Healthy Peach Crisp Bars (Gluten-Free)

Name: Healthy Peach Crisp Bars
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 16 bars
Cuisine: Gluten-Free
Ingredients: 4 cups chopped peaches (about 6-8 medium-sized peaches); 4 tablespoons white chia seeds; 2 1/2 cups gluten-free rolled oats; 1 cup almond flour; 1/4 cup coconut sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 cup natural almond butter; 1/2 cup maple syrup; 1/4 cup coconut oil, virgin, cold pressed

August 26, 2019 / Updated on August 26, 2019 By Leanne 42 Comments

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Healthy Peach Crisp Bars are gluten-free and vegan, with only 10 ingredients, including hearty oats and chia seeds. They’re also sweetened with just maple syrup and coconut sugar, and packed with four cups of peaches!

While it’s late summer, I’m still hanging on to peach season. And if you are too, then you’re going to love these Healthy Peach Crisp Bars. They’re inspired by these Strawberry Chia Jam Oat Bars, which are always a hit around here during strawberry season.

This peach version is loaded with wholesome ingredients, and with a chewy base and crispy crumble topping, you’ll have a hard time saving these bars for dessert. In fact, you’ll probably be tempted to eat them for breakfast, and that’s totally okay because they have lots of breakfast-worthy ingredients!

What ingredients do you need to make Healthy Peach Crisp Bars?

Peaches
Chia seeds
Gluten-free oats
Almond flour
Coconut sugar
Cinnamon
Salt
Almond butter
Maple syrup
Coconut oil

How do you make these peach crisp bars?

These bars are super easy to assemble!

First, make your peach filling, which requires just two ingredients – peaches and chia seeds. This will come together in about 40 minutes in a small sauce pan on your stove top (20 minutes to cook and 20 minutes for the chia seeds to plump).

For the base and crisp topping, microwave your wet ingredients until they are melted together and runny. Mix in with the dry ingredients until a wet, crumbly mixture forms. Press about two-thirds of the mixture into a square (9×9″) pan and bake on 350F for 10 minutes.

Add your peach filling and remaining crumble mixture to the top. Bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the topping starts to brown. Done!

How do you serve these gluten-free peach crisp bars?

Once the bars have cooled, I like to refrigerate them so they firm up fully. Then I cut them into squares and enjoy cold (they have an extra chewy texture when cold), or warmed in the microwave with some dairy-free ice cream.

You can also serve these bars fresh out of the oven like a crisp or crumble. Just cut into pieces or scoop out with a spoon and serve with ice cream.

How do you store peach bars? How long will they last?

Since the peach chia filling is perishable, these bars should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This also helps keep the bars firm. If you like them warm, you can just pop them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. Or for an extra crispy topping, just re-heat them on a low heat in the oven.

These bars should last in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Can you freeze peach crisp bars?

Yes, you can absolutely freeze these bars. Just let them firm up in the fridge and then cut into bars. Place in a single layer in an airtight container, or if storing in two layers, just make sure you have a sheet of wax paper in between the layers.

When you want to enjoy them, just de-frost in the refrigerator for a few hours, or overnight. Keep in mind that freezing the bars may cause the topping to lose some of its crunch. If this happens, you may want to warm them up on a low temperature in the oven to bring back some of the crunch. (I usually bake them for 10-12 minutes on 300F).

Can you use frozen peaches to make these peach crisp bars?

Absolutely! While I used fresh peaches in this recipe, if peaches are out of season, you can use frozen chunks or slices. If using slices, just let them thaw in the fridge for a bit, and then cut them into chunks before making the peach filling.

Can you make healthy peach crisp bars without oats?

Yes, if you’d like to make these bars grain-free, you can omit the oats and use buckwheat flakes instead.

Can these peach crisp bars be made ahead?

Yes, you can make these bars a day or two in advance and store them covered in the fridge. Then, just cut them out and serve cold, or re-heat individual slices in the microwave or on a low temperature in the oven.

Some additional tips for making Healthy Peach Crisp Bars:

As mentioned above, you can use fresh or frozen peaches, just make sure they are peeled and chopped.

I used white chia seeds in this recipe, but you can use black chia seeds. Just keep in mind that the peach filling will look darker if you use black chia seeds.

To keep these bars gluten-free, make sure you use gluten-free oats. If you don’t need these bars to be gluten-free, regular rolled oats are fine.

If you don’t have coconut sugar, you can use brown sugar as a substitute. Just note that brown sugar is more processed that coconut sugar.

If you don’t have almond butter, you can use another type of nut butter, but keep in mind it will change the taste of the bars slightly. I usually use natural peanut butter as a substitute.

To get these bars to cut out neatly, I recommend letting them cool fully and then placing them in the refrigerator to firm up.

If you love peaches, here are a few more recipes you might enjoy:

Peach Ricotta Skillet Cake is a super easy recipe, requiring just 10 ingredients and 10 minutes prep time.

Dairy-Free Frozen Peach Cream Pie is no-bake and grain-free, and made with just seven ingredients.

Chicken and Peach Quinoa Salad makes a hearty lunch or light dinner, and it’s topped with a simple and delicious homemade honey basil vinaigrette.

Pin these Healthy Peach Crisp Bars to make for dessert!

If you make these Healthy Peach Crisp Bars, I would love to hear what you think in the comments below!

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