{Healthier} Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars

These healthy Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars with a crunchy pecan streusel topping are a decadent tasting, yet healthy breakfast treat or snack recipe! These taste just like apple pie but are made without refined sugar.

I always say to people half-jokingly that I can't resist a good creamy cheese (camembert would be my favorite!) or a few slices of saucisson, but I can have the most appetizing cake in front of me and not even pay attention to it.

I just don't have a big sweet tooth. Lucky me, I guess!

It's easier when I only have the savories to test my self-control! Except...these healthy apple pie oatmeal bars are definitely an exception.

Having these in front of me DID catch my attention. Probably too much actually, before they finally ended up in food jail aka. the freezer.

Out of sight, out of mind right? However, these healthy oatmeal bars are somehow still on my mind these days!

These healthy oatmeal bars are the most delicious guilt-free alternative to apple pie!

What makes these healthy oatmeal bars so addictive? Well, obviously the combination of apples and cinnamon. It's just too good and comforting!

And don't get me started on the smell when these healthy oatmeal bars are baking in the oven. Pure bliss.

If baked treats were human, these apple pie oatmeal bars would be the children of an apple crisp and an apple pie. Streusel-like oatmeal topping made even crispier by using pecan nuts + a thick layer of melt-in-your-mouth apples.

Solal had 3 apple pie oatmeal bars in just one afternoon and I...can't tell you how many I had. Otherwise you may think that I'm trying to sell you this recipe. Oh, wait...!

If you tried these Healthy Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars, don’t forget to rate the recipe below and let me know how it went in the comments – I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more deliciousness and behind-the-scenes!

5 from 1 vote

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{Healthier} Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars

These healthy Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars with a crunchy pecan streusel topping are a decadent tasting, yet healthy breakfast treat or snack recipe! These taste just like apple pie but are made without refined sugar. They can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free flour! 

Course Breakfast, brunch, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword apple pie oatmeal bars, apple pie spice, glutenfree oatmeal bars, healthy baked for kids, healthy oatmeal bar recipes, lunch box ideas, pecan streusel topping, sugar-free oatmeal bars

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings 15 bars

Calories 276 kcal

Ingredients

• ¾ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar - see notes
• 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour you can also use all-purpose gluten free flour - see notes
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 7 oz unsalted butter - 200 g, chilled, cut into cubes
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¾ cup pecans roughly chopped

Filling

• 4 baking apples peeled and sliced very thinly (I used a combination of golden delicious and granny smith)
• 1 ½ tbsp all-purpose flour you can also use all-purpose gluten free flour - see notes
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp pure maple syrup

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 356F - 180C. Line a 2 quart (18x28 cm) rectangular baking dish (like this one) with parchment paper for easy unmolding. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine coconut sugar, oats, flour, salt, and baking powder. Add butter and mix until crumbly and butter is incorporated. You can use a pastry cutter for that. I don't own one so I just used my fingertips.

3. Distribute half of the mixture in the prepared baking dish and press it down firmly on the bottom with the palm of your hands. Set aside remaining oat mixture. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool. (Keep the oven on)

4. While crust is cooking, prepare the filling. In a large bowl, combine sliced apples, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, and maple syrup. Toss until apples are well coated.
5. Arrange apples on the crust. It will probably look like there are too many apple slices so layer them tightly. Drizzle leftover syrup over apples.

6. Add pecans to the remaining oat mixture, and mix until pecans are well distributed. Top apples with oat mixture and bake at 356F - 180C for 45 minutes or until topping is golden brown.

7.  Remove from the oven and let cool before cutting into 15 slices (5x3).

Recipe Notes

• FLOUR – I tested this recipe using regular all-purpose flour and Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Gluten Free Flour and both were great. Please note that if you use another brand of GF flour, results could be slightly different as ingredients are not always the same.
• SUGAR – Coconut sugar has a light caramel/butterscotch flavor that makes these bars even tastier and is healthier than refined sugar. You can replace it with brown sugar, but I tested the recipe using coconut sugar. Read more about coconut sugar here. 
• If you want to serve these bars with a caramel sauce, I recommend this recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction (but it's not refined sugar free)

Nutrition Facts

{Healthier} Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars

Amount Per Serving (1 bar)

Calories 276 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Cholesterol 28mg9%

Sodium 96mg4%

Potassium 157mg4%

Carbohydrates 34g11%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 14g16%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 355IU7%

Vitamin C 2.2mg3%

Calcium 38mg4%

Iron 1.2mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.