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

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

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.