These bars remind me so much of a dessert that is very typical here in Austria: apple strudel. But since I guess apple pie might be known to more of you, we’ll call them apple pie bars. 5 ingredient apple pie bars! They are vegan, gluten free as well as nut free.
One of my favorite bars are these apple and cinnamon bars I sometimes buy when they are on offer. Unfortunately, they are only as mini version available here, so I took a closer look at the ingredients and made my own version. Which by the way is not only super simple as it takes 5 ingredients to whip them up, but also way cheaper!
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Ingredients
You can count how many ingredients you need for these 5 ingredient apple pie bars on your hand- the vanilla extract is optional, but I highly recommend using it!
- DRIED APPLE RINGS: because these bars can’t be apple flavors without the apples! It is important that you do not mix the dried apple rings (soft) with apple chips/ crisps (hard).
- DATES: add more sweetness and a chewier texture.
- SUNFLOWER SEEDS: to create a “creamier” texture and make these bars more satisfying. Plus they also add a tiny bit more protein. Make sure you use the hulled version!
- CINNAMON: is the only spice you need to make these bars taste like pie!
- PINCH OF SALT: helps to enhance the sweetness.
- VANILLA EXTRACT: is an optional ingredient, but I highly recommend using it as it always adds a certain “dessert” note.
How to make the 5 ingredient apple pie bars
Making these 5 ingredient apple pie bars is so simple, I wasn’t even sure if I would count them as actual recipe 🙂
So basically, they just consist of 3 very simple steps:
- We add all ingredients to a food processor and let its do its magic until our ingredients are broken down into tiny bits and you can form a “dough” with your hands.
- Then press the mixture into a lined form as firmly as possible.
- Now everything needs to chill and firm up in the fridge for at least 2 hours before we can cut the base into bars!
Equipment you need
The only downside to making raw bars at home is that you need the right equipment- which would be a food processor in most cases. But I have to say if you are thinking about whether the investment is worth if you haven’t already got one- I use mine more than once in a while and find it is definitely a useful kitchen tool for my preference of cooking!
Storage
Once you cut the bars, its best to store them in fridge for up to 5 days or freezer for a few months-if they even last that long! You can eat them straight from the freezer- I actually love freezing my bars anyways because I have a favor for frozen snacks and desserts!) in an airtight container.
If you like this 5 ingredient apple pie bars recipe, you may should check out the following recipes:
- Apple crumble protein popsicles
- Tahini rose rice crispy treats (gf, vegan)
- Vegan apple cheesecake bars with streusel
Let’s get started!
Are you ready to make the simpelst apple pie bars out there? Then make sure you have all the ingredients and give one of my favorite snacks a try!
Just one question before we kick this off: if you could do me a favor, then please leave a comment and rate this recipe! I am always happy to see others trying any of my creations, so tag me on instagram or send me a picture via direct messages as well 🙂
ALL THE BEST
5 ingredient apple pie bars
Ingredients
- 60 g pitted dates
- 40 g dried apple rings *
- 170 g sunflower seeds hulled
- 2 Tsp cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 Tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until almost smooth and a crumbly mix has formed.
- Press the dough into a small baking tin or glass container lined with some parchment paper as thoroughly as possible.
- Let firm up in the fridge for about 2 hours or overnight, then slice into 6-8 equal pieces. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer and enjoy!
