Caramel Apple Granola Bars

5 from 26 votes

These delicious and easy to make caramel apple granola bars are a healthy and tasty fall snack. Made from natural ingredients they are vegan and gluten free.

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Enjoy one of your favorite fall treats in the form of these healthy granola bars! Caramel apple granola bars are an easy-to-make snack made with no added sugar and lots of nutritious and natural ingredients.

Hand grabbing one of the caramel apple granola bars on board with parchment paper

RECIPE VIDEO TUTORIAL

How to make caramel apple granola bars

  1. Combine the dates and water in a food processor.
  2. Blend until you form a smooth paste.
  3. Transfer the date paste to a small saucepan. Add coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon.
  4. Cook stirring frequently until the mixture is dark brown.
Make the caramel sauce - showing the process shots in the food processor, then transferring to saucepan with other ingredients
  • Meanwhile, spread oats, chopped almonds, and flaxseeds on a sheet pan and bake until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
2 photos of the dry ingredients on baking tray before and after toasting
  • Stir the oat mixture into the date mixture and stir in the chopped dried apples.
  • Press into a square baking dish very firmly.
  • Chill in the fridge until solid and cut into bars.
Granola pressed into square pan and chlilled

Tips for making the granola bars

  1. Use 9×9 baking pan for thinner granola bars. I prefer the 8×8 size, but it works just fine with the larger pan.
  2. Store the cut granola bars with parchment paper between the layers. You can also wrap them individually in parchment or wax paper for easy grab-and-go snacks.
  3. Chop the dates into smaller chunks before adding to the food processor. This will help the food processor blend everything quicker, especially if your food processor is not very strong
  4. Use date paste if you can find to avoid the step of making the date paste in the blender. It’s easy to make the paste with just dates and water, but using date paste will be faster.
  5. Play with the spices. To keep it simple, I only use cinnamon, but you can certainly also add nutmeg, ginger, cloves or even cardamom.

Frequently asked questions

How long do they keep?

These healthy granola bars will keep for up to two weeks, stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Separate the layers with parchment so that they don’t stick together. Make a batch on Sunday and use them in lunchboxes or as an easy to grab snack throughout the week.

Are they gluten-free?

Yes, these bars are gluten-free and vegan friendly. If you have an intolerance for gluten, be sure to use GF certified oats.

What are the best dates to use?

You can use medjool or deglet noor dates for these bars. I like to buy ones that are already pitted as this cuts down on the prep time quite considerably! Dates add a natural sweetness to each bite as well as being a good source of fiber and antioxidants.

Caramel apple granola bars lined up on parchment paper

More bars recipes:

If you’ve tried this feel good Caramel Apple Granola Bars recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

Caramel Apple Granola Bars

These delicious and easy to make caramel apple granola bars are a healthy and tasty fall snack. Made from natural ingredients they are vegan and gluten free.
5 from 26 votes
Servings 12 bars
Course Snack
Calories 279
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Video

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups pitted dates
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup almonds coarsely chopped
  • ¼ cup whole flaxseeds
  • 4 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 ½ cup dried apples chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread oats, chopped almonds, and flaxseeds in an even layer and bake until light brown, stirring regularly, about 10-15 minutes.
  • Grease an 8” x 8” pan, line it with parchment paper and then grease the parchment paper.
  • Combine dates and water in a food processor and blend until combined into a paste, scraping down the sides as needed.
  • Transfer the date paste to a large heavy bottomed saucepan along with the coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon. Cook on medium heat until the paste turns darker brown, about 5-7 minutes.
  • Fold the toasted oats mixture into date mixture. Add in chopped dried apples and stir until apples are evenly distributed.
  • Scrape into prepared baking pan and spread out. Use a piece of parchment paper to press down to level out the edges.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Once solid, lift from the pan using the parchment paper, and use a very sharp knife to cut into 12 pieces.

Notes

Storage: Store the cut granola bars in an airtight container in the fridge for the best results with parchment paper between the layers. You can also wrap them individually in parchment or wax paper for easy grab-and-go snacks. They will last 2 weeks if stored properly.
In colder climates, you may be able to store the bars out. Bars will also be safe in a lunch box or bag for up to 5 hours if not in the sun.

Nutrition

Calories: 279kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Sodium: 12mg, Potassium: 374mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 60mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine American
Course: Snack

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Comments

    1. Yes, I think that should work, but I’ve never tried making a paste out of cranberries like I’ve done with dates.

  1. Followed this recipe. 5 Superstars!
    Made 1/2 portion to fit it into the mould…so good! Amazing. Tagged you on Instagram showing the mould.