Healthy Apple Pie Bars

These healthy apple pie bars include a buttery shortbread crust, layers of thinly sliced cinnamon apples, and a crumb topping sweetened with maple syrup. A handheld version of apple pie with all the flavors of fall! Because the ingredients are so simple, these are paleo apple pie bars that are gluten free. Serve with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of powdered sugar glaze!

This dessert combines two of my most favorite things: apples and bars! I love a good dessert bar recipe, and this one packs in all the glorious flavors of fall. A triple layer handheld version of apple pie, these bars include a buttery shortbread crust, apple pie filling, and a deliciously sweet crumb topping. Easy to make, easy to eat, and the BEST way to make use of all those apples after apple picking!

Now, don’t get me wrong, these are incredible as is. But, if you’re looking to up your fall dessert experience, I love serving apple pie bars with a little coconut milk ice cream, coconut whipped cream, or a drizzle of powdered sugar glaze. You could even adorn these with my 4-ingredient vegan caramel sauce!

What sets this apple pie bars recipe apart from the rest is that it includes nourishing, whole ingredients. The bars are packed with fresh, juicy apples, and the crumb topping is sweetened with coconut sugar and a little maple syrup.

Because the ingredients are simple, these apple pie bars are paleo and gluten free! If you’re new to baking with tapioca flour, grab some on your next grocery run. It’s readily available in the baking aisle, and has so many uses in gluten free baking.

What Makes These Apple Pie Bars Healthier?

I love figuring out ways to make healthy swaps in desserts without sacrificing texture or flavor. While this easy apple pie bars recipe is made with healthier ingredients, it’s everything you’d want from apple pie in bar form—buttery crust, juicy apples, and a decadent crumb topping! This recipe is:

• Made with whole ingredients: The filling is loaded with fresh apples, and the crust and crumble is made with almond flour and coconut flour. As a result, these are paleo apple pie bars!
• Gluten free: Tapioca flour thickens the filling and gives the crumb topping an irresistible texture.
• Dairy free: Coconut oil is mixed into the dry ingredients to make the crumble. It’s a great dose of healthy fats! For vegan apple pie bars, you can swap the ghee out in the crust for coconut oil, too!
• Naturally sweetened: Maple syrup and coconut sugar sweeten the apples and the crumb topping. Both pair perfectly with apples and fall flavors like cinnamon and nutmeg.

Ingredients in this Easy Apple Pie Bars Recipe

There are just a few simple ingredients you’ll need to make these healthy apple pie bars. You likely have most if not all of the ingredients already on hand, so let’s get to baking!

For the crust + crumb topping:

• Blanched almond flour
• Coconut flour
• Tapioca flour
• Sea salt
• Ghee
• Pure maple syrup
• Vanilla extract
• Coconut sugar
• Raw pecans
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Coconut oil

For the apple filling:

• Fresh apples
• Coconut sugar
• Lemon juice
• Pure maple syrup
• Tapioca flour
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg

How to Make Healthy Apple Pie Bars

1. Make the crust. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, coconut flour, tapioca flour, and sea salt. Add the ghee, maple syrup, and vanilla to the bowl, and fold everything together. Press the crust into the bottom of the pan and bake for 8 minutes.
2. Make the filling. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the apple slices, coconut sugar, lemon juice, and maple syrup. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the tapioca flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg and stir.
3. Make the crumb topping. Combine the almond flour, arrowroot flour, coconut sugar, pecans, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the solid coconut oil to the bowl and cut it into the dry ingredients using a fork. Once the coconut oil is fully incorporated, add the maple syrup and gently mix the topping with the fork until a wet crumble forms.
4. Assemble the bars and bake. Spread the apple mixture on top of the crust and sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over top of the apples. Bake for 30 minutes.
5. Serve. Let the apple pie bars cool completely before cutting into nine even squares. Serve with coconut milk ice cream, coconut whipped cream, or a drizzle of powdered sugar glaze.

Paleo Apple Pie Bars

Because the ingredients are so simple, these are paleo apple pie bars! I LOVE that these apple pie bars are a wholesome dessert, as the main component is just fresh apples, maple syrup, and spices. It’s a dessert for everyone at the table—kids and adults alike! Looking for vegan apple pie bars? Just swap out the ghee in the crust for coconut oil.

What Type of Apples are Best for Apple Pie Bars?

Firm, crisp, and slightly sweet apples are best for this recipe. Apple varieties that work best for apple pie bars include Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Golden Delicious, Gala, Jonagold, and Braeburn apples. Tart apples like Granny Smith apples are also great for apple pie bars as they hold up well when baked.

Truthfully, you can use any variety of apples for this recipe! Use what you have on hand, or use a couple different types of apples to give the bars more flavor and dimension.

Storage and Freezing Info

Let the apple pie bars cool to room temperature, then place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Apple pie bars freeze well, too! Just place them in an airtight container or freezer-safe storage bag. I like to separate each one with a small piece of parchment paper to prevent sticking. Store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat one, just lay it out in the fridge to thaw for a few hours.

Can I Make Substitutions?

Sure can! However, this is where I make that special note that you won’t get the same consistent results if you vary from the original recipe. But, if you find yourself short, here’s a few swaps you can make:

• Almond flour: You can use another nut flour, like cashew flour.
• Tapioca flour: You can swap this for arrowroot flour, but it will be a little more gummy.
• Maple syrup: This can be swapped for raw honey.
• Coconut sugar: You can swap this for any granulated sugar, including brown sugar.
• Coconut oil: It’s fine to use ghee or unsalted butter instead! Just make sure it’s soft and room temperature.

My Baking Tips + Tricks

• Peel and slice your apples before you make your crust. I like to throw the slices directly into the saucepan with the lemon juice until I’m ready to cook them.
• Use any type of apple in this healthy apple crisp recipe. My personal favorite is Pink Lady apples!
• Don’t skip the tapioca flour! It’s what gives this baked apple crisp its crispness.
• Make sure the coconut oil is solid at room temperature—sort of like the texture of butter. You will cut it into the topping mixture with the side of a fork.
• Don’t over-mix the crumb topping. Once the maple syrup is incorporated, stop mixing.

Stocking the Pantry

I personally use Thrive Market for most of my pantry needs because it saves me some cash—especially when it comes to commonly used items like blanched almond flour, coconut sugar, and coconut oil. For a complete list of my recommend pantry items and what I use in my home, check out my favorite kitchen tools and pantry items.

Other Recipes You’ll Love

• Healthy Apple Crisp (Gluten-Free, Paleo)
• Paleo Pumpkin Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel (Grain-Free, Dairy-Free)
• 4-Ingredient Vegan Caramel Sauce
• Fluffy Paleo Cinnamon Rolls
• Paleo Pumpkin Blondies

What did you think about this healthy apple pie bars recipe? Let me know in the comments below!

Recipe by: Noelle Tarr / Coconuts and Kettlebells | Photography by: Casey Colodny / The Mindful Hapa