These Gluten-Free Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars are a delicious alternative to holiday pie. Easy recipe that is vegan and refined sugar-free!
A couple things of note happened in the last week or so. First, and I'm sorry for again talking baseball, but the Royals won the World Series (!!) and the parade to celebrate ended up being something our city has never seen. Estimates have it that close to 800,000 people made it to downtown Kansas City that day. The old, industrial loft space that we bought this summer and have slowly been renovating sits right in the midst of where it all went down. Watching the masses make their way toward the parade route was a sight in itself. An unofficial holiday, school districts closed and business shut down for the afternoon. Somewhat reminiscent of scenes from The Walking Dead, cars were eventually left on the shoulders of the highway, in green spaces, and perched on curbs.
It was crazy and wonderful and ridiculous. It was peaceful. It was family-friendly. It was community at its best. And I think if you ask anyone here, they'd tell you that was the real celebration.
The second thing, and really, its not of note to anyone but me and maybe my mom (hi, Mom), is that I turned another year older. The double-3's that I am now representing has me slightly freaked out. This is mostly because I haven't ever quite figured out what your early 30's are supposed to feel like. But I suppose that's the best scenario to have. No preconceived ideas of where you should be, what you should be doing, or what you can't do anymore.
We're attending an annual Friendsgiving feast this weekend, and I have been assigned dessert. These cranberry apple crumble bars are on my list to make and take. Somewhere between a crumble, a crisp, and pie, these bars come together easily. The hardest part of the recipe is waiting for the bars to chill, making them a perfect recipe to make the night before a holiday gathering. Ooey gooey and full of cinnamon spice, the bars are vegan, refined sugar-free, and pair oh-so-well with vanilla ice cream or coconut whipped cream.
Gluten-Free Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars
Ingredients
For the Filling
- 2 apples peeled and chopped (I used Granny Smith but any will do)
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons tapioca starch
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup water
For the Batter
- 1 cup sorghum flour
- ¾ cup gluten-free oat flour
- ½ cup tapioca starch
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 ¼ cups gluten-free oats
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 1 cup coconut oil melted and cooled
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Grease a 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan with coconut oil or spray. Line the bottom and sides with parchment paper. You want parchment to overhang on at least two sides. This will help you remove later. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- For filling: In a large saucepan, place the apples, cranberries, coconut sugar, 1 ½ tablespoons tapioca starch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Pour water over ingredients, stir, and bring to a boil. Once at a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and set aside to cool completely.
- For batter: In a large bowl, whisk together sorghum flour, oat flour, tapioca starch, cinnamon, oats, and coconut sugar. Add coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Stir until mixture is evenly coated.
- To assemble: Take half of the batter and press firmly into baking pan. Pour the cranberry apple filling over bottom layer and spread evenly. Add the remaining batter evenly over top and pat down lightly with your hands.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top starts to turn golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack until completely cool. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. To slice, use overhanging parchment to remove from the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Slice into squares with a sharp knife. Reheat bars before serving if desired. Pairs well with vanilla ice cream or coconut whipped cream.
Nutrition
Christine // my natural kitchen
Tessa! First of all, happy belated birthday! I think the 30s are great. I only joined the club in May but so far, so good :) I think 30s bring more confidence in who you are and what you want. Also the world series sounds like an amazing day, my sisters (who are all baseball fanatics) would have been in heaven. And last, these bars look so perfect. I love every single ingredient you used, and I'm sure these will be such a lovely addition to your friendsgiving celebration xo
Tessa
Thank you so much, Christine! It's so true, I've definitely felt more confident in this decade than the last. And with that brings a calm that I fully welcome! ;) Oh my goodness, your sisters would have loved the festivities! Thank you for your sweet words, I hope you are doing well! xo.
Linda | The Baker Who Kerns
I am trying to cut out refined sugar in my diet, cause let's be honest it just doesn't make you feel as good as it used to! It's great that the ingredients don't scare me and I can definitely look forward to making these! Yum!
Tessa
Haha, so true! I tried to keep the ingredients as easy to find and accessible as possible, so I am very glad you agree! Thank you so much, Linda!
Alanna
Oh wow, I'm obsessed! i've been looking for a good GF crumble bar recipe - they're my fave. These look completely perfect, and I can't believe they're vegan, too. You genius you.
Also, happy birthday and welcome to your 30s! I totally cried through my 30th birthday - it unexpectedly completely freaked me out. But I must say, the 30s are the best decade yet. A friend said, "Your 30s are just like your 20s, except you always know what to wear." Pretty true. Also, I care less, in general, about everything, and that's pretty great. <3
Tessa
Aw, thank you Alanna! It's so funny how how certain numbered birthdays bring out different emotions. I am totally going to remember that saying. Being able to care less is SO great. I love it. Thanks so much, sweet lady! xo.
Kelly @ Inspired Edibles
Oh, congratulations on the World Series! -- how fun, I didn't even realize the Royals had won (my commitment to baseball is rather fleeting - heeheeh). I love how you describe these bars as somewhere between a crumble, a crisp and a pie -- I mean, how could you possibly go wrong? :) They look gorgeously tempting and I like how your batter comes together here. So many thoughtful choices. Congratulations on the double 3s lovely lady (3 happens to be a magic number in my life ... I hope it sprinkles you with wonderment too!) x
Tessa
Hahaha, I love it! Thank you so much, Kelly. I do hope some of that magic number 3 dust will rub off on me. ;) Sounds like a very good thing! xo.
danielle is rooting the sun
tessa i just had to be here for this! and happy birthday lovely lady - your sentiments on no preconceived notions are perfect. just like these crumble bars! i love that you used granny smith, they are my absolute favorite. mixed with cranberry and cinnamon, i'm totally seduced. ♥
Tessa
Thank you so much, Danielle! And thank you for your kind words - it means a lot! Granny Smith's are one of my faves too. So good. Hope you have a wonderful week! xo.
Claudia Copping
I'm putting in a request for any leftovers of these, please!
Love, Mom
Tessa
I think that can be arranged... Thanks, Mom! :)
Katie
Yum! Wish we were Friendsgiving-ing with you!
Tessa
You and me both!! I can't wait to see your face this week!
Heather A
I might make these and take them to athelta's in honor of your thanksgiving absence. It will remind me that you and my brother are with me in spirit. Plus I could eat the heck out of these all weekend.
Tessa
Aw, that would be awesome! I love it. And it is definitely okay to keep them all to yourself. ;)
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
Happy happy birthday my dear! I feel those same feelings all the time regarding what I 'should be' doing or where I should be in life, but really, you are where you are right now, and that is perfect :) Oh I so wish I could come to your Friendsgiving, just for these bars alone! I haven't quite dipped my toe into cranberry season yet, but I think these would be a perfect start. Happy Friday friend! xo
Tessa
Thank you, Abby! It's so true, where you are right now is perfect. I so wish you had been at our Friendsgiving too!! How fun would that have been?!
jaime | the briny
"But I suppose that’s the best scenario to have. No preconceived ideas of where you should be, what you should be doing, or what you can’t do anymore."
if there's one thing i believe in life, it's this. love that.
tessa, these crumble-bars look so crazy good. i love the mashup feel of them, too--that they're not any one thing; not bound by any particular category. i think it ties in with your philosophy pretty perfectly. :) hope you have a beautiful time this weekend! xo
Tessa
Aw, thank you dear Jaime! That makes my heart happy. I'm always so glad we've connected over these interwebs. :) xo.