Apple Pie Protein Bars {with Walnuts}

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These bars are filled with warm, cozy spices and areincredibly easy to make!

To make the crust, combine all the crust ingredients: Graham crackers, almond butter, and dairy-free milk into a blender. Blend until it is no longer crumbly, and sticky enough to form a dough that holds together when pressed into the bottom of the dish.
Line a 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper. Use your hands or a rubber spatula to press down the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepare baking dish. Set aside.

To make the apple pie filling, in the same blender combine all the ingredients for the apple pie filling: raw walnuts, Medjool dates, apple*(skinned, and core removed), apple pie spice, and pea protein powder**. Blend until smooth.
Spread the apple pie mixture over the crust and smooth it out with a rubber spatula. Set aside.

To make the topping, wash and dry the apples. Remove the core and cut them in thin slices.
Saute the apples in a little bit of coconut oil on the stove for about 3-5 minutes or until apples start to become aromatic and soft.
Line the thin slices of apples on top of the apple pie mixture and sprinkle additional apple pie spice on top.
Freeze for at least 1 hour, then cut in squares and dive in!

*If you are using apple sauce instead of apple for the apple pie filling, add more pea protein (2 tbsp at a time) until the texture is not super wet and able to form.
**If you do not have pea protein, you can use coconut flour. They both absorb the moisture.
Optional: you can fold in extra chunks of apples to get the crunch in the middle. Then add the apple pie mixture on top of the crust and smooth it out.
Optional step: you can lightly sauté the sliced apples with a little bit of maple syrup and coconut oil until slightly softened before layering on top.