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These Apple Oatmeal Bars are the perfect fall dessert for apple lovers! They are full of rich oats, warm cinnamon, and fresh, sweet apples, but are also gluten-free and dairy-free.
In the fall months, when you’re craving warm desserts with fall spices and apples, this healthy apple bar recipe should be your go-to dessert! Not only are these baked apple bars gluten-free and dairy-free, but they are also vegan and a great source of fiber. It’s the perfect healthy sweet treat without any refined sugars and lots of fruit!
If you like healthy fruit bar recipes, you will love my lemon yogurt bars and cherry oatmeal bars!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect Breakfast or Snack Bar: These apple cinnamon oatmeal bars don’t have any refined sugar, so they are great for a grab-and-go breakfast or a quick snack or dessert! Try these raspberry crumb bars next.
- Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Vegan: Apple oat bars are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, so they are the ideal dessert for many different lifestyles and diets.
- Great Source of Protein and Fiber: There are 6 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per bar. The protein and fiber help balance the sugar content and make these a healthier dessert option.
Ingredients
- Apples: Sweet apples are the best option for this recipe. I used Gala apples, but you could also use Honey Crisp or Fuji apples. Red Delicious and green apples wouldn’t be best for this recipe unless you mix them with the sweeter varieties.
- 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 them into a powder.
- Coconut Sugar: This apple bar recipe is free of refined sugars, but doesn’t work with liquid sweeteners like honey and maple syrup. You could try monk fruit instead. If you’re okay with using refined sugars, try brown sugar as a substitute.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations & Dietary Modifications
- Try It with Pears: This recipe works well with pears instead of apples. They are naturally sweet and taste delicious with cinnamon and oats.
- Top with Almonds: Top these apple crumble bars with sliced almonds, walnuts, or pecans for a nutty crunch. You could also use toasted coconut flakes!
- Spice It Up: Capture the bold flavor of warm, fall spices and add a sprinkle of nutmeg and cloves to this recipe. You could also try cardamom or fresh citrus zest for another layer of flavor.
How to Make Apple Oatmeal Bars
Enjoy snacking on baked apple oatmeal bars within the hour! This simple and healthy dessert is easy to make and is full of warm apple flavor. Before you get started on the recipe, preheat your oven to 200°F and grease an 8×8 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 1: Combine the Dry Ingredients. Whisk the almond flour, oat flour, oats, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Then make a well in the center of the mixture.
Step 2: Add the Wet Ingredients. Add the coconut oil and vinegar to the well. Mix until the flour mixture absorbs all of the liquid.
Step 3: Add to the Baking Pan. Press ⅔ of the batter evenly into the bottom of the baking pan.
Step 4: Add the Apples. Evenly layer the cubed apples on top of the packed batter.
Step 5: Make a Crumble Topping and Bake. Break the remaining dough into crumbs and sprinkle it over the top of the apples. Add slivered almonds on top for a little extra crunch. Then bake for 30 minutes at 200°F. Let the bars cool for 30 minutes before cutting them.
Expert Tips
- Grate the Apples: If you prefer a less chunky texture of apple, try grating your apples into thin pieces. There will be a lot of apples packed into every bite without any extra crunch or chewing.
- Use a Combination of Apple Varieties: This recipe tastes best with sweet apples like Honey crisp or Gala, but if you use a combination of sweet and tart apples, it enhances the flavor. Try Granny Smith and Gala apples together for the best of both worlds.
- Use Parchment Paper: Make removing these oatmeal bars from the pan a breeze by lining it with a bit of parchment paper after greasing it.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store these apple cinnamon oat bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. These bars also freeze nicely in a storage container or plastic storage bag for about 30 days.
- Reheating: Microwave the bars for 30 seconds to slightly warm them. You can also serve them cold. Defrost frozen bars for about 24 hours before eating or reheating.
Serving Suggestions
These delicious apple oatmeal bars are the perfect sweet treat that is also a great source of fiber and protein. They are gluten-free and dairy-free, but still full of flavor! These make a great snack or a dessert to enjoy with family and friends!
- These apple pie 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 in the microwave. It’s like a mini piece of apple pie!
- I love apple desserts after a traditional dinner, like this shepherd’s pie with ground turkey or turkey meatloaf.
- Create a healthier Thanksgiving-style dinner with my Instant Pot turkey breast, sugar-free cranberry sauce, and gluten-free stuffing, and have the apple oatmeal bars for dessert.
Homemade Apple Bar FAQs
These baked apple oatmeal bars bake low and slow to avoid the top becoming too tough and crunchy. They won’t be as chewy and soft if you bake them at a higher temperature.
You can use avocado oil or even extra virgin olive oil since the baking temperature is only 200°F. You could also use butter, but then the recipe won’t be dairy-free or vegan.
Unfortunately, there is no substitute for the almond flour, so this is not meant to be a nut-free dessert.
More Delicious Apple Dessert Recipes
Gluten Free
Almond Flour Apple Pie
Gluten Free
Healthy Apple Muffins with Greek Yogurt
Desserts
Gluten Free Apple Crisp
If you tried this Apple Oatmeal Bar recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below.
Apple Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 2 apples, peeled, cored and cubed
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, or white vinegar
- 1 cup almond flour
- 2 cups Gluten Free oat flour, or regular oat flour
- ½ cup gluten free rolled oats, or regular rolled oats
- ½ cup coconut sugar, or sugar of choice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon slivered almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven 200 F. Prepare an 8×8 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
- Line the baking pan with parchment paper after greasing it to make removing the bars quick and easy.
- Grate the apples into thin pieces so you get more apples packed into every bite!
- Use a combination of sweet and tart apples to enhance the flavor of the bars.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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.