Vegan Apple Pie Bars Recipe with Date Caramel Sauce
The following vegan apple pie bars recipe affords you the satisfaction of apple pie, but in a convenient, bite-sized way. Better yet, it’s animal-friendly and opts for healthier ingredients at every turn. This means you can enjoy the flavors of the holiday season without falling off track from your dietary goals. With so many reasons to celebrate and indulge over the next few months, consider these apple pie bars a haven of virtue, even if they taste oh-so guilty!
Instead of butter, white sugar, and white flour, these apple pie bars are infused with coconut oil, coconut palm sugar, and spelt flour, so you get the best of the best of figure friendliness with each and every bite.
Coconut oil is a medium-chain triglyceride that is very stable when heated. It retains its chemical structure, and that’s something you most certainly want, as coconut oil is known to improve metabolism and thyroid function, boost energy, and promote weight loss.
Coconut palm sugar is a low-glycemic alternative to regular sugar and carries with it a caramel-like taste.
Spelt flour contains more dietary fiber, protein, and overall nutrition than regular white flour. The apple pie bars are then finished off with a salted caramel sauce based in dates and vanilla.
Together, these ingredients create a wholesome snack you can enjoy any time of the day and feel fueled, refreshed, and satiated. Enjoy!
Vegan Apple Pie Bars
Makes 10-15 bars
Ingredients
For the crust:
For the filling:
For the topping:
For the caramel sauce:
Directions
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper, letting the edges hang over the sides of the pan. Place the 15 pitted dates in a bowl with ½ cup water and let them soak.
For the crust, combine all the ingredients into a food processor and pulse until evenly combined. Spread the mixture evenly on the bottom of the pan and pat until firm. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss together the apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
In another bowl, prepare the topping. Combine the oats, sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts. In chunks, add in the coconut oil. Use clean hands to massage the mixture together until it resembles coarse crumbs.
Remove the crust from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Layer the apples slices evenly atop the crust and evenly sprinkle the oat mixture atop the apples. Pop the pan back into the oven and cook for 35 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the topping has turned golden brown.
While the apple pie bars are baking, prepare the vegan caramel sauce. Blend together the dates, the water they were soaking in, vanilla extract, and salt in a food processor until smooth.
When the apple pie bars are finished, remove them from the oven and let cool to room temperature before slicing. Before serving, top with caramel sauce and enjoy!
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Apple Walnut Crumble Bars Image from Shutterstock
