Caramel Apple Pie Bars

DESSERT

Indulge in something sweet and delicious with these Healthy(ish) Apple Pie Bars. Made with a walnut cinnamon crumble, ripe honeycrisp apples, and a delicious crust, these bars are the perfect autumn-inspired treat!

Without a doubt apple pie is one of my all-time favorite desserts. I love the combination of sweet and tart spiced apples with the warm spices and flaky pie crust. It’s cozy, comforting, and simply irresistible. I have the recipe memorized and make it year-round, not just at Thanksgiving. While I love the pie making process, sometimes I don’t have hours to prepare a dessert– which is where apple pie bars come in. No pie crust, but same delicious flavors.

Healthy apple pie bars consist of three sets of ingredients: the base and crumble, the apple layer, and the glaze topping! Each part uses healthy, whole ingredients to achieve the delicious flavors.

Ingredients you’ll need

‍I hope you love these amazing healthy apple pie bars! If you make them be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked them. Enjoy, xo!

Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Ingredients

Streusel

  • 1 cup AP flour
  • 2.5 cups crushed walnuts
  • 2/3 cup packed brown sugar (or sub coconut sugar)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp cardamom
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons butter (or vegan buttery stick such as Earth Balance), melted
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling

  • 4 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp allspice
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spread the walnuts on a baking tray and bake in the oven for 5 minutes or until fragrant and toasty. Remove from the oven and let cool. Set aside 1/2 cup walnuts for the crumble
  3. Once walnuts have cooled, pulse 2 cups of walnuts in a food processor until fine and resembles flour (be sure not to overprocess or you will be left with walnut butter!). Add the flour, brown sugar, cardamom, baking soda, and salt and pulse until just combined.
  4. Add the butter and vanilla and pulse until a dough forms. Take 2/3 of the dough and press into the pan. Mix 1/2 cups walnuts with the remaining dough
  5. Place the pan into the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until lightly golden.
  6. While the crust is baking, sauté the apples, butter, cinnamon and allspice over medium heat in a medium saucepan until the apple begins to break down and caramelize, about 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
  7. Remove the pan from the oven and add the apples in an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining dough over the apples. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the crumb is toasty and golden.
  8. Let cool completely before cutting & enjoy!

Notes

Ingredients

Streusel

  • 1 cup AP flour
  • 2.5 cups crushed walnuts
  • 2/3 cup packed brown sugar (or sub coconut sugar)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp cardamom
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons butter (or vegan buttery stick such as Earth Balance), melted
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling

  • 4 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp allspice
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spread the walnuts on a baking tray and bake in the oven for 5 minutes or until fragrant and toasty. Remove from the oven and let cool. Set aside 1/2 cup walnuts for the crumble
  3. Once walnuts have cooled, pulse 2 cups of walnuts in a food processor until fine and resembles flour (be sure not to overprocess or you will be left with walnut butter!). Add the flour, brown sugar, cardamom, baking soda, and salt and pulse until just combined.
  4. Add the butter and vanilla and pulse until a dough forms. Take 2/3 of the dough and press into the pan. Mix 1/2 cups walnuts with the remaining dough
  5. Place the pan into the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until lightly golden.
  6. While the crust is baking, sauté the apples, butter, cinnamon and allspice over medium heat in a medium saucepan until the apple begins to break down and caramelize, about 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
  7. Remove the pan from the oven and add the apples in an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining dough over the apples. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the crumb is toasty and golden.
  8. Let cool completely before cutting & enjoy!

Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Ingredients

Streusel

Filling

Instructions

  1. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spread the walnuts on a baking tray and bake in the oven for 5 minutes or until fragrant and toasty. Remove from the oven and let cool. Set aside 1/2 cup walnuts for the crumble
  3. Once walnuts have cooled, pulse 2 cups of walnuts in a food processor until fine and resembles flour (be sure not to overprocess or you will be left with walnut butter!). Add the flour, brown sugar, cardamom, baking soda, and salt and pulse until just combined.
  4. Add the butter and vanilla and pulse until a dough forms. Take 2/3 of the dough and press into the pan. Mix 1/2 cups walnuts with the remaining dough
  5. Place the pan into the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until lightly golden.
  6. While the crust is baking, sauté the apples, butter, cinnamon and allspice over medium heat in a medium saucepan until the apple begins to break down and caramelize, about 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
  7. Remove the pan from the oven and add the apples in an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining dough over the apples. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the crumb is toasty and golden.
  8. Let cool completely before cutting & enjoy!

More Recipes You'll Love

Bruleed Grapefruit
Vegan Chocolate Pots de Creme
Peach Labneh Toast
Copyright © 2020 Clara Be Cooking. All rights reserved.