Apple cinnamon bars are a gluten-free, sugar-free bake that tastes like autumn dessert. Pecans, frozen dried apples, butter, and cinnamon whirl in the blender until smooth, then bake into tender, fragrant bars sweetened with erythritol. One pan, five minutes of work, and the house smells wonderful.
Apple Cinnamon Bars
This is a gluten-free, vegetarian dish which is also sugar-free.
Ingredients
• 1 cup (240 ml) of pecans
• 1/4 cup (960 ml) of dried apples, frozen
• 1 cup (240 ml) of water
• 1/4 cup (960 ml) of butter, softened
• 1 tsp (5 ml) of vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) of erythritol
• 1 ½ tsp of baking powder
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) of ground flax seed
Instructions
• Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• Grease a brownie pan well.
• Add all ingredients to a blender and process until smooth.
• Pour the blended mixture into the brownie pan and bake it for about 45 minutes.
• Let it cool and serve.
Pro Tips
- Blend the batter until completely smooth — the pecans should fully break down so the bars slice cleanly instead of crumbling.
- Grease the brownie pan well; the buttery, nut-based batter sticks to ungreased pans and tears when you lift the bars out.
- Bake the full 45 minutes at 350°F until set — underbaked bars stay soft in the middle and won't hold their shape.
- Let them cool completely before cutting; they firm up as they cool and the cinnamon-apple flavor deepens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these bars keto?
Yes — they're sweetened with erythritol rather than sugar, with pecans and ground flax doing the structure work instead of flour.
Can I use fresh apples instead of dried?
Dried apples (frozen) give concentrated flavor and less moisture. Fresh apple would add water and make the bars softer and more cake-like.
How do I store them?
Keep them in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days. They're lovely cold or gently warmed.
How many bars does one pan make?
About 8 bars from a standard brownie pan — a perfect grab-and-go snack or light dessert.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Grease a brownie pan well.
- Add all ingredients to a blender and process until smooth.
- Pour the blended mixture into the brownie pan and bake it for about 45 minutes.
- Let it cool and serve.
