Chai-Spiced Pear Crumble Bars (Vegan & Gluten-Free)

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(Note: this post was originally published on November 10, 2019. It has since been updated with a few tweaks.)

Cozy Chai Bars for Fall

I'm so excited to introduce you to my favorite seasonal treat.  These chai-spiced pear bars are packed with cozy fall flavor and are made with nourishing ingredients. They've been on repeat in our house all season long. If you're looking for the most warming and comforting fall and winter dessert (that's also secretly good for the body and easy to make), this is it!

These flavor-packed bars are perfect in every way. Sweet juicy pears are sandwiched between two layers of crumbly crust and it's all exploding with warming spices inspired by chai tea. Best of all, this vegan pear dessert is also gluten-free, high in protein, naturally sweetened, and made from whole food ingredients like nut butter and oats.

I can't wait for you to try them!

Vegan pear crumble bars with chai spices

Easy and Fast Pear Bars

To make these chai bars, you'll start by making a spice blend featuring all the classic chai tea flavors: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, and the tiniest dash of black pepper. I know the pepper may sound strange, but it gives these bars a very subtle, indescribable kick and balances the sweetness of the pears.

To keep things simple, you'll divide the spice blend between the crust and the filling so that you only need to measure once. This sneaky trick keeps these bars easy to make, despite the fact that the ingredient list may seem long at first glance.

The crust/crumble for this vegan pear dessert is also a two-for-one deal. It forms the crust on the bottom of the bars, as well as the crumble on the top of the bars. All of this is aimed at trying to get to dessert as fast as possible, because sometimes you just need a comforting fall dessert ASAP!

Adding pears to a vegan pear crumble bar crust

Good For the Body

In addition to being packed with flavor, these pear bars are packed with good-for-you ingredients too. The crust is mostly nut butter and oats, is sweetened only with maple syrup, and has just a bit of coconut oil to bring it together. The addition of both walnuts and flax seed meal provides good omegas, protein, and some extra healthy fats. The filling is just pears and spices, sweetened with a dash of maple syrup.

But despite the fact that the ingredients are all essentially a bowl of oatmeal, these bars feel indulgent. The crust crisps up beautifully, the flavors are really pronounced, and the pears are so juicy and succulent. They certainly don't seem like a "healthy" dessert, and I'd have no hesitation serving these to a crowd at a holiday meal.

Want a really special fall treat? Heat up one of these dreamy chai bars and top it with some high-protein yogurt for breakfast. Yum!

Healthy, vegan, gluten-free chai bars shown from above with cinnamon sticks

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here's what you'll need for this vegan pear dessert, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.

  • Cinnamon
  • Ginger
  • Nutmeg
  • Cardamom
  • Cloves
  • Black pepper. I know this sounds weird, but trust me! It's critical for that subtle flavor punch in these chai bars.
  • Smooth nut butter. I like to use peanut butter since it's less expensive than other types, but use what you like. Cashew butter will have the most neutral flavor.
  • Maple syrup
  • Coconut oil
  • Vanilla
  • Old-fashioned oats
  • Walnuts
  • Flax seed meal
  • Salt
  • Pears. Choose pears that are a little on the harder side so that they keep their shape while baking.
  • Crystallized ginger. I adore crystallized ginger and bake with it all the time! It adds magical flavor. Most health food stores will have it in bulk. Feel free to omit it if you can't find it or if you want to avoid refined sugar completely in this healthy + vegan pear dessert.

Close-up of a vegan pear bar with a scoop of ice cream

Closing Thoughts

Something about chai tea is so nostalgic, don't you think? It reminds me of sitting in front of the fire on a winter afternoon after a cold walk outside. The combination of aromatic, warming spices feels like it's good for both the body and the soul.

I know pie is all the rage during the holidays, but I'd actually much rather have these dreamy chai bars. They're way more flavorful than pie and much lighter too. Plus they come together very quickly, which means a lot less prep time on a busy holiday. Serve them up with a scoop of ice cream and caramel sauce (see the photo below for inspiration) and you'll have yourself a delightful fall dessert.

Vegan chai and pear bars with a gluten-free pat crust

Share It!

It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.

Suggested Pairings

Spiced Pomegranate Daiquiri

Maple Sea Salt Hummus

Apple Cider Harvest Salad

Orange and Cinnamon Roasted Delicata Squash

Wild Rice, Macadamia, and Fall Fruit Stuffing

Chai-Spiced Pear Crumble Bars (Vegan & Gluten-Free)

Bursting with cozy chai spices, these pear bars are a delightful treat (or maybe even breakfast!) all fall and winter long. They're made with nourishing ingredients like fresh pears, whole oats, and nut butter.

Author:
Lee

Ingredients

For the Chai Spice Blend

  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 0.5 tsp nutmeg
  • 0.5 tsp cardamom
  • 0.25 tsp ground cloves
  • Few grinds of black pepper

For the Crust:

  • 1 c smooth nut butter
  • 0.5 c maple syrup
  • 0.25 c coconut oil
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 c old-fashioned oats
  • 0.5 c walnuts
  • 2 tbsp flax seed meal
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • Two-thirds of the spice blend

For the Filling:

  • 3 medium-sized pears
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • One third of the spice blend
  • 8-10 cubes of crystallized ginger, very finely diced

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 and thoroughly oil a 9x9 baking dish.
  2. Combine the ingredients for the spice blend and mix.
  3. In a sauce pan over low heat, melt together the nut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla.
  4. While the wet ingredients are melting, measure the dry ingredients for the crust (oats, walnuts, flax meal, salt, and two thirds of the spice blend) into a food processor.
  5. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and pulse the food processor a few times to create a crumbly texture.
  6. Dice the pears and mix them with the rest of the filling ingredients.
  7. Put two thirds of the crust mixture into the baking pan and press it down firmly to form an even layer.
  8. Add the pear filling over the top and spread it gently into an even layer. Press it down to ensure everything will stick together well.
  9. Spoon the remaining crust mixture in clumps over the top of the pears and press it down gently.
  10. Bake for 40-45 minutes until the pears have cooked down and the crust is lightly browned.
  11. Cool the bars completely before cutting. Store the finished bars in a sealed container in the fridge.

Leave a Comment

Please Share Your Thoughts!

Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.

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Kayla
November 9, 2023
I’m excited to try these. I’m GF and always struggle to find recipes that don’t need expensive flours.
Mariela Marrero
December 12, 2022
I love everything about it!! The chai and pears are a lovely combination of flavors. Plus his healthy!! Added to my holiday list.
Matt
November 9, 2022
Saved! Who knew desserts could actually be healthy! I’m new to healthy eating and love all your great ideas.
Triss D
October 26, 2022
We’re chai lovers so these are perfect thx
Jen
January 6, 2022
Made these over the weekend using almond butter. Super cozy! Easy too.