Cranberry Applesauce Cookie Bars with Oat Crumb

These bars have a golden, buttery oat crumb on the bottom and top. Between the layers is a soft, cinnamon-scented filling of applesauce and chewy dried cranberries, dotted with white chocolate chips. The tart cranberries balance the sweet brown sugar crumb. The bars are simple enough for a weeknight and pretty enough for a potluck or a holiday cookie plate.

Ingredients

This makes one 9 x 9-inch pan.

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 cup applesauce
• 2/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9 x 9-inch baking pan.
2. Stir the flour, oats, brown sugar and baking soda together in a large bowl.
3. Work in the softened butter until the mixture looks like coarse, uneven crumbs. A pastry blender does this well. A rubber spatula or a fork also works if you press and chop the butter into the dry ingredients.
4. Set aside 1 cup of the crumbs for the topping. Press the rest firmly and evenly into the bottom of the pan.
5. In a separate bowl, stir together the applesauce, dried cranberries, white chocolate chips and cinnamon.
6. Spoon the filling over the crust and spread it to the edges in an even layer.
7. Scatter the reserved crumbs over the top, leaving them loose and rustic rather than packing them down.
8. Bake for 30 minutes, until the bars are set and the crumb topping looks lightly golden.

Tips and variations

Press the bottom layer firmly, using the flat bottom of a measuring cup if you like. A well-packed crust holds together better when you cut the bars.

These bars are good served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting over the top. If you want clean squares for a party tray, let the pan cool before cutting.

Spread the filling right to the corners so every bar gets some cranberries. A sprinkle of extra cinnamon over the crumbs before baking adds a little more warmth.

Some easy swaps:

• Use semisweet or milk chocolate chips in place of the white chocolate.
• Use dried cherries or raisins in place of the cranberries.
• Stir a pinch of nutmeg into the filling for a more autumn-style flavor.

FAQ

Can I use old-fashioned oats instead of quick oats?

You can, but the crumb will be chewier and a little coarser. Quick oats give the tender, even texture this recipe was built around.

Should the applesauce be sweetened or unsweetened?

Either works. The brown sugar crumb and white chocolate already add sweetness, so unsweetened applesauce keeps the filling tangy next to the cranberries. Sweetened applesauce gives a sweeter bar.