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    Recipes » Recipes » Baking & Desserts

    Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Crumble Bars

    Last updated - July 11, 2021; Published - September 19, 2019 By Rhian Williams 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    A stack of three apple crumble bars on a marble slab against a grey background

    These Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Crumble Bars are crunchy and chewy, perfectly spiced and filled with tender caramel apples.

    A stack of three apple crumble bars on a marble slab against a grey background

    Why you'll love these Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Crumble Bars:

    • they're undetectably vegan and gluten-free
    • they're chewy and crunchy
    • they're filled with tender and silky apples
    • they taste like salted caramel
    • they're warmly spiced
    • they're refined sugar free
    • they're nut-free optional
    • they're oil-free optional
    • they're delicious hot or cold
    • they're a perfect dessert, breakfast or snack for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

    How to make these Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Crumble Bars

    Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe including measurements and instructions.

    • Place the coconut oil, coconut sugar, apples, vanilla, cinnamon and salt in a pan.
    Sliced raw apples with cinnamon and coconut sugar in a silver saucepan against a marble background
    • Leave to cook on a low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes until soft.
    • Dissolve the cornflour (cornstarch) in a tiny splash of water in a small bowl.
    • Once the apples have cooked, add the cornflour and water mixture and mix well.
    • Once the apples have thickened (takes about 30 seconds), turn off the heat.
    Cooked brown sliced apples in a silver saucepan against a marble background
    • Place all the ingredients for the base and topping in a food processor.
    Dates, oats and coconut oil in a food processor against a marble background
    • Whizz until you get a fairly smooth and firm dough.
    Raw apple crumble bar base and topping in a food processor against a marble background
    • Divide the dough for the base and topping into thirds.
    • Take two thirds and place into a square baking tin lined with baking paper (I used a 23cm/9inch square baking tin).
    • Spread it carefully across the bottom of the tin, using the bottom of a glass to even out the surface, if necessary.
    Raw apple crumble bar base in a square baking tin lined with brown baking paper
    • Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until firm to the touch.
    Baked apple crumble bar base in a square baking tin lined with brown baking paper
    • Spread the cooked apple mixture over the base.
    Apple crumble bar filling on top of the base in a square baking tin lined with brown baking paper
    • Use your fingers to crumble the rest of the dough over the top until it is all used up and the apples are roughly covered.
    Apple crumble bars with raw topping in a square baking tin lined with brown baking paper
    • Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy on top.
    A block of apple crumble bars in a square baking tin lined with brown baking paper
    • Leave to cool before cutting into squares.
    Five square apple crumble bars against a sheet of brown baking paper

    How to serve these Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Crumble Bars

    These Apple Crumble Bars can be enjoyed hot or cold. They're delicious by themselves but also taste amazing with plant-based ice cream or yogurt.

    Substitutions you can make to this recipe:

    • you can use any type of plant-based milk: almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk, rice milk, soy milk etc
    • if you're not into apples, you can use any type of fruit: pears, peaches, plums, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, raspberries etc (just adjust cooking time accordingly)
    • you can top it with any type of chopped nuts before baking: pecan nuts, walnuts, pistachios, desiccated coconut, flaked coconut etc
    • for an oil-free option, omit the coconut oil from the apples and substitute the coconut oil in the crumble topping with nut butter such as almond butter or peanut butter
    • for a nut-free option, use a nut-free plant-based milk.

    How long do these Apple Crumble Bars keep for?

    These Apple Crumble Bars keep covered in the fridge for up to a few days.

    A square apple crumble bar held up with a silver spatula against a grey background

    More vegan apple desserts:

    • Apple Pie
    • Apple Crisp
    • Apple Upside Down Cake
    • Apple Muffins
    • Apple Bread
    • Apple Cake
    • Apple Pie Bars

    If you try out this recipe or anything else from my blog, I’d really love to hear any feedback! Please give it a rating, leave a comment, or tag a photo @rhiansrecipes #rhiansrecipes on Instagram! Thank you.

