Dulce de Leche Apple Streusel Bars (100% whole grain option)
These apple bars have a layer of dulce de leche sandwiched between streusel and apples! Can be made with whole wheat or all-purpose flour.
I don’t normally get this decadent, but sometimes I just feel like drowning stuff in homemade dulce de leche. It seriously only takes 3 minutes of preparation – you empty two cans of sweetened condensed milk into a pan and let it go for 1 1/2 hours in the oven. Stir until smooth. That’s it!
Since these are for a Thanksgiving potluck, I made them in a 9″ x 13″ pan instead of my usual 8″ x 8″ or even a loaf pan! But be warned – these are terribly addictive. Even Mr. T., who prefers his veggies to sweets, couldn’t keep his hands off these. We eventually just had to give them away. It was an act of preservation. ;)
Although these apple streusel bars are super sinful, I did do what I could to make them slightly healthier! They’re 100% whole wheat (you can’t taste it though!) and I used coconut sugar, coconut oil and honey. If you’re looking for a more traditional version, you can use all-purpose flour, brown sugar and butter. These apple bars definitely aren’t a low-calorie or low-sugar treat but trust me – it’s worth it!
These are pretty simple to make, too. You make the streusel, which is the base and the topping of the bars, and then between that, you have apples, and on top of those, you pour the dulce de leche.
If you want to be extra naughty, you can pipe on even more on top, but really, you don’t need it. They’re decadent enough!
Dulce de Leche Apple Streusel Bars (100% whole grain option)
Ingredients
For the streusel:
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) brown sugar or raw sugar
- 2 tablespoons (40 grams) honey
- 3/4 cup + 3 tablespoons (210 grams) refined coconut oil or 1 cup (225 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 2/3 cups (208 grams) whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups (140 grams) rolled oats
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
For the apples:
- 5 cups (620 grams) cored and diced apples about 1/4" in size
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 1/4 cups (370 grams) dulce de leche slightly warmed in the microwave
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) and line a 9″ x 13″ pan with a piece of parchment paper (for easy removal of the bars). If you don’t have parchment paper, spray the pan with baking spray.
- In a large bowl with an electric mixer, blend together the sugar, honey, and coconut oil until well combined.1/2 cup (100 grams) brown sugar, 2 tablespoons (40 grams) honey, 3/4 cup + 3 tablespoons (210 grams) refined coconut oil
- Add the flour, oats, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda and continue blending until thoroughly combined.1 2/3 cups (208 grams) whole wheat flour, 1 1/2 cups (140 grams) rolled oats, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Pat about half of the mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Set the remaining mixture aside while you prepare the filling.
- In another large bowl, mix the apples, vanilla, cinnamon and cornstarch until well combined.5 cups (620 grams) cored and diced apples, 1 tablespoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 4 teaspoons cornstarch
- Pour the apple mixture over the crust that you just pat onto the bottom of the pan.
- Drizzle on the dulce de leche.1 1/4 cups (370 grams) dulce de leche
- Sprinkle the remaining topping mixture over the top of the dulce de leche and lightly pat it down.
- Bake the bars for 25 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.
- The bars might appear runny around the edges when you take them out of the oven, but don’t worry, they will firm up in the fridge.
- Let the bars cool completely and then place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours to firm up.
- Cut the bars into squares and place in an airtight container.
- Store the bars in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- The nutrition information provided is calculated as a courtesy and is only an estimate. I am not a licensed nutritionist or dietitian. For the most accurate nutritional data, consult a professional or use your preferred calculator.
Hello. Planning to make for my Argentine family who are visiting next week. Did you use green apples or red apples when you made this?
Hi! I always just use a mix of whatever I have on hand. Also, you don’t have to worry about spam from me (I’m saying that in reply to your email address ;)). All I do is answer your question. ????
These are incredible! Dulce de leche is so sweet and creamy and the perfect partner to the crisp apples and crumbley topping! Amazing recipe!
Yay! I haven’t gotten much feedback on this recipe so I was really glad to hear that you enjoyed them. :) Thanks for your comment!
Hi! Would it turn out the same flavour if I used vegetable oil rather than coconut oil and if I used normal flour rather than whole wheat?
Does the sweetness mainly come from the dulce de leche or are the bars sugary too!”?
Thanks!
Hi, Sally! The bars are sugary, too, but get a lot of sweetness from the dulce de leche. I haven’t tried vegetable oil or regular flour in these so I can’t say for sure if it’d work. I think they may come out a little wet as whole wheat absorbs a little more liquid than regular flour. Also, vegetable oil is liquid and coconut oil is solid at room temperature (unless it’s really warm!) which may affect things. If you don’t want to use coconut oil, I’d recommend butter. :) Sorry I couldn’t give you more of a definite answer!
WHAT IS DULCE DE LECHE? IS IT A SYRUP? WHERE DO I FIND IT? IN THE BAKING ASLE? PLEASE HELP. I WANT TO MAKE THESE BARS. THANKS
It’s like caramel. You find it in the ethnic section or you can make your own with a can of sweetened condensed milk. Here’s a recipe!
Thank you so much for your sweet words, Erin. We really can make a difference in so many lives by helping feed the hungry! Have a blessed weekend!