixture thicken as it continues to simmer for about 5 more minutes, until the apples are tender-crisp.
10
10. Spread the apple filling evenly over the baked crust.
11
11. Sprinkle the reserved oat mixture evenly over the top of the apple layer.
12
12. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the top is golden, approximately 30 minutes.
13
13. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting them out using the foil overhang.
14
14. Cut into 3-inch squares before serving. Enjoy your homemade Cheddar Apple Oat Bars!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Cheddar Apple Oat Bars?
They are a unique dessert bar that combines sweet spiced apples with savory cheddar cheese and a crumbly oat crust, originally recognized as an Iron Chef competition winner.
What is the flavor profile of these bars?
These bars feature a sweet and savory balance, combining the tartness of apples with the creaminess of cheddar cheese.
What temperature should the oven be set to?
The oven should be preheated to 350°F.
What type of baking pan is required?
You should use a 9-inch square metal cake pan.
How should I prepare the pan before baking?
Line the pan with aluminum foil, extending it over the edges to create handles for easy lifting later.
What ingredients make up the oat mixture?
The mixture includes rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, salt, melted butter, vegetable oil, and shredded cheddar cheese.
What should I do if the oat mixture is too dry?
If the mixture does not clump together, you can add an extra tablespoon of oil or water to help it bind.
How much of the oat mixture should be reserved for the topping?
You should reserve 1 1/2 cups of the oat mixture before pressing the rest into the pan.
How long does the bottom crust bake initially?
The crust should bake for about 15 minutes until the edges are golden brown.
How many apples are needed for the filling?
The recipe calls for 4 apples.
How should the apples be prepared?
The apples should be peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/2-inch thick pieces.
What ingredients are used to flavor the apple filling?
The apples are combined with sugar, lemon juice, and ground cinnamon.
How is the apple filling cooked?
Combine the filling ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
What if the apples stick to the pan while cooking the filling?
You can add up to 1/4 cup of water to the pan to prevent the apples from sticking.
When should I use cornstarch in this recipe?
Use one teaspoon of cornstarch if the apple mixture is too runny; sprinkle it over the top and let it simmer for 5 minutes to thicken.
What is the final texture of the apples after simmering?
The apples should be cooked until they are tender-crisp.
How are the bars assembled before the final bake?
Spread the apple filling over the baked crust and then sprinkle the reserved 1 1/2 cups of oat mixture on top.
How long is the final baking time?
The bars should bake for approximately 30 minutes until the top is golden.
How should the bars be cooled?
Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan while resting on a wire rack.
How do I remove the bars from the pan without breaking them?
Once completely cool, use the aluminum foil overhang handles to lift the bars out of the pan.
What size should the bars be cut into?
The bars should be cut into 3-inch squares.
How many servings does this recipe yield?
This recipe makes 9 servings.
What type of oats are recommended?
The recipe specifies large flake rolled oats.
What type of cheese is used in the mixture?
One cup of shredded cheddar cheese is used in the oat mixture.
Is brown sugar used in the filling or the crust?
Packed brown sugar is used specifically in the oat crust and topping mixture.
What role does lemon juice play in the filling?
Lemon juice is added to the apple mixture to provide tartness and balance the flavors.
Are there any optional ingredients?
Yes, water (for moistening the crust or preventing apple sticking) and cornstarch (for thickening) are optional.
What category of food does this recipe fall into?
This is categorized as a Dessert.
What fats are used for the crust?
The crust uses a combination of 1/2 cup melted butter and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
Does this recipe contain salt?
Yes, 1/4 teaspoon of salt is included in the oat mixture.