    A stack of three apple crumble bars on a marble slab against a grey background

    Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Crumble Bars

    These Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Crumble Bars are crunchy and chewy, perfectly spiced and filled with tender caramel apples.
    3.67 from 15 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: apple crumble bars, vegan apple recipe, vegan thanksgiving dessert
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 9 bars
    Calories: 263kcal
    Author: Rhian Williams

    Ingredients

    For the apples:

    • 4 apples , cored, peeled finely sliced (around 900g/32oz in total)
    • 1 teaspoon coconut oil (or sub coconut butter)
    • 6 tablespoons coconut sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • Pinch sea salt to taste
    • 2 teaspoons cornflour (cornstarch) (or sub tapioca starch)

    For the base and topping:

    • 225 g (2 ¼ cup) rolled oats (ensure gluten-free if necessary)
    • 195 g (1 ⅛ cup) pitted dates
    • 30 g (⅛ cup) coconut oil (or sub coconut butter)
    • 90 ml (⅓ cup) unsweetened almond milk (or any other plant-based milk)

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit)

    For the apples:

    • Place the apples, coconut oil, coconut sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt in a pan with a lid

    • Leave to cook on a low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes until softened

    • Dissolve the cornflour in a tiny splash of water in a small bowl
    • 
Once the apples have cooked, add the cornflour and water mixture and mix well
    • 
Once the apples have thickened (takes about 30 seconds), turn off the heat

    For the base and topping:

    • Place all ingredients in a food processor and whizz until you get a fairly smooth and firm dough

    To assemble:

    • Divide the dough for the base and topping into thirds
    • Take two thirds and place into a square or rectangular baking tin lined with greased baking paper (I used a 23cm/9inch square baking tin)
    • Spread it carefully across the bottom of the tin, using the bottom of a glass to even out the surface, if necessary
    • Bake in oven for 15 minutes until firm to the touch
    • Spread the cooked apple mixture over the base
    • Use your fingers to crumble the rest of the dough over the top until it is all used up and the apples are roughly covered
    • Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy on top
    • Leave to cool before cutting into squares

    • Keeps covered in the fridge for up to a few days

    Notes

    • You can top it with any type of chopped nuts before baking: pecan nuts, walnuts, pistachios, desiccated coconut, flaked coconut etc.
    • For an oil-free option, omit the coconut oil from the apples and substitute the coconut oil in the crumble topping with nut butter such as almond butter or peanut butter.
    Nutrition Facts
    Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Crumble Bars
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 263 Calories from Fat 54
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 6g9%
    Saturated Fat 4g20%
    Sodium 32mg1%
    Potassium 319mg9%
    Carbohydrates 52g17%
    Fiber 6g24%
    Sugar 28g31%
    Protein 4g8%
    Vitamin A 44IU1%
    Vitamin C 4mg5%
    Calcium 41mg4%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Made the recipe?Tag @rhiansrecipes on instagram and use the hashtag #rhiansrecipes!

    Disclosure: This posts contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase any of these products, a small percentage will come to me with no extra cost to you! This income will go towards the running of this blog – thank you.

    More Baking & Dessert Recipes

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    • Gluten-Free Vegan Churros (Baked!)
    • 35 Vegan Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes (Gluten-Free)
    • Vegan Baked Pumpkin Cheesecake (Gluten-Free)
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Foodieglam

      September 21, 2019 at 7:52 pm

      This recipe is heaven! Definitely I will try it!

      Reply
      • Rhian Williams

        September 21, 2019 at 10:52 pm

        Thank you so much!

    2. Karen Brooks

      September 22, 2019 at 1:45 am

      Have you made these with blueberries? I know your apple crumble (which is fabulous) and the equally as fabulous blueberry crumble are a bit different in the prep. Would love a blueberry crumble bar!

      Reply
      • Rhian Williams

        September 22, 2019 at 10:47 pm

        Thank you so much! Yes you can make these with blueberries definitely!

    3. Louise

      November 17, 2019 at 9:04 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely loved these. Easy to make. Very delicious.

      Reply
      • Rhian Williams

        November 17, 2019 at 11:36 am

        Thank you so much, so glad you liked them!!

    4. Caroline

      November 21, 2019 at 8:30 pm

      If I leave the oil out of the base and change it with apple sauce, will the base be less crunchy?

      Reply
      • Rhian Williams

        November 21, 2019 at 11:10 pm

        Yes I think so - it will have more of a chewy texture, which is nice too so shouldn't matter too much!

    5. Michelle

      July 17, 2021 at 6:32 pm

      5 stars
      Super easy to make! My family googled it up in a day!

      Reply
      • Rhian Williams

        July 18, 2021 at 3:08 pm

        Thank you so much, so happy to hear that!

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    Photo of Rhian Williams from Rhian's Recipes

    Hi, I'm Rhian! I make easy, undetectably vegan + gluten-free recipes, including healthy comfort food and naturally sweetened desserts using plant-based ingredients.

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