This recipe for vegan raspberry streusel bars is based on one by Brittany at Real Sustenance. Ever since she posted her delicious looking recipe last year during the holidays I’ve been wanting to make it.
I adjusted her recipe by removing the sweetener from the crust and by increasing the amount of high protein items in the streusel so the topping would be a bit less sweet as well. I hope you like these gluten free dessert bars as much as we did.
Raspberry Streusel Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
- ¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon water
Filling:
- 1 cup raspberry jam
Topping
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
- 2 tablespoons xylitol
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- Pulse together almond flour, salt, coconut oil, vanilla, and water in a food processor until dough forms a ball
- Press dough into an 8 x 8 inch baking dish
- Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes
- Pulse oil, almond flour, xylitol and salt together in food processor until creamy
- Briefly pulse in walnuts and coconut, so they are left coarse, not pulverized
- Set streusel aside
- Spread raspberry fruit spread over warm crust
- Sprinkle streusel topping over raspberry fruit spread
- Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes
- Cool for 10 minutes, then refrigerate for 2 hours to set up
- Serve
Recently I was fortunate enough to meet a wonderful couple, Pepi Gramshammer and his lovely wife Sheika. Pepi is one of the founders of Vail –“Pepi’s Face” is a run on the mountain; Sheika, his awesome wife, is the genius behind many of their business ventures. They are the quintessential close knit hardworking European couple.
In any event, Sheika asked me what I had done earlier that day, and I told her that I had spent the afternoon making streusel. She had no clue what I was talking about which I thought was funny since she is from Austria and German is her native language. Finally, I got my point across through various descriptions and she said, “Oh! STREUSEL!” Rolling her “r’s” in that wonderful way that only she can.
Whatever your accent, I hope you enjoy these vegan Raspberry Streusel Bars!
Barb Kuester says
I first had this at Thanksgiving at my daughter’s home. Made it for a social group in December and it was so well-received. This is easy, delicious and guaranteed to become a family favorite.
Elana says
Barb, thanks for letting me know this is a family favorite!
Angela says
This is one of my family’s very favourite recipes. We make it exactly as is and love it. We also like it with pecans instead of walnuts. When I only have sweetened coconut I’m the house, I make the topping with it and omit the xylitol. I’ve also made it with other flavour jams, but raspberry is definitely the best! Thank-you for sharing the recipe!
Elana says
Angela, thanks so much for letting me know this is one of your family’s favorite recipes!
Lynn says
Could pure maple syrup or honey be used in place of the xylitol?
Elana says
Lynn, I haven’t tried that.
Kim says
What is xylolitol
Elana says
Kim, it’s a low-carb sweetener made from birch bark.
Lisa Vines says
I have many food allergies with walnut being one of them. Is there another nut you would recommend instead of walnut? Thank you
Elana says
Lisa, thanks for your comment. Feel free to experiment and I hope you’ll let me know if you find something that works :-)