Paleo Apple Pie Bars with Crumble Topping
Paleo Apple Pie Bars with Crumble Topping are a delicious and satisfying way to enjoy the flavors of fall! Imagine taking a classic dessert and transforming it into something wholesome yet indulgent. These bars blend the comforting essence of apple pie with a crunchy crumble topping, all while adhering to a Paleo lifestyle. It’s a winning combination that appeals to both health-conscious eaters and those just craving something sweet.
Table of Contents
I remember the first time I made these bars; the aroma filled my kitchen as the apples and spices simmered together. Each bite is a delightful balance of sweet and tart, making it the perfect treat for gatherings or simply to enjoy with a cup of tea. Plus, they’re simple to whip up and budget-friendly too! I’m excited to share my recipe for Paleo Apple Pie Bars with Crumble Topping, so let’s get started!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple & Quick: Prepping these bars comes together in under an hour, making it a frictionless endeavor.
- Irresistible Flavor: The combination of sweet apples, warming spices, and a crunchy topping creates a bite that’s bursting with flavor.
- Eye-Catching Appeal: The layers of crust and crumble look impressively homemade, perfect for sharing.
- Flexible Serving: These bars are perfect for a snack or dessert, and can even be enjoyed for breakfast.
- Diet-Friendly Options: They’re naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, lining up with various dietary needs.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 2 cups blanched almond flour: This forms the base of the crust and provides a nutty flavor. For a nut-free option, consider using sunflower seed flour.
- 1/2 cup tapioca flour or arrowroot starch: This is key for binding the crust and giving it a light texture. Both are interchangeable, but tapioca can add a bit more chewiness.
- 1/2 cup maple sugar or coconut sugar: This adds sweetness and a touch of caramel flavor. use coconut sugar for a more complex taste.
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon: A warm spice that enhances the apple filling beautifully. It’s essential to evoke that classic apple pie flavor.
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt: This balances the sweetness and enhances overall flavor.
- 1/2 cup refined coconut oil: Softened but not melted, this helps create a rich, crumbly texture in the crust. If you prefer, you can substitute with ghee for a dairy-friendly option.
- 1 large egg yolk: This adds moisture and helps bind the ingredients together.
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract: Vanilla rounds out the flavors, making everything taste richer.
- 4 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Granny Smith): These should be peeled and diced into 1/4-1/2 inch pieces. Honeycrisp adds sweetness, while Granny Smith is tart, balancing the flavor perfectly.
- 2 tablespoons water: Added to the apple filling to help create steam while cooking the apples.
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice: This brightens the apple flavor and helps prevent browning.
- 1/4 cup maple sugar or coconut sugar: This sweetens the apple mixture. Feel free to adjust depending on your apples’ sweetness.
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon: For the apple filling, intensifying that classic apple pie taste.
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg: A touch of nutmeg complements the apples and adds warmth.
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt: It enhances the sweetness of the apples.
- 1 tablespoon tapioca flour or arrowroot starch: This will thicken the apple filling, ensuring it doesn’t get too runny.
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract: Again, for added flavor depth in the apple filling.
- 2/3 cup full-fat coconut cream: This thickens the caramel drizzle. Look for a brand without additives for the best flavor.
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar: This creates a luscious caramel-like consistency when cooked down.
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract: As with the others, this adds a sweet note.
- 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt: Balances the sweetness of the caramel sauce.
How to Make Paleo Apple Pie Bars with Crumble Topping
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line an 8 x 8-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper, letting some overhang for easy lifting later.
- Make the crust: In a large mixing bowl, combine the 2 cups of blanched almond flour, 1/2 cup of tapioca flour, 1/2 cup of maple sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt. Stir in the 1/2 cup of softened coconut oil, 1 large egg yolk, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Mix until crumbly: Use your hands, a fork, or a pastry cutter to blend until you achieve a moist, crumby dough that holds together when squeezed.
- Reserve crumble topping: Set aside one generous cup of this mixture, then spread the rest evenly into the bottom of your lined pan. Press it down well, especially around the edges.
- Bake the crust: Place this crust into your preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, until set and lightly golden around the edges. Cool slightly as you prepare the apple filling.
- Prepare the apple filling: In a medium saucepan, toss together 4 medium diced apples, 1/4 cup of maple sugar, 1 tablespoon of tapioca flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt. Add in 2 tablespoons of water and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Cook over medium heat for about 6–7 minutes, stirring occasionally until the apples begin to soften but still hold their shape and become glossy.
