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Lighter Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

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These lighter caramel apple crumble bars are a healthier twist on a classic fall dessert, featuring a date-based caramel sauce, tender cinnamon-spiced apples, and a crunchy oat topping. They’re quick to make, naturally sweetened, and perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 medium apples (about 600g or 1.3 lbs), peeled, cored, and diced into ½-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder or cornstarch
  • 1 ½ cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • ¼ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons coconut oil, solid but soft (or unsalted butter)
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup soft Medjool dates, pitted (about 6–8 large dates)
  • ¼ cup full-fat coconut milk from a can
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil or butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1–2 tablespoons warm water, as needed

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two opposite sides. Lightly grease the parchment with coconut oil.
  2. If dates are firm, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain. In a food processor, combine pitted dates, coconut milk, melted coconut oil, vanilla, and salt. Blend until smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Add warm water 1 tablespoon at a time if too thick. Set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, toss diced apples with maple syrup, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and arrowroot powder. Let sit for 5 minutes.
  4. In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, almond flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add solid coconut oil (or cold butter, cut into small pieces) and work into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits of fat. Add beaten egg and stir until just combined.
  5. Press about two-thirds of the oat mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread apple mixture evenly over crust. Drizzle about half the date caramel over the apples. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture over the top, breaking into clumps.
  6. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until top is deeply golden and apple filling is bubbling around edges. If top browns too fast after 25 minutes, tent loosely with foil. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before lifting out and cutting.
  7. Once cut, drizzle remaining date caramel over the top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Don’t overmix the crust; leave pea-sized bits of fat for flakiness. Let apples be the star—good apples are sweet enough. Soak dates fully for smooth caramel. Rotate pan halfway through baking. Let bars cool completely before cutting to prevent crumbling.

Nutrition

Keywords: caramel apple crumble bars, healthy apple dessert, fall dessert, gluten-free apple bars, date caramel, lighter dessert

Find it online: https://vexifood.com/lighter-caramel-apple-crumble-bars-easy-fall-dessert-recipe/