Description
These apple oatmeal bars are a combination of a delicious crust, topped with tender spiced apples and a crispy oatmeal topping, in individual sizes that make them a great grab-and-go breakfast or an anytime snack. Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan too.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 cup gluten-free quick oats, processed (or oat flour)
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup dairy-free butter (1 stick)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Apple Filling:
- 4 red apples, peeled and diced into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the Crumble Topping:
- 1 cup gluten-free quick oats
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup dairy-free butter
Instructions
- Beat Butter, Sugar & Vanilla: In a bowl, beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla until creamy.
- Process Oats to Get Flour: Process the gluten-free quick oats in a food processor or high-speed blender to get a fine oat flour. (Alternatively, you can use store-bought gluten-free oat flour instead.)
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add the finely processed oats (or oat flour), cornstarch, and salt. Mix until combined to get a homogeneous crust mixture.
- Press Crust Mixture into Pan: Press the mixture evenly into a 9″ x 9″ baking pan lined with parchment paper.
- Bake Crust: Bake in a preheated oven at 350F (175C) for 10 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Combine Filling Ingredients: In a bowl, mix the diced apples with cornstarch, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Cook Until Cornstarch Thickens: Cook the apple mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until the cornstarch thickens, but keep the apples from turning into puree. Alternatively, you can microwave the filling mixture for 5 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the mixture thickens slightly. Set aside.
- Prepare Crumble Topping: In a bowl, combine all the crumble ingredients: instant oats, cornstarch, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and butter. Gently mix until you get a coarse crumb; do NOT overmix.
- Spread Apple Filling Over Crust: Spread the apple filling evenly over the baked crust.
- Top With Crumble Mixture: Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool, cut into bars, drizzle with dairy-free caramel sauce (optional but highly recommended!) and serve.
Notes
Oats: If you are Celiac, make sure to use certified gluten-free quick oats (this is because while oats are naturally gluten-free, they are often processed in the same facilities as gluten-containing grains, so there is the risk of cross contamination). Alternatively, instead of processing your own oat flour, you can also use store-bought certified gluten-free oat flour instead.
Cornstarch: Cornstarch adds extra binding power to bind the ingredients together. Alternatively, if you are allergic to corn, you can also use arrowroot starch or tapioca starch instead.
Butter: I used dairy-free butter to keep this recipe dairy-free. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, go ahead and use regular butter instead.
Vanilla Extract: I like adding a bit of vanilla extract for flavor. However, if you aren’t a fan of vanilla, go ahead and leave it out instead.
Brown Sugar: I used brown sugar, but you can also use cane sugar or white sugar if you prefer.
Spices: For flavor, I’ve used ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg. Use freshly ground spices for the best flavor, if not pre-ground spices will work too.
Apples: I used red apples here, but go ahead and use green apples if you prefer.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
