Dutch Apple Pie Bars
“There are few desserts that really float my boat, like Dutch apple pie and apple crumble. I tasked myself with developing a recipe for baked oatmeal that mimics the experience of Dutch apple pie with a soft interior and a crispy crumbly topping.”
—Sara Tereco, Better Food Guru
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes
Sara Tercero is the chef behind the popular blog and Instagram BetterFoodGuru. She shares easy, healthy, and tasty recipes inspired by global flavors that will make you want to eat your vegetables. Excerpt from 30 Days to a Plant-Based Diet: A Cookbook and Meal Plan for Beginners, by Sara Tercero, published by Rockridge Press. Copyright © 2021 by Callisto Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ingredients
2 1⁄4 cups rolled oats, divided
1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk
4 tablespoons maple syrup, divided
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1⁄4 cup ground flaxseeds
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons water, divided
1⁄4 cup macadamia nuts
1⁄2 cup whole-wheat flour
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In an 8-by-8-inch baking dish, mix together 2 cups of oats, the plant-based milk, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, the cinnamon, apple, vanilla, flaxseeds, and 1 cup of water.
- In a blender, pulse the macadamia nuts to a meal-like texture.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the whole-wheat flour, macadamia nuts, the remaining 1⁄4 cup of oats, remaining 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and 3 tablespoons water to form a loose dough. Crumble the mixture over the top of the oatmeal mixture.
- Bake for 35 minutes, or until the top is crispy. Let cool for 10 minutes to set, then cut into 4 squares. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.