Easy Paleo Apple Pie Bars (Vegan)

These easy paleo apple pie bars have chewy almond flour crust and gooey apple filling.  They're baked in the oven and best served with a dollop of coconut cream or vanilla ice cream. This recipe is paleo, vegan and gluten free!

I've decided that bar recipes are definitely up there in my top favorite desserts.

You know, Millionaire Bars, Cranberry Crumb Bars, Pumpkin Bars... I prefer them over an actual pie or cookie or cake, because they're so much easier to make.

These paleo apple pie bars have an almond flour crust (that tastes just like a pie crust) and a gooey apple filling that holds together well.

They can be eaten hot or cold - I actually prefer cold.  However, I've definitely been caught stealing a couple bites straight from the pan.  These bars are also delicious right out of the fridge (they cut best this way) or even eaten frozen.  Yes, that's right - they freeze well!

Why You'll Love these Easy Apple Pie Bars

• paleo and vegan friendly
• gluten free and grain free - these apple bars have an almond flour crust and are made without wheat flour
• dairy free - no butter or milk
• low in added sugar - sweetened with just a bit of maple syrup
• easy to make - so much quicker than baking a pie

Ingredients

Here's what you need to make these paleo apple pie bars:

For the Crust:

• blanched almond flour
• tapioca starch (or arrowroot)
• cinnamon
• salt
• coconut oil
• maple syrup
• water

For the Filling:

• apples
• coconut oil
• maple syrup
• lemon juice (optional)
• vanilla extract
• tapioca starch (or arrowroot)
• cinnamon

No substitutions have been tested for this recipe, but if you need the crust to be nut free, tigernut flour would be an appropriate substitute. In addition, tapioca starch can be swapped out for arrowroot starch.

I used Criterion apples, which we picked from a nearby apple orchard, however many other apple varieties will work for this recipe. Some suggestions include: Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, and Jonagold.

How to Make Paleo Apple Pie Bars

To make these gluten free apple pie bars, first gather the necessary ingredients and preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  You will make the crust, then the filling and lastly, bake the bars in the oven.

Make the Crust

First, combine all dry ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl.  Then, mix in the wet ingredients.  Use a spatula to mix the dough, then knead the dough with your hands.

Next, firmly press the dough into a lined 8" x 8" baking pan.  Set aside while you make the filling.

Make the Filling

Next, make the filling.  Cut the apples into small pieces (see photo below for reference), removing the core and seeds.  There's no need to peel the skin, but you may do so if you wish.

Place the apples in a large mixing bowl and coat with coconut oil, maple syrup, lemon juice and vanilla. Then add in the tapioca and cinnamon, mixing until well coated.

Transfer the apples to a frying pan and cook on medium heat for 10-12 minutes, or until the apples have softened and the mixture has thickened.  Be sure to stir frequently so that the filling does not burn.

Pour the apple filling over the crust.  Use a spatula to smooth out the filling in an even, level layer.

Bake the Bars

Next, place the bars in your preheated oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Cool the Bars

Lastly, cool the bars to room temperature in the pan.  You may serve the bars warm, but they cut better after they've had time to chill.  So, I recommend placing the apple bars in the fridge overnight, or for a few hours, cutting and then serving chilled.

How to Serve Apple Pie Bars

There's nothing quite like apple pie with vanilla ice cream and/or whipped cream!  Right??

Anyway, my favorite Paleo toppings include the following:

• dairy free vanilla ice cream
• coconut cream (cream from a can of full fat coconut milk or can of coconut cream)
• dairy free yogurt with a drizzle of maple syrup
• caramel sauce (homemade or store bought)

For this recipe, I topped the apple pie bars with coconut cream and cinnamon. You could even mix in a little maple syrup for a sweeter topping.

Storage

These bars must be kept in an air-tight container in the fridge or freezer.  They taste great chilled - even eaten straight from the freezer.  (Yes, they can be kept in the freezer!!)

If freezing these bars, I recommend cutting first.

More Paleo Apple Recipes

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