Are you one of those people who already has their Christmas shopping done? As in like, you were already out and doing it before Thanksgiving even got here? I have to tell you that I am NOT. As much as I like being a planner, Christmas shopping just doesn’t come easily to me. I either find the perfect gifts at odd times (middle of summer, no where near the persons birthday, etc.) or I just can’t think of a dang thing to give them that they haven’t bought themselves already (Hi husband, please stop buying yourself video games so I have something left to buy you!). My fallback whenever I can’t seem to quite get a gift idea right? Food! One year, I made my dad a big batch of his favorite gingerbread cookies, another year, I gave a few co-workers homemade cookies and called it a day. Honestly, who isn’t going to love a good food gift and who isn’t going to cherish something that not only gives them a little snack for the day, but also isn’t something you have to find a place for when you get home (because the place for an edible gift is your stomach, obviously).
So where should you get a totally awesome, artisan made edible gift for your favorite someone this year? My vote goes for Quince and Apple! While Q and A did sponsor this post, I have to tell you that I genuinely use and love their products in our house, plus, it doesn’t hurt that they are local too. I’ve used their syrups in everything from cocktails to flavoring granola (my favorite is tart cherry grenadine) and the jams are just so good that I’ve honestly only eaten them smeared on toast, up until now.
For these pie bars, I used Quince and Apple’s peach chamomile jam, which ended up pairing perfectly with the cinnamon and nutmeg that went into the filling. I found that if you make a maple syrup sweetened crust, sandwich peach preserves with a sliced apple and top it with streusel topping, it makes for a perfectly crunchy and sweet vegan pie bar! I prefer to have a really good crust to filling ratio in mine, but if you want less jam center and more crunchy streusel topping, you can reduce the filling in this recipe. Also, don’t skimp on the brown sugar in the crust and topping, it gives the pie bars a perfect crust and crunch after it bakes up. Personally, if I were hosting a holiday party over the next few weeks, I would be perfectly content finding this left behind as a gift (no subtle hints here, right?).
This post was sponsored by Quince and Apple, a brand I already use and truly love. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!
PrintApple and Peach Jam Streusel Pie Bars
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Dessert
Description
Peach preserves and apples make for a crisp and sweet vegan pie bar! Made with Quince and Apple peach and chamomile preserves.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- Pinch of salt
- For the filling:
- 1 apple (sliced fairly thin)
- 1/2 cup peach jam (I used this one from Quince and Apple
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- To make the streusel/crust: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, olive oil and salt. Mix together until combined. Set aside.
- To make the filling: In a small bowl, combine the sliced apple, peach jam, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir until combined and jam has coated all of the apple pieces.
- In the prepared loaf pan, press half of the streusel mixture into the bottom of the pan. Top with the apple jam filling and crumble the rest of the streusel topping over the top.
- Bake at 350 for 25- 30 minutes, or until the top looks bubbly and brown. Allow to cool before cutting.
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
Um – yes. Edible gifts are the BEST! I love giving them and I love getting them too. These bars looks very ooey and gooey and that’s just how I like ’em! They are definitely something to be enjoyed for both breakfast and dessert! 🙂
The Frosted Vegan says
I mean, I don’t think anyone ever said ‘Ew look at these pie bars I got for Christmas!’ right?! 🙂
Tessa | Salted Plains says
Oh, hello streusel topping! These look fabulous. I am also not a very good holiday shopper even though I really want to be! I tend to put it off and then the longer I wait the more stressed I get. It’s a slippery slope! 😉 Food gifts are certainly the way to go and I would be so excited if I got some of these pie bars! xo.
The Frosted Vegan says
I am the same way! I can plan everything else in life, but gifts are just NOT my place 🙂 xoxo
Heartbeet Kitchen (@amanda_paa) says
these pie bars are beautiful, delicious, and totally shareable. i love. and quince & apple products are so amazing! i use their jam often too, but have never tried this chamomille one. my favorite is the fig & black tea.
totally with you on the christmas shopping thing. i am the ultimate procrastinator! and half the time i usually buy things for myself, not the person i need the gift for. oops.
The Frosted Vegan says
Thank you dear friend! I have the same problem, I go shopping with the intention of buying gifts…and end up only getting things for myself! I haven’t tried the fig and black tea yet, but you better believe that’s next on my list! 🙂
annie says
Food is totally the best fallback gift. My husband does the same thing….buys himself the things he wants, leaving nothing for me! I got stern this year and told him that he needed to save what he wanted most and let me get it for him.
I’m loving how you used olive oil in this recipe instead of coconut oil or whatever. The olive oil maple syrup combo must make an amazing crust.
The Frosted Vegan says
Haha, sometimes you just have to get stern!
I Wilkerson says
Oooo, perhaps something to do with all of my homemade jam (made before my daughter announced she ONLY eats strawberry jam…)
The Frosted Vegan says
Haha, oh no! These would be perfect Inger! I really want to start making homemade jam, so might have to pick your brain about it sometime 🙂
whiskandshout says
These bars look amazing! So moist and fruity 🙂 Pinning!
The Frosted Vegan says
Thank you sweet lady! xo
Erica says
Basically your whole paragraph about Christmas shopping = my exact same feelings on the whole matter. I love baking up gifts for friends and I KNOW that a few of them would go nuts over these pie bars! Beautiful photos too Abby! 🙂
The Frosted Vegan says
Thank you Erica, I so appreciate it! Homemade gift procrastinators unite! xo
Rachel @ Bakerita says
These bars look so amazing. Love the taste of peach to give a little bit of summer during the winter 🙂 yum!
The Frosted Vegan says
Agreed, it makes me forget for just a second that it’s freezing and snowing outside! 🙂
Nicole Underwood Gonzalez says
Oh, yum! This sounds really yummy!
bys121 says
Recipe sounds yummy, but I need to make a lot more of these for a family gathering. Do you think it would turn out all right if I doubled — tor tripled — the recipe and made the bars in an 8″x8″ or 9″x13″ pan?
The Frosted Vegan says
Hi there! I haven’t tried it so I don’t know for sure, but I would say go ahead and give it a try and bake it in the 9 x13 pan 🙂
Bonnie Stecker says
I doubled the recipe and baked it in an 8×8 pan. Turned out great! The only problem was getting that first piece out of the pan (isn’t it always?).
Heart of a Baker says
Oh I’m so happy to hear this!
Misty says
Made these for dessert tonight. Everyone loved them! 🙂
Heart of a Baker says
Hooray! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!