- Remove from heat: Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and let the mixture cool briefly.
- Assemble bars: Spread the apple filling evenly over the crust in your pan.
- Add crumble topping: Crumble the reserved dough evenly over the apples with your fingers, leaving some filling visible.
- Bake again: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 27–30 minutes, until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Cool completely: Allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack in the pan.
- Slice for serving: For cleaner cuts, it’s best to refrigerate the bars for 30–60 minutes before lifting them out of the pan using the parchment overhang and slicing into squares.
- Make the caramel drizzle: Combine 2/3 cup of full-fat coconut cream and 1/3 cup of coconut sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring it to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to a steady bubble. Cook for 10–15 minutes, stirring frequently, until it thickens into a dark caramel-like sauce.
- Finish with flavor: Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt. Allow the mixture to cool before drizzling over the bars just before serving.
Storing & Reheating
Store your Paleo Apple Pie Bars with Crumble Topping covered at room temperature for a day, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container. If you’d like, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Just wrap them tightly to prevent freezer burn. When you’re ready to enjoy, reheat them in a 350°F oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through. Keep in mind that the texture may change slightly when frozen, but warming helps bring back that delicious flavor.
Chef’s Helpful Tips
- Don’t overmix: Overworking the dough can result in tough bars, so mix just until combined.
- Use room temperature ingredients: For the best texture, especially the coconut oil; soft but not melted ensures the right consistency.
- Check the apples: Choose a mix of sweet and tart apples for a more balanced flavor, and adjust sugar based on apple sweetness.
- Texture checks: If the base seems too crumbly before baking, a splash of cold water can help it come together.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the crust and filling the day before and bake them just before serving for the freshest taste.
These Paleo Apple Pie Bars with Crumble Topping are such a wonderful way to enjoy all the cozy flavors of fall without the guilt. The sweet apple filling combined with the crunchy crumble is not only delightful but also offers a healthier take on a classic favorite. Feel free to make these your own by experimenting with different types of apples or additional spices. I hope you enjoy these bars as much as I do!
Recipe FAQs
Can I use other types of flour in this recipe?
While the recipe is designed specifically for almond and tapioca flour, you could experiment with other gluten-free flours like oat flour or a gluten-free blend. Just keep in mind that each flour behaves differently, so results may vary.
How can I adjust the sweetness if my apples are tart?
If you find that your apples are particularly tart, you might want to increase the amount of sugar in both the crust and filling by a tablespoon or two. Taste the filling after mixing for a better idea of the sweetness before baking.
Can I prepare the filling in advance?
Absolutely! You can prepare the apple filling a day before and store it in the refrigerator. Just make sure to let it come to room temperature before spreading it on the crust.
Are these bars suitable for freezing?
Yes, these bars freeze very well. Just make sure you wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them in the fridge overnight and reheat if desired.
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📖 Recipe Card
Paleo Apple Pie Bars with Crumble Topping
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
- Category: Desserts & Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Paleo
Description
These Paleo Apple Pie Bars with Crumble Topping are a delightful treat, combining the sweetness of apples with a crumbly topping. Perfect for dessert lovers seeking a healthy, homemade option, this recipe features wholesome ingredients like almond flour and maple sugar to create an irresistibly tasty dish.
Ingredients
- 2 cups blanched almond flour
- 1/2 cup tapioca flour or arrowroot starch
- 1/2 cup maple sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 cup refined coconut oil softened but not melted
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 medium apples peeled and diced into 1/4–1/2 inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup maple sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 tablespoon tapioca flour or arrowroot starch
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup full-fat coconut cream
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare an 8×8-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix almond flour, tapioca flour, maple sugar, cinnamon, and sea salt. Add softened coconut oil, egg yolk, and vanilla extract.
- Blend the wet and dry ingredients until a crumbly dough forms that holds together when pressed.
- Set aside 1 cup of this mixture for the crumble topping and chill it.
- Press the remaining dough evenly into the bottom of the baking pan, compacting the edges well.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until set and golden around the edges. Allow it to cool slightly while preparing the apple filling.
Notes
Choose sweet apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for the best flavor.
Chill your crust mixture to ensure a crisp topping. Adjust sugar to taste if preferred sweeter.
For an extra touch, serve with whipped coconut cream or your favorite dairy-free ice cream.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
