AIP Apple Cinnamon Bars (Paleo)

I came up with the recipe for these bars after cleaning and organizing my pantry and realizing I had a lot of apple sauce laying around. Not sure how or when they took up residence in my pantry since no one in my family really eat it. Crazy, I know.

For those not familiar with AIP, or the Auto Immune Protocol, this diet is one that is greatly reduces inflammation in the body by removing all common allergens for a period of time, in order to manage chronic conditions - foods are later reintroduced slowly to find triggers. Followers of this protocol remove eggs, dairy, nuts and seeds, grains, and more. For more detailed information, check out The Paleo Mom.

This recipe calls for coconut butter, which is easily available online or at most well-stocked grocery stores. I used a homemade (and budget friendly!) coconut butter in my recipe, which probably affects the final product only slightly. To make this at home, place about 12 ounces of dry, shredded and unsweetened coconut in the blender jar of a high powered blender (such as a Vitamix), or a food processor container. Blend until mixture is fairly smooth. You will need to remove the lid to tamp the coconut down a few times. After a few minutes, the mixture will turn somewhat liquid, I promise. Be patient! Once smooth and fluid, scrape the coconut butter into a clean glass jar with a lid. Store at room temperature.

AIP Apple Cinnamon Bars

1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup coconut butter, homemade or store-bought
1/2 cup coconut oil, plus more for greasing the pan
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 teaspoons pure vanilla
2 teaspoons raw apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup tapioca starch
1 tablespoon gelatin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x12-inch baking pan with coconut oil.

In a medium bowl, blend the applesauce, coconut butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla until well mixed. In another bowl, blend the dry ingredients together - then add to the wet ingredients.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, using a spatula to smooth the batter. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Cool completely before cutting into bars. Store leftovers in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator.

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