These Coconut Oil Apple Crumb Bars are a sweet, cozy, and easy apple dessert made with a tender shortbread-style crust, cinnamon-spiced apples, and a golden crumb topping. They have all the comforting flavor of apple pie, but they are much simpler to prepare and much easier to serve. Because the recipe uses butter-flavored coconut oil instead of butter, these apple crumb bars are completely dairy free and vegan, while still tasting rich, buttery, and satisfying.
If making pie feels intimidating, these vegan apple crumb bars are a wonderful alternative. There is no rolling, crimping, or worrying about a perfect pie crust. The base is pressed directly into the pan, the apples are tossed with a simple cinnamon mixture, and the crumb topping is scattered over the top before baking. The result is a dessert that feels special enough for a holiday table but simple enough for an everyday fall baking project.
The crust is similar to classic shortbread, which is usually made with butter, flour, and sugar. In this recipe, butter-flavored coconut oil replaces the butter and works beautifully. It gives the crust a rich flavor and helps create a firm, tender base that holds the apple filling well. The apples soften as they bake but still keep a little texture, giving each bite a delicious contrast with the crisp topping and buttery crust.
Apple desserts are especially perfect when the weather turns cool. The smell of cinnamon apples baking in the oven makes the kitchen feel warm and inviting, and these bars capture that classic fall flavor in an easy, handheld dessert. They are great for sharing because they slice neatly once cooled, but they are also delicious served warm when the crumb topping is fragrant and the apples are soft.
These coconut oil apple crumb bars are a good choice for anyone looking for a dairy-free apple dessert without sacrificing flavor. They are sweet, warmly spiced, and simple to make with everyday baking ingredients. Serve them as an afternoon treat, a simple dessert after dinner, or a cozy addition to a fall gathering.
- Paleo Apple Cinnamon Glazed Cookies
- Vegan Paleo Apple Pie Bars
- Paleo Apple Pie Crumb Bread
Vegan Apple Crumb Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- ½ cup butter-flavored coconut oil
- 1 ⅓ cups flour
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
Apple Filling
- 3 medium apples
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Crumb Topping
- ¼ cup butter-flavored coconut oil, room temperature
- ⅓ cup oats
- ⅓ cup flour
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with foil, spray it with non-stick spray, and set it aside.
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Make the crust by combining the coconut oil, flour, sugar, and salt in a small bowl. Mix until the dough comes together, then press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
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While the crust bakes, prepare the apple filling. Peel the apples, cut them into quarters, remove the cores, and slice each quarter into 4 to 5 thin pieces. Place the apple slices in a large bowl with the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Toss until the apples are evenly coated.
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Prepare the crumb topping in a bowl or pie plate. Combine the coconut oil, oats, flour, brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon. Mix well until a crumbly topping forms. Clean hands work especially well for this step.
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When the crust has finished baking, increase the oven temperature to 350°F. Arrange the coated apple slices evenly over the warm crust.
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Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the apples. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the apples are tender. Enjoy warm, or let the bars cool before slicing for cleaner pieces.
Nutrition Information
Carbohydrates: 30g
Protein: 2g
Fat: 10g
Sugar: 17g
These vegan apple crumb bars are the kind of dessert that disappears quickly. The combination of sweet cinnamon apples, a sturdy shortbread-style crust, and a soft crumb topping makes every bite comforting and full of classic apple flavor. They are easy enough for a casual baking day and special enough to share with family or friends. If you enjoy apple pie but want something simpler, these dairy-free coconut oil apple crumb bars are a delicious recipe to make again and again.