Gluten-Free Apple Pie Bars (Vegan)

These gluten-free apple pie bars capture the beloved flavors of homemade apple pie in a more convenient, grab-and-go format. Great for potlucks, lunch boxes, or when you’re craving that classic taste without the fuss of rolling out pie crust. Dairy-free and vegan too.

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

Email *

Save This!

Apple Pie Lovers, This One’s For You!

With fall just around the corner and apple season firmly taking root, it’s time for apple everything!

Apple pie is a big all-time favorite, but sometimes we don’t particularly want the hassle of rolling out pie crust, and here’s where these apple pie bars come in really handy!

Cut into individual bars for convenience, these apple pie bars are perfect for a sweet fall snack, or if you want a more decadent dessert, drizzle on some caramel sauce…YUM!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe:

• Simple Ingredients: The main ingredients you’ll need for these gluten-free apple pie bars are easily accessible at the local grocery store (nothing fancy required!).
• Easy to Make: Preparing these apple bars is way simpler than making apple pie (because you don’t need to roll out any pie crust!), and the individual bar form makes the perfect dessert for serving at parties, packing into lunchboxes, or as a grab-and-go snack!
• Totally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free & Vegan: The best part is that these easy apple pie bars are 100% gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, which means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy them without issues!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for making this gluten-free apple pie bars recipe.

(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Recipe Notes + Substitutions

• Butter: I used unsalted dairy-free butter to keep this recipe dairy-free, but if you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use regular butter instead.
• Sugar: I used both brown sugar and regular granulated sugar. However, you may use cane sugar or whichever type of sugar you prefer.
• Vanilla: I like adding a bit of vanilla extract for extra flavor. However, if you are not a fan of vanilla, feel free to leave it out instead.
• Gluten-Free 1:1 Flour: I recommend using a good-quality gluten-free 1:1 flour blend (a 1:1 gluten-free substitute for regular wheat flour) that is made up of lighter flours/starches (such as rice flour, tapioca starch, corn starch or potato starch). I do NOT recommend using a gluten-free flour blend that is made up of heavier flours/starches.
• Xanthan Gum: Xanthan gum is the replacement for gluten in gluten-free flours and helps the ingredients to better bind together.. If your gluten-free flour blend does not already include xanthan gum, make sure to add it in.
• Apples: I recommend using Granny Smith apples for a nice tart flavor. However, if you prefer a less tart taste, you can use sweeter varieties such as Honeycrisp apples, Pink Lady or Golden Delicious instead.
• Spices: For spices, I used a combination of ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg to add the beautiful fall flavor.
• Rolled Oats: If you are Celiac or gluten-intolerant, make sure to use certified gluten-free rolled oats (this is because while oats are naturally gluten-free, oats are often processed in the facilities that also process gluten-containing grains).
• Caramel Sauce: The caramel sauce is optional, but can really make a difference in transforming the apple pie bars from a simply snack to a more decadent dessert. I’ve used dairy-free caramel sauce to keep this recipe dairy-free, but go ahead and use regular caramel sauce instead!

How to Make Apple Pie Bars:

Prepare Crust Dough: Melt ½ cup butter and let cool slightly. In a bowl, stir together brown sugar, vanilla, salt, and melted dairy-free butter. Sift in the gluten-free 1:1 flour, and xanthan gum (if using), and mix until dough forms.

Par-Bake Crust: Press the buttery shortbread crust mixture evenly into a square parchment-lined baking dish or baking pan. Bake the crust at 350F (175C) for 12–15 minutes until slightly puffy.

Dish by Dish Tips:

• Remove Apple Skins: I find it better to peel the apples to get a smoother filling, so while peeling the apples may take a little more time, I highly recommend you do so for the best results.
• Cut into Shape of Choice: I cut these gluten free apple pie bars into squares, but you can also cut them into rectangles or triangles if you prefer.
• Use Pears instead of Apples: If you wish, you may swap the apples for pears instead (firmer varieties such as Bosc and Anjou work best).

