Apple cinnamon bars blend pecans, dried apples, and cinnamon into a soft, naturally sweet snack with no flour in sight. Everything whizzes in the blender and bakes into a fragrant pan of bars in under an hour. Gluten-free, vegetarian, and quietly perfect with an afternoon coffee.
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 pecans until fine but not oily — over-processing turns them into butter and the bars lose their tender crumb.
- Soak the frozen dried apples briefly if they're very hard; soft pieces distribute through the batter instead of landing as chewy lumps.
- Line the brownie pan with parchment so the bars lift out whole; the butter in the batter loves to stick to bare metal.
- Cool completely before cutting. Warm bars crumble — chilled ones slice into neat, packable squares.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use fresh apple instead of dried?
Yes — peel and chop one small apple finely. The bars will be moister and need a few extra minutes in the oven.
How do I store apple cinnamon bars?
Airtight at room temperature for two days or refrigerated for a week. They firm up pleasantly in the fridge.
Can I freeze them?
Wrap individual bars and freeze for up to two months. Thaw at room temperature for an hour — no reheating needed.
What can I use instead of erythritol?
A tablespoon or two of maple syrup works, though it sweetens more aggressively and makes the bars a little stickier.
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.
