Vegan Apple Crisp with homemade vanilla ice cream

reading time: 3 min

http://be-alice.blogspot.com/2016/10/vegan-apple-crisp-with-homemade-vanilla.html


Apple crisp is one of those recipes that most people probably already have the ingredients on hand. Soft baked apples with the most delicious oat/crumb topping and perhaps a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream! What's not to love?

This apple crisp is
Vegan
Gluten-free
Warm
Sweet 
Crispy
Crumbly
Spicy from the ginger
Cinnamon-y
Comforting
& perfect for fall.

The variety of apples you use in apple crisp doesn't matter much; in fact, I prefer mixing my favourites to get the most robust, rounded flavour. However, what I do prefer and recommend is handpicked apples. You know those waxy specimens they sell at the grocery store? Ugh. There is nothing like an apple picked fresh off the tree! I was lucky enough to have my Mum drop off a bunch of apples that she picked at a friend's garden (thanks, Mum!). 

So the first thing that came to mind was, of course: Apple Crisp!
 

VEGAN APPLE CRISP

Preparation time: 60 mins
Main ingredients: apples, oats, almond, sugar
difficulty level: easy
makes: a 9x5 pan
suitable for: vegan, lactose-free, gluten-free, soy-free

Ingredients

Filling
8 apples
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp raw cane sugar, coconut blossom sugar or brown sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon (Ceylon is best)
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup plant-based milk (or apple juice)
3/4 tsp fresh grated ginger
optional: 1 tsp rum     

Topping
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup ground almonds or wholegrain spelt flour (or a mix of both)
1/4 cup raw cane sugar, coconut blossom sugar or brown sugar
4 tbsp margarine or vegan butter substitute
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt

Ice Cream
3 large ripe bananas, peeled and frozen
seeds from 1/2 vanilla bean OR 1/2 - 1 tsp vanilla extract 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F or 175°C.

For the filling:

Wash and cut your apples into even slices. In a large mixing bowl, toss to coat with sugar, lemon juice, grated ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add cornstarch and soy milk to a glass or bowl and stir to combine. Add to the apple slices and toss to combine. If you like, add 1 tsp of rum to the mix (the alcohol will evaporate during the baking process and only the flavour will remain). Spread apple filling in an ungreased 9x5 (or similar size) baking dish.

For the topping:

In the same mixing bowl combine the crumb topping ingredients with a fork, your clean hands or a hand mixer until it resembles small crumbs. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over apples. Press lightly.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until apples are tender and the topping is golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Meanwhile, prepare the homemade vanilla ice cream if desired.

For the ice cream:

While the crisp is cooling down slightly, chuck your frozen banana pieces into the blender and blend, blend, blend - pushing or scraping down the bananas when they stick to the side - until a gorgeously smooth and creamy mass forms. Add vanilla and blend again for a few seconds until incorporated.

So yeah, that's it. My vegan and gluten-free apple crisp:

Warm, sweet apples, plenty of warm spice from the cinnamon, and the crispy, crumbly oat topping. Tastes great with the vanilla ice cream - caramel sauce is also a lovely addition. Yum! :)


BTW: I did my homework and found out what the difference between a crumble, a crisp and a cobbler is! Hurray!

> Crisp: baked fruit covered with a crispy streusel topping; the topping usually consists of butter, flour, oats, brown sugar and spices such as cinnamon and/or nutmeg. the most familiar type is apple crisp; other fruits such as cherries, pears, peaches, blueberries etc. can be used.

> Crumble: baked fruit covered with a crumbly mixture of fat (usually butter), flour and sugar, resembling bread crumbs; often served with custard, cream or ice cream. popular fruits include apple, blackberry, peach, rhubarb, gooseberry and plum. (in some versions, the topping may also include rolled oats, ground almonds or other nuts.)

> Cobbler: baked fruits covered with a crust formed of batter, biscuit or dumpling so it bakes up like a cobbled street; it is usually not made with oatmeal. common fillings include apple, blackberry, blueberry and peach. served with ice cream, cream, vanilla sauce or chocolate sauce.

Now, I'd love to know: what are your favourite crisp combinations? Any other fruits you can recommend?!

Thanks to Kelly over at Live Laugh Rowe for including me in her featured compilation of fall desserts and drinks!

http://livelaughrowe.com/fall-desserts-drinks/

♥

Maisy

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