Other Gluten-Free Apple Recipes You’ll Love:

• Apple Crumble (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Easy Baked Apples (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Apple Pie Filling (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Homemade Applesauce (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Gluten-Free Desserts to Make:

P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!

Print

Gluten-Free Apple Pie Bars (Vegan)

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

• Author: Felicia Lim
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 12 bars 1x
• Diet: Gluten Free

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

These gluten-free apple pie bars capture the beloved flavors of homemade apple pie in a more convenient, grab-and-go format. Great for potlucks, lunch boxes, or when you’re craving that classic taste without the fuss of rolling out pie crust. Dairy-free and vegan too.

---

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

For the Gluten-Free Shortbread Crust:

• 1/2 cup unsalted dairy-free butter, melted
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups gluten-free 1:1 flour
• 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your gluten-free flour blend already includes it)

For the Apple Filling:

• 4 medium apples (or 3 large), peeled and cored
• 2 tablespoons gluten-free 1:1 flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

For the Crumble Topping:

• 1/2 cup gluten-free rolled oats
• 1/2 cup gluten-free 1:1 flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsalted dairy-free butter, cold and grated

Optional Topping:

• Dairy-free caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Freeze Butter: Place 6 tablespoons of butter in the freezer for the crumble topping.
2. Preheat & Line: Preheat the oven to 350F (175C). Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on at least 2 sides.
3. Prepare Crust Dough: Melt ½ cup butter and let cool slightly. In a bowl, stir together brown sugar, vanilla, salt, and melted dairy-free butter. Add the gluten-free 1:1 flour, xanthan gum (if using), and mix until dough forms. Press evenly into prepared pan.
4. Par-Bake Crust: Bake the crust for 12–15 minutes until slightly puffy.
5. Slice Apples: Slice apples into thin ¼-inch slices.
6. Prepare Apple Filling: In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with gluten-free 1:1 flour, sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until evenly coated.
7. Grate Butter: Grate frozen butter.
8. Prepare Crumble Topping: In a bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and granulated sugar. Add grated butter and mix with hands or pastry cutter until crumbly.
9. Assemble: Spread apple mixture evenly over warm crust. Sprinkle crumble topping evenly on top.
10. Bake Until Golden: Bake for 35 minutes, or until topping is golden brown.
11. Cool & Slice: Cool completely, then chill the bars in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Lift out with parchment and slice into 9–12 bars. Drizzle with caramel before serving, if desired.

Notes

Butter: I used unsalted dairy-free butter to keep this recipe dairy-free, but if you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use regular butter instead.

Sugar: I used both brown sugar and regular granulated sugar. However, you may use cane sugar or whichever type of sugar you prefer.

Vanilla: I like adding a bit of vanilla extract for extra flavor. However, if you are not a fan of vanilla, feel free to leave it out instead.

Gluten-Free 1:1 Flour: I recommend using a good-quality gluten-free 1:1 flour blend (a 1:1 gluten-free substitute for regular wheat flour) that is made up of lighter flours/starches (such as rice flour, tapioca starch, corn starch or potato starch). I do NOT recommend using a gluten-free flour blend that is made up of heavier flours/starches.

Xanthan Gum: Xanthan gum is the replacement for gluten in gluten-free flours and helps the ingredients to better bind together.. If your gluten-free flour blend does not already include xanthan gum, make sure to add it in.

Apples: I recommend using Granny Smith apples for a nice tart flavor. However, if you prefer a less tart taste, you can use sweeter varieties such as Honeycrisp, Pink Lady or Golden Delicious instead.

Spices: For spices, I used a combination of ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg to add the beautiful fall flavor.

Rolled Oats: If you are Celiac or gluten-intolerant, make sure to use certified gluten-free rolled oats (this is because while oats are naturally gluten-free, oats are often processed in the facilities that also process gluten-containing grains).

Caramel Sauce: The caramel sauce is optional, but can really make a difference in transforming the apple pie bars from a simply snack to a more decadent dessert. I’ve used dairy-free caramel sauce to keep this recipe dairy-free, but go ahead and use regular caramel sauce instead!

• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins
• Category: Desserts
• Method: No-Bake
• Cuisine: American