Healthy Pear Crumb Bars
User Reviews
4.1
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
35 mins
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Total Time
50 mins
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Servings
12 Bars
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Calories
208 kcal
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Cuisine
American
Healthy Pear Crumb Bars
Description
Healthy Pear Crumb Bars start with a combined crust and topping prepared from coconut oil or butter, gluten-free all-purpose flour, rolled oats, maple syrup, and sea salt. Pressed into a pan and partially baked, this forms a sturdy base. The filling uses ripe Bosc pears cooked gently with water, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg, thickened with gluten-free flour for a soft, spiced fruit layer. After spreading the filling, reserved crumb mixture is sprinkled on top to create a textured, golden crust once baked.
The bars blend soft, sweet pears with the crunch and nuttiness of toasted oats and coconut oil, resulting in a bar that contrasts tender fruit and crumbly crust. The optional glaze of powdered sugar mixed with water or lemon juice adds a finishing touch of sweetness and tartness.
These bars are suitable as a naturally sweet dessert or an afternoon snack. They can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days and freeze well for longer storage.
The recipe allows ingredient swaps, including tapioca or cornstarch for thickening, butter for coconut oil, and cane or brown sugar for maple syrup, depending on preference.
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust and Topping:
- ½ cup coconut oil melted, or butter
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour gluten-free
- 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
- ¼ cup maple syrup pure
- Pinch salt sea salt
Pear Filling:
- 3 pear sliced, bosc, large, ripe
- ¼ cup water
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup pure
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch ground nutmeg optional
- 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour gluten-free
- Pinch salt sea salt
Optional Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp water or lemon juice
Instructions
Prepare the Crust and Crumble Topping:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper (an 8-inch square pan works too).
- Mix all of the ingredients for the crust and crumble topping in a mixing bowl until everything is well-combined (coconut oil or butter, gluten-free all-purpose flour, oats, sea salt, and granulated sugar or pure maple syrup).
- Measure out ½ cup of the mixture and set it aside to use later for topping the bars. Transfer the rest of the oat mixture to the parchment-lined baking pan and press it into an even layer for the bottom crust. It may seem like there isn’t enough crust at first, but don’t worry - it will all press nicely into a solid layer.
- Poke the crust several times with a fork and bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes, or until it is golden brown around the edges.
Make the Pear Filling:
- Combine pears, water, pure maple syrup, salt, and ground cinnamon in a saucepan and stir well. Cover and heat over medium-high heat on the stove top and bring the mixture to a full boil.
- Once boiling, stir in the gluten-free all-purpose flour and continue cooking for another 2 to 5 minutes, until the pears have softened and the juices are nice and thick.
Assemble the Pear Cobbler Bars:
- Transfer the pear mixture to the prepared baked crust and spread it into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture (remaining dough) over the pear layer. Bake for 22 to 30 minutes, or until the topping is golden-brown.
- Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely (to room temperature) before slicing into squares.
- If you’d like, you can make an easy powdered sugar glaze by stirring together 1 cup of powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of water or lemon juice.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Substitute gluten-free all-purpose flour in the filling with tapioca flour or cornstarch if preferred for thickening.
- If using butter instead of coconut oil, increase the amount to 10 tablespoons total.
- Replace pure maple syrup with cane sugar or brown sugar if desired, adjusting sweetness accordingly.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- These bars freeze well; place in a zip lock bag and freeze for up to 3 months for convenient storage.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12Bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 208 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1Bar (of 12) | |
| Calories | 208kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 31g | 10% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.1
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