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These apple pie bites are inspired by Bobo’s apple pie oat bites, with an oatmeal crust and delicious apple filling. Made in a muffin tin, they’re lower sugar and filled with seeds and oats, for a healthy dessert or snack.
All you need for this recipe is a muffin tin and the whole recipe will take about 40 minutes to bake. With a soft apple cinnamon filling, the crust is flakey and delicious with a combination of oats and seeds.
If you love these apple pie bites, you have to try my apple cider baked donut holes or apple cake.
Table of Contents
Apple Pie Bites in a Muffin Tin
The best Bobo’s are the apple pie oat bites, with the soft apple filling and oatmeal exterior. I wanted to make an at home version that both kids and adults would love, and that was also easy enough for the average cook.
By incorporating flaxseed and chia, there are added omega-3’s for brain health and extra fiber. A touch of sugar is used, but most of the sweetness comes from the natural sugars in the apples and maple syrup.
You’ll love this recipe because:
- Easy – A lot faster and easier than making a whole apple pie!
- Brain-boosting – With extra fiber and seeds, along with apples and oats, you can help support your brain health and gut health, while enjoying a sweet treat.
- Great snack – The perfect snack or lighter dessert for parties or to pack in a school lunch.
- Allergy-friendly – These apple bites are nut-free, gluten free friendly, and also fit the Heal Your Headache diet.
Ingredients
- Applesauce & Apple Juice – No sugar added recommended.
- Oats – Quick cooking rolled oats work best here. If you only have whole rolled oats, you can pulse them a few times in the food processor. Do not use steel cut oats.
- All purpose flour – I used Bob’s Organic All Purpose Flour. Bob’s 1:1 gluten free flour would also work.
- Chia seeds and flaxseed meal – Regular black chia seeds and flaxseed meal are recommended.
- Sugar – Added for a little bit of sweetness and helpful for the texture of the oat cups.
- Maple syrup – Provides extra flavor and sweetness.
- Unsalted butter – I like to use Kerrygold unsalted or a European-style butter.
- Cornstarch – Needed to thicken the apple pie filling. Can also use arrowroot powder.
- Cinnamon – Adds some spice along with vanilla and salt. I used Simply Organic.
A few of these ingredients can be substituted, so see below for details!
Recipe Notes
- Gluten free – You can substitute gluten free oats and 1:1 gluten free baking flour here to make this gluten-free. I like to use Bob’s Red Mill organic gluten-free quick cooking rolled oats for this recipe.
- Dairy free – Try this with ghee or melted coconut oil instead of butter.
- Non-stick muffin tin – It’s important to use a non-stick muffin tin versus a silicone muffin pan for these oat bites in order to get a good golden, hardened outer shell.
How to Make Apple Pie Oat Bites
Step 1: Combine the dry ingredients.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray or grease a muffin tin with oil and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, flour, sugar, chia seeds, flax seeds, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir gently with a fork or whisk until just combined.
Step 2: Combine the wet ingredients.
In a separate medium sized bowl, combine the butter, vanilla and maple syrup. Lightly whisk the wet ingredients until fully combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and continue mixing until fully combined and the oats are well coated and appear pebbly in texture.
Step 3: Form into balls
Form 1 inch balls with the dough and press the dough firmly into the muffin tins shaping deep cups for the apple filling to nestle into. You should have enough dough for 12 oat bites.
Step 4: Bake
Bake the apple pie bite crusts on the middle rack at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden on the edges. Remove from the oven and let them cool at room temperature. Do not turn off the oven.
Step 5: Make the apple filling
Meanwhile, whisk the apple juice and arrowroot starch together and pour into the saucepan along with the apple sauce and cinnamon. Stir and bring to a simmer. Cook for around 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened a bit, stirring every minute or so. Remove from heat.
Step 6: Add the filling to the cups
Once the cups are done baking, add the apple pie filling to the center of each cup, about 1 tablespoon each. Bake the apple pie oat bites for another 10 minutes or until the centers have congealed and the oat bites are golden brown on the edges.
