Apple Pecan Caramel Oat Bars (Vegan)
These no-bake Apple Pecan Caramel Oat Bars are the perfect meal prep snack for the season, with gut-healthy, high-fibre ingredients and so much flavour. Plus, they are vegan and gluten-free.
I love no-bake snacks any time of year, and these ones are so good for eating on the go as part of a balanced breakfast, or as a snack with a cup of tea or coffee. The combination of apples, pecans and cinnamon with the drizzle of white chocolate on top makes for the perfect snack that feels like a treat yet is made with real wholefood ingredients, and ones with added gut and health benefits. I am using Biomel’s range of dairy-free and naturally vegan gut-health products here: they have a gut-health shot and a powder which work so well in these bars.
Why will I love these oat bars?
These bars are so good:
- Cinnamon-spiced, fruity and nutty
- An oat cookie-dough like base
- Topped with sticky homemade caramelised pecans and apples
- Drizzled with dairy-free white chocolate
- Taste like autumn/fall in every bite
- Great for Autumn or all year long
- Perfect as a grab and go snack/breakfast
- Or enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee
- Naturally plant-based, dairy-free and egg-free
- Easily gluten-free
- With nut-free options
- Free from refined sugars, sweetened with medjool dates
- Requires no baking
- Comes together in just a few steps
- Everyone will love these
- Try them with pears, too
- Great for the gut
- High in fibre from dates, nuts and oats
- A natural source of protein
- With 10 different plant points
If you already love the sound of these bars, then skip ahead to the recipe card below. Or, first let’s discuss the recipe in more detail.
What ingredients do I need?
You can see the ingredients with weights in the recipe card and see my favourite and recommended products in the “shop the recipe” section.
For the apples:
- Apples: chop these into chunks or into slices. Do not use cooking apples as they are too soft, use regular eating apples like Braeburn, Jazz or other seasonal varieties.
- Pecans: to add crunch.
- Olive oil: instead of butter.
- Coconut sugar: to add sweetness and allow the apples to caramelise.
- Maple syrup: to allow the apples to turn sticky.
- Lemon juice: for tang.
- Cinnamon: for flavour.
And for the bars:
- Medjool dates: this is for sweetening the base, with tons of fibre and a rich sweet flavour.
- Smooth almond butter: to add moisture to the base and that cookie-like flavour.
- Unsweetened applesauce: this adds apple flavour and adds moisture.
- Biomel vanilla drink: this is from Biomel the brand and is a deliciously creamy and dairy-free gut-health drink shot. They have other flavours, too, and it’s great for adding fibre, live gut bacteria and flavour, too. My code NOURISHINGAMY saves you 25% off their website. If you cannot find these, use dairy-free milk.
- Softened coconut oil: to help set the bars.
- Oat flour: blend oats to a fine flour in a blender.
- Biomel Complete Gut Vanilla: this is also from Biomel and is packed with billions of live cultures and is a dry powder consistency. If you cannot access this, swap it for more oat flour.
- Vegan vanilla protein powder: this helps to thicken the base and make it more fudgy in texture. I use the Form vanilla protein powder.
- Salt: for flavour.
- Dairy-free white chocolate: this is to drizzle on top and adds another layer of deliciousness but is optional.
Are these gluten-free and nut-free?
These are naturally gluten-free as long as you use GF oat flour. To make the nut-free, swap the pecans for sunflower seeds or coconut flakes and swap the almond butter for sunflower seed butter or tahini.
How do I make them?
These are ready in a few steps:
- Add the apples and pecans to a saucepan: with the other ingredients and allow to bubble and soften.
- Put the apples to one side: so they cool down.
- Blend the dates with the other wet ingredients: to make a date paste.
- Combine the date paste and other ingredients for the base: and stir to a sticky mix.
- Press into a lined tin to make the base: and make it compact.
- Spoon over the apples: and allow to set.
- Drizzle with the chocolate: and set again in the fridge.
- Slice into bars: and enjoy.
How long will they last?
These will keep in the fridge in a sealed container for 3-5 days. To make them firmer, pop them in the freezer for 20 minutes.
What other recipes can I try?
For more seasonal snacks:
- Fruit and Nut Flapjack
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bars
- Berry Granola Fudge Bites
- Date and Nut Caramel Bars
- No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars
Apple Pecan Caramel Oat Bars (Vegan)
These no-bake Apple Pecan Caramel Oat Bars are the perfect meal prep snack for the season, with gut-healthy, high-fibre ingredients and so much flavour. Plus, they are vegan and gluten-free.
Ingredients
For the Apples and Pecans:
- 1 large or 2 small apples, cored and chopped small
- 40g pecans, crushed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
For the Oat Bars:
- 100g medjool dates, pitted weight
- 60g smooth almond butter
- 30g unsweetened applesauce
- 60ml Biomel Pure Vanilla m*lk shot
- 2 tbsp softened coconut oil
- 150g oat flour
- 30g Biomel Complete Gut Vanilla powder
- 30g vegan vanilla protein powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- A pinch of salt
- 30g pecans, crushed
For the Top:
- 40g dairy-free white chocolate
- ½ tsp coconut oil
Instructions
- Start by making the apples so they can cool down. Add the olive oil to a pan and once hot, add the apples, pecans, sugar, syrup, lemon juice and cinnamon. Stir well and then cook with a lid half on for 8-10 minutes, until softened and caramelised. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
- Line a 6-inch/15-cm square tin with parchment paper.
- For the base, add the dates, almond butter, applesauce, Biomel Pure Vanilla and coconut oil to a small blender and blend to a smooth paste.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the oat flour, Biomel Complete Gut Vanilla, protein powder, cinnamon and salt. Pour in the date caramel paste and stir well to a thick mixture.
- Fold in the pecans and then spoon into the tin. Press down firmly.
- Spoon over the cooled apples to cover the top and transfer to the fridge for 2 hours.
- Add the white chocolate and coconut oil to a heatproof bowl and warm over a pan of simmering water until melted.
- Drizzle over the bars and sprinkle with more cinnamon. Return to the fridge to set.
- Remove from the tin and slice into 9 squares with a sharp knife.
- Enjoy straight away and keep leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 1 week. For a firmer bar, pop in the freezer for 20 minutes.
Shop the recipe
Stay in touch
I look forward to hearing what you think of these Apple Pecan Caramel Oat Bars so please let me know in the comments below and leave a star review above. If you do make these snacks, I’d love to see them so please tag me, I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest – please say hello!
With apple love x
p.s. this recipe was first made with Biomel and their products, which I love. This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.
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