.jpg)
These delicious bars that taste high-carb are made with a shortbread crust, real apple filling (only 2) perfectly flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg (optional) and topped with a fabulous crumb topping. If that isn't enough the bars are drizzled with a sweet Caramel sauce. If you wanted to be over-the-top decadent, you could top the bars with vanilla ice cream and then the caramel sauce over it all.
If there is any dessert that rivals chocolate, apple desserts are it, in my opinion. Just because I prefer to eat lower carb, it does not mean that I need to give up apple desserts. You don't even need to use zucchini or chayote squash if you are a moderate low-carber. Yes, these large squares - only 9 per the square glass dish - come in at 9 grams of carbs. That is fine for moderate low-carbers, but if you are a keto dieter or a more strict low-carber, you may want to look at these desserts: Low-Carb Apple Crumble, and Spicy "Apples" with Sweet Almonds.
To test for doneness, use a
sharp knife and insert it in the apples in a few places. The knife
should slide through the apple layers very easily. You are going to
love the flavor of this apple dessert. It will totally taste like a
regular high-carb dessert that you can happily share with non
low-carbers! The crumble is one of my favorite parts of this dessert.
You won't miss the oats in it. The right term would be Streusel
Topping for this particular crumble. I use a regular 8 or 9-inch square
glass baking pan.
If you want to skip the Caramel Sauce, these bars are great with vanilla ice cream or my Crème Fraiche.
Since I used salted butter for the Caramel Sauce, it tastes a bit like salted Caramel, but not overly salty. It is still pretty sweet. If you would prefer it to taste sweet without any salty tones, then use unsalted butter.
Gala, Pink Lady or Granny Smith apples (tart) are great in this dessert.
INGREDIENTS:
Shortbread Crust:
11/4 cups Gluten-Free Bake Mix 2, OR (300 mL)
Keto Bake Mix, OR almond flour
6 tbsp butter, melted (90 ml)
Liquid sweetener to equal 1/4 cup sugar (60 mL)
1 tsp vanilla extract (5 mL)
Filling:
2 large apples, OR 3 small apples
Peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/4
cup sweetener such as allulose blend (60 mL)
1 tsp cornstarch, OR arrowroot powder (5 mL)
1/2
tsp cinnamon (2 mL)
1/4
tsp nutmeg, optional (1 mL)
Topping:
3/4
cup Gluten-Free Bake Mix 2, OR (175 mL)
Keto Bake Mix, OR almond flour, PLUS 1 tbsp oat fiber
1/3
cup bulk sweetener of choice (75 mL)
1/4
tsp cinnamon (1 mL)
1/4
cup cold butter, cut into cubes (60 mL)
Caramel Sauce:
6 tbsp butter (90 mL)
1/4
cup allulose (60 mL)
1/2
cup whipping cream (125 mL)
1/4 tsp cornstarch (1 mL)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
Shortbread Crust: In small bowl, place Gluten-Free Bake Mix 2, OR Keto Bake Mix, OR almond flour. In small bowl, combine melted butter, liquid
sweetener and vanilla extract. Stir into
the dry ingredients. Press mixture
evenly into 8-inch (20 cm) baking dish.
Bake 15 minutes.
Filling: In medium bowl, place sliced apples. In small bowl, combine sweetener, cornstarch,
OR arrowroot powder, cinnamon and nutmeg (if using). Add to apples and toss gently to combine
well. Place on top of cooled crust.
Topping: In medium bowl, combine
Gluten-Free Bake Mix 2, OR Keto Bake Mix, OR almond flour
PLUS oat fiber combination, bulk sweetener and cinnamon. Add cubed butter and rub into the dry
ingredients with your fingers (or use a pastry cutter) until the mixture
resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over
top of the apples.
Increase
oven temperature to 350°F (180°C) after baking the crust.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until apples tested with the point of a pairing
knife are soft and the streusel is lightly browned.
When cool, place in fridge. When it is time to serve, drizzle the Apple
Streusel Bars with caramel. If you made
the caramel earlier and it has solidified a bit in the fridge, just nuke it
briefly, stir and you’re good to go.
Caramel Sauce: In pot on stove, cook butter and allulose together 2
to 3 minutes until browned. Remove from
heat. Stir cornstarch into a couple of
tablespoons of the cream. Add that and
the remaining cream to the sweet, caramelized butter mixture. Return to low heat for a minute or two. Don’t boil the sauce.
Yield: 9 large bars
1
serving
354.2
calories
4.6
g protein
32.8
g fat
0.6 g fiber
9.0
g net carbs
Low-Carbing Among Friends makes money through affiliate partner links; if you click on a link, we may earn a commission. Also we may earn from qualifying purchases made on Amazon