Gluten-Free Vegan Caramelized Apple Nut Squares

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8×8 baking dish (or anything of a similar size) with some parchment paper.
2. Make a flax egg by mixing the ground flax in warm water in a small cup. Stir and set aside to thicken for a few minutes.
3. Process almonds in a food processor until ground just slightly coarser than almond flour (you basically want a crumbly nut mixture; don’t over-process into a nut butter). Add in all remaining base ingredients (including flax egg) and process until everything is combined.
4. Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish, smooth it out and press it down to flatten into an even surface. Bake for 22 minutes until the base becomes slightly golden and springs back when touched lightly.
5. While the base is baking, prepare the caramelized apple topping by melting coconut oil in a frying pan on medium heat. Add in liquid sweetener and mix with the coconut oil to combine. Add in sliced apples and cinnamon and fry, stirring very frequently (continuously towards the end), for about 10-12 minutes until most of the liquids are absorbed. Add in sliced almonds in the last minute or two of caramelizing the apples. Remove from heat and set aside for a moment.
6. Once the base is baked (after the initial 22 minutes), remove the baking dish from the oven (keep oven running though). Spread the caramelized apple topping evenly over the top. Return back to oven and bake for an additional 10 – 15 minutes.
7. Remove from oven and cool on a rack. Once cool, cut into squares and enjoy. I like these warm personally, but my husband likes chilled desserts better, so if you’re that kind of person then just refrigerate for an hour or two to chill.