These Apple Pie Protein Bars are full of tender sweet apples, applesauce and cozy apple pie spices. They’re easy to make in one bowl and the perfect healthy and delicious snack to get your daily dose of protein. Gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, dairy-free, vegan and no refined sugar!
PIN HERE for later and follow my boards for more recipe ideas
Easy Apple Protein Bars
Looking for an easy snack for apple season? These Apple Pie Protein Bars come together easily in one bowl and are loaded with applesauce, dried apples, cozy apple pie spices and plant-based protein. They’re naturally sweetened and you can add any mix-ins you like or have on hand in your pantry.
If you’re a fan of Perfect Bars, making your own homemade protein bars lets you control what ingredients you put and helps to save money! Plus, they’ll taste better than any store bought protein bar you’d find at the supermarket!
And if you’re looking for more healthy snack recipes, we also love these Pumpkin Protein Bars, Peanut Butter Protein Bars and Protein Balls.
Why you’ll love this healthy snack recipe
- Our no-bake protein bars are made with natural ingredients that work great for meal prep!
- Full of cozy warm spices making them the perfect grab-and-go snack for fall!
- Make a double batch on Sunday to keep on hand throughout the week in the freezer or fridge to keep them cool and fresh.
- These healthy protein bars take less than 10 minutes to come together in just one bowl and will keep you energized all week long.
- You’ll love grabbing one of these healthy bars before going on a walk or after a workout.
Are Protein Bars Healthy?
Many store bought protein bars contain a long list of questionable ingredients that you can’t even pronounce. Our recipe for homemade apple energy bars are not only made with wholesome and healthy ingredients, they’re delicious as well! They’re high in fiber and packed with nutrients. Plus, this protein bar recipe has no gluten, dairy or refined sugar, and they’re also paleo-friendly, vegan and can easily be made low carb and keto. Everyone will love these healthy protein bars!
Ingredients you need
Dry ingredients
- Protein Powder: we like NuZest Just Clean or Sprout Living Pea Protein but you can use your favorite. We have not tested this with a Whey protein powder since we wanted to keep this recipe vegan but feel free to do so if it fits with your dietary preference.
- Coconut flour: you’ll need just a tablespoon of this low carb and grain-free flour to help the bars keep their shape.
- Apple pie spice: you can use our homemade apple pie spice blend or you can grab a jar from any grocery store.
- Fine Sea Salt: balances out the sweetness and adds amazing flavor.
Wet ingredients
- Unsalted Creamy Cashew Butter: You can also use almond butter or peanut butter (if not paleo) for different flavors! Be sure to use drippy or fresh nut butter and not near the bottom of the jar.
- Unsweetened Applesauce: you can use our homemade applesauce or your favorite brand.
- Pure maple syrup: Feel free to use honey or maple syrup instead. For low carb keto protein bars, use Organic Yacon Syrup, Lakanto Sugar-Free Maple Syrup or another liquid sweetener.
- Vanilla Extract: balances out the sweetness and makes these paleo protein bars delicious
- Dried apples:
How to Make Apple Pie Protein Bars
With just a few simple steps, it’s easy to make your own protein bars at home! Be sure to follow the step-by-step instructions and watch the video below:
- Line Loaf Pan: Line a 8 x 4 loaf pan (or any size loaf pan you have – the bars will be slightly thinner) with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cashew butter, maple syrup, applesauce, coconut oil and vanilla until combined. Stir in ⅓ cup of the protein powder first (then slowly add more as needed – you don’t want the mixture too dry or too wet).
- Add Dry Ingredients and Form Dough: Then add the coconut flour, spices and salt. Stir to incorporate very well and knead with clean hands until a thick cookie dough texture forms. You want the dough moldable but also still firm without cracking. Depending on the nut butter and protein powder you use, if the mixture is too wet, add 1 teaspoon of coconut flour at a time, only as much as needed. If the mixture is too dry, add a little bit of maple syrup or coconut oil at a time, but only as much as needed. Taste and add more sweetener if needed. Fold in the chopped apples and nuts.
- Assemble Dough in Pan: Press the mixture EXTREMELY FIRMLY into the prepared pan. Use your hands or a flat spatula to make it tight and compact. Top with more chopped apples and nuts evenly.
- Set in the Freezer: Freeze for about 30 minutes or more until firm.
- Cut & Serve or Store: Remove from the freezer and cut into even bars. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Variations and Substitutions
Nut Butter – feel free to use any other drippy (and not near the bottom of the jar) nut butter or seed butter you like. We’ve made these homemade bars a ton of times with almond butter and pecan butter. If you’re not paleo, you can also use peanut butter to make delicious peanut butter protein bars.
