Caramelized Apple-Peanut Butter Crumble Bars

1. Preheat Oven and Grease Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking pan to ensure your bars don’t stick and come out cleanly.

2. Prepare the Crust

Mix the graham cracker crumbs, canola oil, plain soy milk, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Use your fingers to combine until the crumbs hold together when pinched. Press this mixture firmly into the prepared baking pan to form a solid base.

3. Prepare the Crumb Topping

Mix the all-purpose flour, sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground allspice in a bowl. Drizzle in the canola oil and toss with your fingers until large crumbs form.

4. Prepare the Apple Filling

Combine the sliced Granny Smith apples, canola oil, sugar, all-purpose flour, water, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground allspice in a separate bowl. Ensure each apple slice is well-coated for an even distribution of flavor.

5. Assemble the Bars

Layer the apple mixture evenly over the pressed crust in the baking pan, and sprinkle the crumb topping over the apples. It’s okay if some apples peek through.

6. Bake the Bars

Bake in your preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the crumb topping is golden brown.

7. Prepare the Peanut Butter Caramel

In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix the chunky peanut butter, pure maple syrup, and brown rice syrup. Stir constantly until the mixture is smooth and slides off a fork in ribbons, which should take about 3 minutes.

8. Drizzle Caramel and Cool

Once baked, drizzle the peanut butter caramel over the hot bars. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan, either on the counter or in the fridge. Once cool, slice into 12 bars and enjoy.