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Healthy Apple Cinnamon Crumb Bars are a tasty treat made gluten free, dairy free and low calorie! They taste like a slice of apple pie in a bar.
This recipe is from 2015 and has been updated for you!
Apple pie is my favorite fall dessert! There's something so delicious about warm apples mixed with cinnamon, sugar and flour.
That's probably why I have so many apple dessert recipes on this website - apple yogurt pancakes, paleo apple pie, healthy apple crisp and oatmeal apple cookies. They's some of my most popular recipes!
Now I'm adding healthy apple cinnamon crumb bars to the list!
What Makes These Apple Cinnamon Crumb Bars Healthy?
This Healthy Apple Cinnamon Crumb Bar recipe is based on my super popular Lemon Yogurt Bars. Those are great during the summer months, but during the fall this apple cinnamon crumb bar recipe hits the spot. It's also dairy free, gluten free and lower calorie.
If you're searching for more holiday recipes, check out these Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes, Healthy Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes and Holiday Recipes!
Here's more reasons why I love this low calorie apple crumb bar recipe!
- Low Calorie - Only 265 calories per bar. I cut mine into 12 bars. You can do 9 and the calories will still only be around 300 which is very low for a dessert recipe.
- High Protein - 6 grams of protein per bar. Protein is important even with dessert recipes to help balance the sugar content. Sugar is not bad, it's about balance!
- High Fiber - Each bar contains 4 grams of fiber. Most dessert recipes lack fiber, but the almond flour, apples, oat flour and oats contribute the high fiber content of this recipe. Fiber is important to having a balanced and healthy diet!
- Egg Free - Having an egg allergy myself, I know how hard it can be to find egg free dessert recipes. This one is!
- Dairy Free - This recipe is dairy free.
- Gluten Free - This recipe is gluten free. You can use regular oat flour and oats though if you are not gluten free.
Ingredients For Healthy Low Calorie Apple Crumb Bars
- Apples
- Coconut Oil
- Almond Flour
- Gluten Free Oat Flour
- Gluten Free Rolled Oats
- Coconut Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Sea Salt
- Slivered Almonds
See the substitutions section below for substitutions you can make on this recipe. You won't be able to substitute the flours, but you can certainly substitute them for regular oat flour or rolled oats if you're not gluten free!
How To Make Healthy Apple Crumb Bars
You will need an 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan to make this recipe. As well as a large mixing bowl.
Here's the steps for making healthy apple cinnamon crumb bars gluten free!
Step One - Preheat oven to 200 F. Prepare your baking pan by spraying it with cooking spray or lining with parchment paper.
Step Two - In a mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, oat flour, rolled oats, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Make a well in the middle of the flour.
Step Three - Add the oil and vinegar to the well. Disperse the flour mixture into the well until everything is fully incorporated.
Step Four - Remove 2/3 of the batter and press it evenly into the bottom of the baking pan.
Step Five - Add an even layer of the apples on top.
Step Six - Sprinkle the remainder of the flour mixture on top for the crumb then add the slivered almonds on top.
Step Seven - Baking 30 minutes at 200 F.
Step Eight - Cool the bars in the pan 30 minutes before slicing into bars.
How To Serve Apple Cinnamon Crumb Bars
These bars are best made ahead of time as they require 30 minutes after baking to cool. They also set up well after being refrigerated 2-3 hours.
Serving - These apple crumble bars taste delicious topped with Rediwhip, dairy free whipped cream or even ice cream. You can serve the bars cold or you can warm them slightly for 30 seconds in the microwave. It's like a mini piece of apple pie!
How To Store Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Crumb Bars
Healthy Apple Crumb Bars should be stored in the refrigerator. They last up to 5 days in an airtight container.
- Reheating - Microwave 30 seconds to slightly warm the bar and serve or you can serve them cold!
- Freezing - These bars freeze nicely in a storage container or plastic storage bag. I would recommend freezing up to 30 days.
Substitutions For Healthy Apple Cinnamon Crumb Bars
Here's the substitutions I recommend for this healthy apple bar recipe. As I mentioned above, the flours cannot be substituted but you can swap for non-gluten free flours if you are not gluten free. Remember if you do change the other ingredients, that the nutritional values will change from what you see in the recipe card at the end of the blog post.
- Coconut Oil - Extra virgin olive oil can be used since the baking temperature is only 200 F. You can also substitute another oil.
- Apples - I used Gala apples for this recipe. Any apple you enjoy will work. You want a variety that sweeter so Red Delicious and green apples wouldn't be best for this recipe. Pears would also be a good substitute for apples.
- Coconut Sugar - You can use brown sugar, monk fruit or another dry sugar substitute. Honey and maple syrup will not work.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - You can substitute white vinegar, but the vinegar itself should not be omitted for best results.
- Almond Flour - This cannot be substituted.
- Gluten Free Oat Flour - You can use regular oat flour instead of gluten free, but the oat flour cannot be substituted. You can make the oat flour by adding oats to a food processor and blending.
- Gluten Free Rolled Oats - You can use regular rolled oats instead of gluten free, but I do not recommend omitting the oats or swapped for quick oats.
- Slivered Almonds - These can be omitted or substituted with another nut or seed.
More Healthy Apple Dessert Recipes
- Healthy Almond Flour Apple Pie
- Healthy Apple Peanut Butter Oat Cookies
- Apple Greek Yogurt Pancakes
- Healthy Apple Crisp
Apple Cinnamon Crumb Bars
Ingredients
- 2 apples peeled, cored and cubed
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup almond flour
- 2 cups Gluten Free oat flour
- 1/2 cup Gluten Free rolled oats
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon slivered almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven 200 F. Prepare an 8x8 baking pan by lightly spraying it with nonstick cooking spray or use a nonstick pan
- In a mixing bowl combine flours, oats, sugar, cinnamon and salt and mix to disperse evenly. Then make a well in the flour.
