My family likes these Vegan Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars more than traditional apple pie and you’ll love the ingredient list! Save This Recipe! Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get new recipes from me every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Happy Healthy Mama.
They taste incredible. As in you will eat one and have to leave the house so you don’t eat the whole pan. Tim took one bite and declared, “These can’t be healthy.” Ha!
We’ll just call them healthy-ish. I removed the butter from the shortbread crust and used coconut oil. Instead of all-purpose flour I used whole wheat pastry flour. I used coconut palm sugar in place of white, refined sugar. I also made the salted caramel sauce on top with no heavy cream or dairy whatsoever. It’s actually a fat-free vegan caramel sauce made with dates!
They are a dessert, no doubt. 
But it’s a dessert with more wholesome ingredients than your standard dessert and one you will feel great about serving to guests. I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year and I’ve already put these on my dessert list.
Here’s the other thing about these apple pie bars. They are simple as pie. What does that saying even mean? Pie isn’t that simple. These are actually fifty times simpler than pie. The shortbread crust is made in one bowl by simply mixing a few ingredients together. Fail proof! Unlike pie crust. Forget about pie. Bars are where it’s at. 
If you haven’t gone apple picking yet this year, this is your excuse to go. You have got to try these easy and delicious apple pie bars. I’m already dreaming about my next batch. 
I have a feeling if you love these, you’ll also love my Healthy Apple Crisp recipe (vegan and gluten free!). Give it a try, too!
Vegan Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
- Total Time: 55 - 60 minutes
- Yield: 9 bars 1x
Description
These Vegan Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars have a bottom crust, a layer of sweet apples, and are topped with a crumble topping and salted caramel sauce. They are divine!
Ingredients
For the Crust
1/2 cup refined coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup Coconut Palm Sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
For the Filling
2 large apples (use a sweet and tart variety for most complex flavor), peeled and thinly (1/4″) sliced
2 tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour
2 tablespoons Coconut Palm Sugar
1 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the Topping
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/3 cup Coconut Palm Sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup solid coconut oil
For the Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce
15 pitted dates*
1/2 cup water+more as needed
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon Coarse Real Salt 
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line an 8X8 inch pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving overhang on all sides. Set aside.
- Start by making the crust. Stir together the melted coconut oil, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Add the flour and stir until combined. Press the mixture into the pan evenly and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, prepare the filling and topping.
- For the filling, combine the apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and set aside.
- For the topping, stir together the oats, sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Add the solid coconut oil, in chunks, and combine with your hands. You can also use a pastry cutter or two knives to do this. I just use my hands. The mixture should resemble coarse crumbs when you are finished.
- Remove the crust from the oven, and turn it up to 350 degrees. Layer the apples evenly on the warm crust. Press them down so they all fit. Sprinkle the apple layer with the streusel topping. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the topping is golden brown.
- While they are baking, prepare the vegan salted caramel sauce. Put the dates*, water, vanilla, and salt in your blender. Start on low for about 10 seconds, then turn it up to high and blend until you have a smooth mixture. Add additional water as needed to achieve your desired consistency. Taste and add more salt if you prefer. I have a powerful Vitamix blender
which makes the sauce super smooth; other blenders may not be able to completely remove all date chunks. It will still be delicious! (But I highly recommend a Vitamix for that reason. :)) Set the sauce aside. - When the bars are finished baking, pull them out of the oven and allow them to cool, on a baking rack, at room temperature for about 20 minutes. Then place them in the freezer for 30 minutes. This gives the bars a chance to firm up before cutting. They won’t stay together as well without this step. You can also refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
- Cut the bars into 9-16 bars and top with the salted caramel sauce. Enjoy!
which makes the sauce super smooth; other blenders may not be able to completely remove all date chunks. It will still be delicious! (But I highly recommend a Vitamix for that reason. :)) Set the sauce aside.Notes
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 28.2g
- Sodium: 25mg
- Fat: 19.1g
- Carbohydrates: 47.4g
- Protein: 3.3g
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Want more fall baking recipes that are on the healthier side? Here are my favorite recipes!
Whole Wheat Molasses Quick Bread
Pumpkin Pie Bars
Spiced Apple Cider Baked Donuts
Gonna definitely try these one and have it tried with my co workers at https://solariaenergysolutions.com/solar-panel-installation-kissimmee-fl/
I can’t wait to try these!! Just wondering if they can be made a day ahead or if it’s best the day of?
My sister is coming to visit me next month and I think we’ll be making these together! They look so good!
Please let me know what you think! 🙂
These were so delicious! My boyfriend especially liked the crust (I accidentally put cinnamon in that as well).
So glad to hear this!
Can you make this with gluten free flour and have it taste good? Sometimes converting is tricky.
I have not tried this with any GF flours, but I imagine if you use a store-bought GF blend it would work. Oat flour may work as well. I don’t think almond flour or coconut flour would.
This might be a dumb question, but are these intended to be eaten cold? Or should I pop back in the oven for a bit to heat up before eating?
Not a dumb question at all! I much prefer these warm, but my husband likes them cold. Soooo I guess it’s just a matter of preference. Kind of like some people like apple pie warm and some like it cold. 🙂
These look amazing. I’m trying to make things ahead for Thanksgiving. Once made do they stay well in the fridge for several days? Have you tried freezing them? Thanks in advance
I haven’t tried freezing these. Last year I made them a few days ahead and kept them in the fridge. I like them better warm, so I reheated before serving. Some people do prefer them cold, so it’s up to you.
I cannot wait to make these for Thanksgiving! After they are cut do they need to stay refrigerated? Thanks!
I do refrigerate them. I’m not sure if they *need* to be, but I do.
These were BETTER than any homemade apple pie I’ve ever made. It tasted like a buttery treat (without the butter of course) and the caramel took it over the top to be absolutely mouth dropping. Don’t worry too much about the refined/unrefined coconut oil, I used unrefined and it worked out just fine. These were the hit of the night as everyone said they were their favorite! I should have made more!
I’m so glad to hear that, Caitlin! 🙂
I don’t have dates ? Is there something else I could use for the topping glaze???
I can’t think of anything that will have the same effect as the dates. Sorry. 🙁
Wow, they look amazing !! do you think it would work as well with another fruit like banana??
http://www.oishivegan.wordpress.com
Oooh yum–I do think that would be great!
So i just pinned and stumbled this post because they look A-MAZ-ING! Salivating!!
Thanks, Kristen!
There is so much goodness going on in these bars…I can hardly handle it!! And the vegan date caramel? DROOL.
Dates are so amazing!!
Those look mouthwatering amazing!!! 🙂 Will have to try them!!
I hope you love them! My whole family enjoyed these so much.