Ami Healthy Homemade Energy Bar with Peanut Butter Cookie Base and Apple Pie Topping
If you love the warm spice and flavors of apple crumble but want a healthier, portable version, the Cinnamon Crunch Apple Pie Bar will become your favorite gluten-free homemade energy bar. Packed with wholesome ingredients and bursting with the sweet-tart taste of apples, this bar makes the perfect snack for outdoor adventures, busy afternoons, or a quick breakfast on-the-go.
Why You’ll Love These Bars
- Nutritious Ingredients: These bars are made with nut butter, almond flour, and chopped almonds, giving them plenty of protein, fiber, and healthy fats for sustained energy.
- A Lightly Sweetened Treat: Natural sweetness from maple syrup keeps added sugars to a minimum.
- Free of Gluten and Refined Sugars: There is no white flour or granulated sugar in this recipe.
- Paleo Compliant Snack – If you opt for almond butter rather than peanut butter, you will be creating a Paleo compliant snack.
Some Sweeteners are Better Than Others
Using small amounts of maple syrup to sweeten your homemade energy bars can be a smart choice for regulating blood glucose levels, especially when paired with fiber, healthy fats, and protein. Unlike refined sugars, maple syrup is less processed and contains trace minerals like manganese and zinc, which support overall metabolic health. When used in moderation, it provides a natural source of sweetness without causing the sharp spikes and crashes associated with high-glycemic sweeteners. Combined with the slow-digesting ingredients found in this homemade energy bar recipes—such as almond flour and peanut butter—maple syrup contributes to a more balanced energy release, helping to keep blood sugar levels stable.
Nuts – A Powerhouse Ingredient
Nuts are the powerhouse ingredient in this homemade energy bar recipe, offering the high-quality plant-based protein that outdoor athletes need to support muscle repair and sustained energy. Rich in essential amino acids, healthy fats, and micronutrients like magnesium and vitamin E, nuts help fuel endurance activities while also aiding in recovery. The protein in nuts slows digestion, promoting a steady release of energy and helping to prevent blood sugar crashes during long hikes, bike rides, or ski tours. Whether it’s almonds, walnuts, or cashews, adding nuts to your homemade energy bar ensures you’re getting a nutrient-dense, portable source of strength and stamina on the trail.
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Cinnamon Crunch Apple Pie Bar – Healthy Energy Bar
- Total Time: 47
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
If you love the warm, comforting flavors of apple crumble but want a healthier, portable version to fuel your day, these Cinnamon Crunch Apple Pie Bars are your answer. Nutrient dense and bursting with the sweet-tart taste of apples, they make the perfect snack for outdoor adventures, busy afternoons, or even a quick breakfast on-the-go.
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Cookie Crust
- 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter (or almond butter)
- 3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Apple Pie Filling
- 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced to 1/4 – 1/2″
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp tapioca flour (can substitute cornstarch or arrowroot powder)
Topping
- 1/3 cup roasted, unsalted almonds, roughly chopped
Instructions
Prepare Peanut Butter Cookie Crust
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line an 8″ square baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Combine peanut butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract, coconut flour, almond flour, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Mix well.
- Divide the dough. Press 3/4 of the dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Refrigerate the remaining 1/4 of the dough.
- Bake the dough in the baking dish for 7 to 8 minutes. The dough should be firm and lightly browned.
Prepare Apple Pie Filling
- Add the diced apple, water, and lemon juice to a medium sauce pan.
- On medium high heat, bring the mixture to a light boil. Lower the heat and gently simmer on low for five minutes, or until the apples are slightly tender, but not mushy.
- Remove the pan from the stove top and add the nutmeg, cinnamon, and tapioca flour.
- Let the mixture cool and thicken.
Assemble Bar
- Spoon the apple mixture over the baked peanut butter cookie crust.
- Crumble the remainder of the chilled dough over the apple pie filling.
- Sprinkle with the chopped almonds.
Bake
- Bake in the oven for 25 minutes or so.
- When the top of the bars is nicely browned, remove from the oven, and cool the pan on a rack.
Chill, Slice, and Serve
- Place the pan in the fridge to chill and firm up.
- Slice into bars. (If you slice the bars when warm, you will have more of a crumble, less of a bar.)
- Try serving with a spoonful of Greek Yogurt – delicious!
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 32
- Category: Trail Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: North American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 313
- Sugar: 14.2 g
- Sodium: 143.5 mg
- Fat: 18.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24.6 g
- Fiber: 4.6 g
- Protein: 7.4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Looking for other trail snack ideas? Check out the She Runs Far snack recipe collection.