- To the well, add the coconut oil and vinegar. Disperse flour mixture into the liquid until absorbed by the flour mixture.
- Remove 2/3 of the batter and press it evenly on the bottom of the baking pan.
- Add even layer of the cubed apples on top of the batter.
- With the remainder of the dough, sprinkle crumbs of the dough on top for the crumb and add slivered almonds on top.
- Bake 30 minutes at 200 F.
- Allow the bars to cool in the pan 30 minutes before slicing into bars.
Notes
- My Amazon shop has more products similar to those used for this recipe and that I recommend to my weight loss clients.
Nutrition
I am wondering if you really only bake these at 200 degrees. That just seems too low a temperature.
200 F is absolutely accurate. The crumble will burn at a higher temp.
Surgery can be a scary decision, but it can, also, really help. I hope it goes well! The crumb bars look delicious 🙂
Yes, I think it will feel better when I find a surgeon I trust.
Oh these bars look delicious!!
As for your hip I hope you feel better soon. I have had many surgeries on my legs after a terrible accident as a young child. I was not suppose to walk let alone run and I am doing both over 30 years later. As for surgery it is always a hard call and I often go back and forth between I can't live like this (the pain) but the fear of the unknown and recovery time playing the other side. That said you also don't want to wait until it does even more damage. I think talking to multiple people is key and you will probably feel better if you have a second opinion. Again I hope you are feeling better soon.
I'm so glad to hear this about your recovery! I truly believe that doctors and science only take us so far. Our bodies are capable of bouncing back and doing amazing things (just like you) no matter what challenges they have been faced with.
Oh no Megan!! Sorry to hear about the hip surgery on the horizon. If it is any consolation I have done a lot of replacements on young patients who are able to be fully active and run, bike, etc. There are a lot of new methods too including the Makoplasty and others on the horizon. Not the huge massive scar and technique that it used to be years ago. Good luck with the decision.
Thanks for letting me know that Kate! My PT mentioned there are a lot of other surgical options so I'm going to see a few different doctors to see what can be done. I'm glad you mentioned they are active too. That scares me the most. I don't want to be one of those people who can't be active. I can't imagine living my life that way and it certainly plays a part in my hesitation to go through with the surgery.
I love the healthy twists you always put on recipes. These looks so good!
Thanks Kristen! I'm glad you like them.
Yum! It is the perfect time of year for all things apple cinnamon and these look great! I am a sucker for anything with a crumb topping.
Me too! Hence the need for portions.
Sorry to hear that you are still having so many health issues and I hope that you find a solution soon. Your positive attitude really shines through. Thanks for adding your yummy apples and cinnamon bars they look great! Have a great day
Thanks Deborah! I'm tackling all my issues slowly but surely.
Oh girl my heart is breaking for you as I read this! You know how you are feeling and honestly, you HAVE to do what you need to do so you can feel 100%! If you have already put off that replacement for 16 years, I can't imagine the kind of daily pain you are in! Luckily you have the ability to make this amazing apple cinnamon goodness, even on crutches! I still try to picture you taking pictures with crutches, and you amaze me! Hope you have an amazing day eating apple cinnamon crumb bars. Pinning!
A lot of my recipes I make a few months ahead of time but food has been my savior during my injury. I can't workout, can't be on the computer too much, can't sit too long so food has helped me heal in many ways!
I would want to put it off too, however, anyone I know who had hip replacement did feel better instantly. And, the younger we have surgeries like this, the easier/quicker the recovery. Ugh, sorry you have to deal with this. Great recipe 🙂
That makes me feel better. The only reference I have is my Grandma and she had this weird limp and was horrible after she had hers. I always think of myself as being like that and it sadness me to think that would be my life so THANK YOU for telling me not everyone is like that.
This sounds so much like the conflagration of issues that my mom had following her riding accident. The mother f-ing snowball effect. You are being so strong, I'm so proud of you for how you are dealing with it. Even in you bad moments, just find a way to see some humor in the situation as best you can. That has always helped me.
On a lighter note, these look delicious and shows you were my head is at (carbs) because I totally didn't have my eyes focused on the picture at first and I thought you had put macaroni and cheese on top. 😀
My Mom keeps telling me to look at it as checking things off in life and moving on. I've been putting it off for a really long time, mostly due to my career and trying to always get ahead. I think everything happens for a reason and it's now time for me to take care of it.
Everyone gets dealt a bad hand in their life from time to time. Does it suck? Of course it does! But instead of allowing it to cause negativity in your life, try to see the positives. You are young enough to bounce back. When your older.. it takes much longer to recover. I think getting the hip replacement is what's best for you. Always know you are in my prayers. I do think of you often & wonder how your coping with all these situations & set backs. Keep smiling!
I know I can always count on you for awesome perspective and positivity Jessie. I really love that about you and feel blessed to have you in my life! I think of you and your girls often. If only we lived closer to each other, I'd be baking you muffins every day!
& I'd be happily eating your delicious muffins 🙂
I would likely try to put off the surgery, but honestly I have no idea what kind of pain you're in! It's a big decision though and one to give thought to, especially if a doc is saying you can hold off.
On another note these look so yummy and I have more than my fair share of apples over here to experiment with 🙂
It's tough to tell because I've been on crutches for 3 months. I know the pain was horrible after my ankle stress fracture earlier this year. I guess I will have to see how things are once I start walking. I've already put it off 16 years and now having all these issues.