Let the bites cool for 10 minutes before handling.
Before removing the bites from the muffin tin, run a sharp knife along the edges to release them from the muffin tins. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Storage Suggestions
Room temperature – Store these in an airtight container with parchment in between layers. Store for 1 day at room temperature.
Refrigerator – Pack these the same way. The apple pie bites can be store for 4-5 days in the refrigerator.
Freezer – Freeze them for up to 4 months and defrost at room temperature.
Serving Ideas
These mini apple pie bites are perfect for parties, baby showers, tailgating, or the fall season. They also make great snacks or a sweet treat for lunches.
I’d pair these with my air fryer stuffed pork chops, bibb lettuce salad, or cast iron roast chicken for a full meal. Pair it with an apple cider mocktail!
For a lunch, try them with this lavash wrap or pomegranate chicken salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make these dairy free, I recommend using coconut oil or your favorite butter substitute.
Yes, you can prepare ahead. If you’re serving the same day, just leave at room temperature. Otherwise these can be refrigerated for 1-2 days (for best results).
Both would be good! These are also good cold. I recommend them slightly warm for best results. You could microwave them about 5 seconds for this.
I try to use the least amount of sugar possible in recipes while maintaining flavor and texture. If you wanted to do this, keep the sugar in the crust, but reduce it in the filling.
Apple Recipes
For more recipes like these apple pie oat bites, check out these posts.
30 Minute Meals
Easy Chicken Fajita Bowls
Drinks
Refreshing Green Mocktail
Drinks
Easy Homemade Ginger Ale
Pasta
Boursin Orzo Bake
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Apple Pie Bites in a Muffin Tin
Ingredients
Oat Bite Cups:
- 1 cup quick cooking rolled oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 pinch salt
Apple Pie Filling:
- 8 ounces applesauce, no sugar added
- ¼ cup 100% apple juice
- 2 teaspoons arrowroot or cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 ℃). Lightly spray or grease a muffin tin with oil and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: oats, flour, sugar, chia seeds, flax seeds, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir gently with a fork or whisk until just combined.
- In a separate medium sized bowl, combine the wet ingredients: butter, vanilla and maple syrup. Lightly whisk the wet ingredients until fully combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and continue mixing until fully combined and the oats are well coated and appear pebbly in texture.
- Form 1” balls with the dough and press the dough firmly into the muffin tins shaping deep cups for the apple filling to nestle into. Bake the oat bite cups for 15 minutes at 350℉ on the middle rack, until lightly golden on the edges.
- Meanwhile, add the apple juice and arrowroot starch a small saucepan and whisk together to combine. Whisk in the applesauce and cinnamon. Stir and bring to a simmer. Cook for around 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened a bit, stirring every minute or so. Remove from heat.
- Once the cups are done baking, add the apple pie filling to the center of each cup, about 1 tablespoon each. Bake the apple pie oat bites for 10 minutes at 350℉ or until the centers have congealed and the edges are golden brown. Let the bites cool for 10 minutes before handling.
- Before removing the bites from the muffin tin, run a sharp knife along the edges to release them from the muffin tins. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Storage – Store these in an airtight container with parchment in between layers. You can also freeze these and defrost at room temperature.
- Gluten free – substitute gluten free oats and 1:1 gluten free baking flour.
- Do not use a silicone muffin pan for these as it’s important for them to get the hard outer shell.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These were just the sweet treat my husband on this diet needed! The apply filling is delicious and they are wonderful warm or cold. Made just the right amount! Thanks!!
Made these for a migraine safe and gluten free thanksgiving treat and they were delicious!
Yay! So glad you liked them.
I tried the recipe today. The dough is nice and the filling too, although some what too sweet for me. I would have to find another way to bake them though as mine were very difficult to get out of the mould.
Hey Kara, did you grease your muffin tin? That may help. They also make non-stick pans.
Delicious and pretty easy to do. Have them for the week ahead!