These are the best paleo apple pie bars! They have a flaky shortbread crust, a cinnamon spiced apple pie filling and are topped with a rich and creamy caramel sauce. They are the perfect fall treat that are also gluten free, dairy free and vegan!
Table of Contents
Why you will love this recipe:
- These gluten free apple pie bars are so delicious! They have a flaky, buttery shortbread crust, a cinnamon spiced apple pie layer and are then drizzled in the most rich and creamy caramel!
- These bars taste just like a classic apple pie but are so much easier to make. They are one of the best apple desserts you will ever make.
- This caramel apple bars recipe makes the perfect fall dessert and are perfect to make during apple season.
- These bars can be served warm or cold and keep really well in the fridge if you want to save some for later.
- Besides being paleo these bars are also gluten free apple pie bars, dairy free apple pie bars and vegan apple pie bars!
- They are healthy apple pie bars compared to other apple pie bars since these are refined sugar free and made with wholesome ingredients.
- These almond flour apple bars are a great recipe to serve anytime but they are also be perfect to serve for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
- You don't need to make a pie crust! That's always the worst part about making pie and this version is so much easier to make.
If you love apple pie bars you will also love apple pie overnight oats!
Taste and texture:
These apple bars have the perfect texture with a flaky shortbread crust and the most delicious melt in your mouth caramel apple topping. The bars taste like a caramel apple pie and the apple slices melt in your mouth with every bite! They will surely turn into one of your favourite apple recipes!
Key ingredients and substitutions:
For the exact measurements for these ingredients refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Almond flour - one of my favourite gluten free flours! You could swap this for cashew flour instead. Almond flour is used to make the delicious crust for these bars. Almond flour is great to bake with because it's high in protein, healthy fats and fiber. Be sure to use almond flour and not almond meal.
- Coconut flour - to give the crust a nice crumbly texture. I do not recommend trying to swap this for another flour.
- Coconut oil - coconut oil is my favourite dairy free oil to bake with. It gives the crust on these apple bars the perfect crunchy texture.
- Honey or maple syrup (use maple syrup for vegan) - to give these bars the perfect amount of sweetness while keeping them refined sugar free.
- Apples - the star of this recipe! I recommend using any type of red sweet apples such as gala apples, honeycrisp apples, pink lady apples or ambrosia apples. I do not recommend using Granny Smith apples as they are not sweet enough.
- Vanilla extract - to help make the most delicious rich and creamy caramel sauce for topping these pie bars.
- Ground cinnamon - to give these apple bars that perfect apple pie spice flavour.
- Cashew butter - this is used to make the dreamy caramel drizzle that tops these bars. You can swap this for almond butter or sunflower seed butter. Just be sure to use smooth, unsweetened nut butter or seed butter for making these bars.
How to make this recipe:
To make the shortbread layer:
Step one:
First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step two:
Now add all the crust ingredients to a bowl and blend well with a spoon or fork.
Step three:
Next line an 8″ x 8″ glass baking dish with parchment paper and transfer the crust mixture to the pan and press down with a spoon until you have an even layer on the bottom of the pan.
Step four:
Then place the pan in the oven and bake for 12-14 minutes, until the edges are golden brown. While the crust is baking, move on to making the other layers.
To make the apple pie filling:
Step one:
Place a pot or large frying pan on the stove on medium heat and add the coconut oil. Once the oil is melted, add the other ingredients.
Step two:
Then cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the apples are the consistency you desire. Next make the caramel layer.
To make the caramel layer and assemble these bars:
Step one:
Place all the caramel ingredients into a large bowl and stir well until it’s smooth.
Step two:
Pour approximately 3/4 of the caramel over the shortbread crust, and spread evenly until smooth.
Step three:
Then using a slotted spoon, spoon the apples over the caramel sauce.
Step four:
Drizzle the remaining caramel sauce over the apples. Then place the pan in the freezer for 1-2 hours to let the bars harden.
Step five:
Then remove the pan from the freezer and cut the bars into desired sized pieces. Then serve and enjoy!
Tips and variations:
- If you don't feel like peeling the apples you don't have to.
- Instead of cashew butter you can use almond butter or sunflower seed butter.
- These bars can be served warm or cold.
- To make these into salted caramel apple bars sprinkle the bars with a little course sea salt before placing them in the freezer to harden.
- When you take them out of the freezer to cut, let them warm up for a couple minutes to make cutting them easier.
How to serve:
These dessert bars are delicious served on their own, either warm or cold, but if you want to take them up a notch consider serving them with:
- Dairy free vanilla ice cream
- Dairy free vanilla yogurt
- Coconut whipped cream - learn how to make it here
How to store:
- I recommend storing these bars in the fridge once they’ve been cooked and cut into pieces. Store them in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
- These dairy free apple pie bars freeze really well so feel free to save and store some for later.
Frequently asked questions:
Any type of sweet red apple will do. Some of my favourites are Gala, Honey Crisp and Pink Lady.
If you can't have almond flour I would use cashew flour instead.
Yes! As long as you use maple syrup to sweeten them they are! I kept them egg free for this reason.
Other desserts you will love:
- Turtle Bars
- Paleo Blueberry Cheesecake
- Paleo Chocolate Donuts
- Paleo Lemon Cranberry Bars
- Paleo Brownies with Caramel
Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star review before you go!
Recipe
Paleo Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 2 tablespoon coconut flour
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch sea salt
Apple Layer Ingredients
- 3 red apples, peeled and cut into small pieces
- 3 tablespoon coconut oil
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Caramel Layer Ingredients
- 1 cup cashew butter
- 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
- 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch sea salt
Instructions
Shortbread Layer Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F.
- Add all the crust ingredients to a bowl and blend well with a spoon or fork.
- Line an 8" x 8" glass baking dish with parchment paper and transfer the dough to the pan and press down with a spoon until you have an even layer.
- Place the pan in the oven and bake for 12-14 minutes, until the edges are golden.
- While the crust is baking, you can start making the other layers.
Apple Layer Instructions
- Place a pot or large pan on the stove on medium heat and add the coconut oil. Once the oil is melted, add the other ingredients.
- Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the apples are the consistency you desire.
Caramel Layer Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into a large bowl and stir well until it's smooth.
- Pour approximately 3/4 of the caramel over the shortbread crust, and spread evenly until smooth.
- Using a slotted spoon, spoon the apples over the caramel.
- Drizzle the remaining caramel sauce over the apples.
- Place the pan in the freezer for 1-2 hours, until the caramel hardens.
- Remove the pan from the freezer and cut the bars into pieces and enjoy!
Notes
- You don't have to peel the apples if you don't want to.
- If you don't have cashew butter you can use almond butter or sunflower seed butter instead.
- You can use any type of sweet red apple for this recipe. My favourites are Honey Crisp, Gala and Pink Lady.
- I recommend storing these bars in the fridge.
Kristie
Yuuuummm, so good!