September is always a wistful time for me. Summer has all but slipped away, the days are noticeably shorter and the children are heading back to school. But there is comfort, too, in settling back into familiar routines. These bars, with their buttery oat crust, soft fruit filling and crisp, golden topping, are just the sort of thing to have waiting for whenever everyone drifts home. I like to use a mixture of apples – some that soften and collapse into the filling, others that hold their shape – to give the bars a little more texture and interest.Brown butter apple and blackberry barsThese will keep for up to three days in an airtight container, and also freeze well, wrapped individually for convenience.Prep 10 min
Cook 1 hr 20 min
Makes 12 barsFor the crumb base and topping
250g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
1 tsp anise seeds (optional)220g plain flour