Chocolate chips – we like to use dairy-free / vegan chocolate chips but feel free to use semi-sweet, dark chocolate or even white chocolate chips.
Nuts: instead of pecans, add some chopped walnuts or almonds for added crunch.
Protein powder – use your favorite brand of plan-based vanilla protein powder or whey protein powder. An important tip, use a protein powder that you normally like to drink or bake with. Collagen powder can also be used here as well.
Sweetener – we used maple syrup but feel free to use coconut nectar syrup, honey (if not vegan), Yacon Syrup or Lakanto Sugr Free Maple syrup to keep these homemade protein bars low sugar
Apple pie spice – swap out apple pie spice for pumpkin spice or chai spice.
Flour – we have not tested these pumpkin pie protein bars with any other flours. One of my readers says she had success using oat flour (you can make your own oat flour by blending rolled oats or quick oats in a high speed blender) but we have not tested it ourselves.
Tips for the Best Apple Protein Bars
- Use Drippy Cashew Butter: Be sure to stir your cashew butter before you scoop it out of the jar. Don’t use the butter that’s near the bottom of the jar or it will be too dry. It should be runny.
- Press Dough Firmly into Pan: It’s important that your dough is packed very tightly into the pan, otherwise your bars may fall apart.
- Adjust Consistency as Needed: You want your dough to have a similar consistency to cookie dough. Add flour to make it firmer and milk to make it thinner.
- Use Mini Chocolate Chips: You’ll have an easier time pressing your dough into the pan if you use mini chocolate chips.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Store Apple Perfect Bars
These protein bars are meant to be stored in the fridge as they will get soft at room temperature. Keep them in an airtight container and enjoy them cold. They’ll stay fresh for about a week.
Can you Freeze Homemade Apple Cinnamon Protein Bars
It’s easy to freeze homemade Perfect Bars to make them last longer.
How to freeze: You’ll need to wrap each bar in Saran Wrap and store them in a ziploc container. Frozen protein bars will stay good for up to 6 months! Just thaw them in the fridge or on the counter for a couple hours before eating.
More high protein apple recipes you will love:
These Apple Pie Protein Bars are full of tender sweet apples, applesauce and cozy apple pie spices. They're easy to make in one bowl and the perfect healthy and delicious snack to get your daily dose of protein. Gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, dairy-free, vegan and no refined sugar!
- 1/2 cup drippy unsalted cashew butter OR sub any other nut butter or seed butter you like, be sure not to use near the bottom of the jar
- 3 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup , OR sub any sticky liquid sweetener of choice: coconut nectar syrup, honey (if not vegan), organic agave, brown rice syrup, Yacon Syrup or Lakanto Sugar-Free Maple Syrup + more as needed to taste
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tbsp melted coconut oil use refined for a neutral taste
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup plant-based protein powder , we like NuZest Just Clean or Sprout Living Pea Protein but you can use your favorite. We have not tested this with a Whey protein powder since we wanted to keep this recipe vegan but feel free to do so if it fits with your dietary preference.
- 1 tablespoon coconut flour + more as needed
- 2 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1/8 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/4 cup chopped dried apples + more for topping
- 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped pecans + more for topping
- Line a 8 x 4 loaf pan (or any size loaf pan you have - the bars will be slightly thinner) with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the cashew butter, maple syrup, applesauce, coconut oil and vanilla until combined.
Stir in ⅓ cup of the protein powder first (then slowly add more as needed - you don’t want the mixture too dry or too wet).
Then add the coconut flour, spices and salt. Stir to incorporate very well and knead with clean hands until a thick cookie dough texture forms. You want the dough moldable but also still firm without cracking.
Depending on the nut butter and protein powder you use, if the mixture is too wet, add 1 teaspoon of coconut flour at a time, only as much as needed. If the mixture is too dry, add a little bit of maple syrup or coconut oil at a time, but only as much as needed.
Taste and add more sweetener if needed. Fold in the chopped apples and nuts.
Press the mixture EXTREMELY FIRMLY into the prepared pan. Use your hands or a flat spatula to make it tight and compact. Top with more chopped and nuts evenly.
- Freeze for about 30 minutes or more until firm. Remove from the freezer and cut into even bars. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
How to Store:
These protein bars are meant to be stored in the fridge as they will get soft at room temperature. Keep them in an airtight container and enjoy them cold. They'll stay fresh for about a week.
How to freeze:
You'll need to wrap each bar in Saran Wrap and store them in a ziploc container. Frozen protein bars will stay good for up to 6 months! Just thaw them in the fridge or on the counter for a couple hours before eating.
Leave a Comment