Oatmeal Apple Squares
Need a quick apple dessert? Simply grab a versatile cake mix, oatmeal, warm spices, apples, oranges and butter. Voila, easy Oatmeal Apple Squares!
The season’s best produce
Oatmeal Apple Squares are a cross between an apple cake and cookie bars. Perfect for fall holidays, or a shady summer picnic.
The cake mix layer is similar to an oatmeal cookie dough. The gently cooked apples stay moist from the honey and brown sugar. The topping is simple but incredible- imagine the best part of a coffee cake!
Pantry ingredients cake mix, oatmeal, warm spices and butter
Oatmeal Apple Squares are easy to make. Soften the fruit via steaming in the microwave, placing the diced apples and orange wedges in a large microwave safe bowl filled with water. Set the apples aside to steep while you make the topping and the base. After you have the other components, toss the softened apples with the remaining filling ingredients.
Apples and oranges
For the topping, try using frozen butter on the box grater to create the crumbs. It is easier than cutting it into cubes and easier to work into the flour mixture! Then combine all the ingredients together with a pastry cutter or your hands until a sandy texture is formed. You can also make this mixture in a food processor. Next, make the simple cookie base. Combine the cake mix, oatmeal, cinnamon, melted butter and eggs until well blended, creating a thick dough. To assemble, press the dough into the prepared pan. Spread filling evenly over the dough with a slotted spoon. Crumble the topping evenly over the apples, pressing down lightly.
Oatmeal Apple Squares
The Oatmeal Apple Squares do not require any special tools and you can make them in stages. They are easy for a beginner or intermediate baker.
Oatmeal Apple Squares
Ingredients:
- 1 box of yellow, white or spice cake mix
- ½ cup of oatmeal
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 stick of butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 2 large apples (Gala or Granny Smith suggested), diced
- 1 large or 2 small oranges, quartered
- 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- ¼ teaspoon of each: allspice, cinnamon and cardamom
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- 1 cup of oatmeal
- ¾ cup of brown sugar
- 1 stick of frozen butter, grated
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Prepare a 9x13-inch baking pan with baking spray. Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Cookie Base- Combine cake mix, oatmeal, cinnamon, melted butter and eggs until well blended, creating a thick dough. Press the dough into the prepared pan.
- Filling- Place the diced apples and orange wedges in a large microwave safe bowl filled with water. Microwave for 6-8 minutes. Set aside and steep in the warm citrus water for a few minutes. Drain the water from the apple mixture. Discard citrus. Toss with remaining filling ingredients.
- Topping- Combine all ingredients in the topping together with a pastry cutter or your hands until a coarse sand texture form. You can also make this in a food processor. Chill the mixture or 15 minutes.
- Assemble- Spread filling evenly over the dough with a slotted spoon. Crumble the topping evenly over the apples, pressing down lightly.
- Bake- Bake for 38-42 minutes or until the topping turns a golden brown.
Notes:
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