If you love apples dipped in peanut butter, you will love my healthy Gluten-Free Vegan Flourless No-Bake Apple Bars that are so easy to make!
Here's Why This Recipe Works:
My top 3 reasons:
- It's a Healthy and Easy No-Bake Recipe!
- 100% Gluten-Free, Vegan, and Dairy-Free
- Made with Clean, Real Food Ingredients
Here's what's going on in this clean, plant-based no-bake dessert:
- Layer 1: The bottom layer is a peanut butter shortbread-type bottom that I slightly altered from my Gluten-Free Vegan Pecan Pie Bars recipe
- Layer 2: The middle layer is diced medjool dates + apples + spices that I used in my Gluten-Free Vegan Raw Apple Pie Tart recipe
- Layer 3: The top layer is a thin peanut butter topping sprinkled with organic ground cinnamon
I had bought a big bag of organic Fuji apples to make my Gluten-Free Vegan Peanut Butter Cookie Caramel Apples recipe, and since it only needed 4 apples, and my Gluten-Free Vegan Raw Apple Pie Tart recipe only needed 4 apples, I had just enough left to make this dessert.
It takes less than 15 minutes to make because all you do is mix all the ingredients for the base together in a bowl, then transfer to your baking dish. Next, add all the ingredients for the apple filling to a food processor, then layer it on top of the bottom layer and lastly, add the peanut butter topping. You can even make this recipe paleo-friendly by substituting the peanut butter with organic almond butter instead.
You'll need to put them in the refrigerator or freezer for just a little bit for them to firm up but they'll be ready to enjoy in no time!
And if you'd like another clean apple-based dessert, make sure you check out my Gluten-Free Apple Crumble with Caramel Sauce.
This easy, clean eating recipe is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, egg-free, flourless, no-bake and contains no refined sugar.
Healthy Ingredients Used to Make This Recipe:
Apples* - rich in antioxidants, good source of B complex vitamins, helps to reduce cholesterol, 1 apple contains 17.4% RDA of fiber, helps to regulate blood sugar,
Medjool Dates* - natural energy booster, high in iron content, rich in potassium, good source of dietary fiber, excellent source of vegan protein
Peanuts (Peanut Butter)* - excellent source of vitamin E, high in folate, contains tryptophan which helps fight depression, good source of fiber, excellent source of vegan protein
Almonds (Almond Flour)* - helps to regulate cholesterol and blood pressure, energy booster, loaded with calcium and fiber, ¼ cup contains 8 grams of vegan protein, high in antioxidants
Lemons:* - extremely alkaline to the body, blood purifier, excellent for detoxification, balances blood sugar levels, contains powerful anti-bacterial properties
Maple Syrup* - contains manganese and zinc, super high in antioxidants, helps with inflammation, ¼ cup contains more calcium than the same amount of milk, ¼ cup contains more potassium than a banana
Coconut Oil* - super high in lauric acid, rich in antioxidants, contains natural microbial and anti-bacterial agents, helps to improve metabolism, improves cholesterol levels,
Coconut Flour* - highest dietary fiber found in any flour at 58% RDA, 14% coconut oil, 19% vegan protein, gluten-free, helps to promote blood sugar health
Vanilla Bean Powder* - anti-microbial, high in antioxidants, can help reduce inflammation, contains small traces of minerals, 1 tablespoon contains 2 g of fiber
Cinnamon* - contains anti-inflammatory properties, helps to control blood sugar, excellent source of manganese and iron, can help to lower bad cholesterol, aids in eliminating migraine headaches
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Gluten-Free Vegan Flourless No-Bake Peanut Butter Apple Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
For the peanut butter cookie base:
- 1 cup almond flour
- ¼ cup organic peanut butter
- ¼ cup organic maple syrup
- ¼ cup organic coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon organic coconut flour
- ⅛ teaspoon organic vanilla bean powder
- 1 pinch Himalayan pink salt
For the apple filling:
- 4 small organic red apples
- 1 cup organic medjool dates pitted
- 2 tablespoons organic coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon organic lemon juice
- ⅛ teaspoon organic vanilla bean powder
- ¼ teaspoon organic ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch Himalayan pink salt
For the peanut butter topping:
- ½ cup organic peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons organic coconut oil melted/liquid
- ⅛ teaspoon organic ground cinnamon
Instructions
Prepare the peanut butter cookie base:
- Add all the ingredients for the cookie base to a medium sized bowl and stir until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture to an 8 x 8 baking dish lined with parchment paper. Spread it evenly in the pan and press it down firmly.
- Put the baking dish in the freezer to harden/firm while you work on the rest of the recipe.
Prepare the apple filling:
- Add all ingredients for the apple filling to a food processor and pulse until the dates and apples are diced into tiny pieces, but taking care to not over process. Set aside.
Prepare the peanut butter topping:
- Add all the ingredients for the peanut butter topping to a small bowl and stir until well combined and smooth.
Assembly:
- Remove the baking dish from the freezer.
- Add the apple filling on top of the cookie base. Spread it evenly in the pan and press it down firmly.
- Place the pan back in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes to allow the apple mixture to firm so the peanut butter topping will be easier to spread.
- Remove the baking dish from the freezer and pour the peanut butter topping over the apple filling, gently spreading it out evenly.
- Place the baking dish back in the freezer for approximately 30-60 minutes, or until the peanut butter topping hardens.
- Optional: Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top of each square before serving.
- Store the bars in the freezer or refrigerator until ready to serve because they will get soft and lose their shape if left out at room temperature.
- Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
The recipe and photographs for "Gluten-Free Vegan Flourless No-Bake Peanut Butter Apple Bars" by Karielyn Tillman of The Healthy Family and Home™ website are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 International License and cannot be used without my written permission.Nutrition Information
Copyright Notice
The instructions, notes, and photographs for this recipe by Karielyn Tillman of The Healthy Family and Home™ website are copyrighted material. This copyrighted work is protected and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 International License and the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) and cannot be legally used without my written permission.
Want More Healthy Gluten-Free Vegan Dessert Recipes?
Check out these:
- Clean Eating Cinnamon Vanilla Apple Chips
- Lemon Meltaway Balls
- Clean Eating Peanut Butter Fudge
- or my Clean Eating Cookbook with an entire chapter of 20 healthy, clean eating bars and squares recipes just like this one that you will love!
Did You Make This Apple Peanut Butter Bars Recipe?
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