Vegan Apple Raspberry Crisp
Sep 22, 2016, Updated Oct 30, 2024
This easy to prepare fall dessert is bursting with harvest flavors: fruit is blanketed with a crisp cinnamon, pecan and oat layer. Vegan, gluten-free and irresistible!
Treat yourself to a healthier dessert – and your kitchen will smell of warm, comforting flavors!
Here is a wonderful recipe with all the sweet flavors of fall – lightened-up. One of my favorite desserts – homey, light and delicious.
Is there any better aroma than a spiced apple dessert wafting through the air of your kitchen? With minimal skill and some pantry ingredients you probably have on hand – a homemade fall crisp is ready to enjoy (whipped coconut cream on top?)
Apples and raspberries are blanketed with a crisp cinnamon, oat and pecan layer. An easy, sprinkle-on-topping over tender fruit that’s not too sweet! The berries offer a gorgeous ruby hue to the crisp while lending a delicate rosy, perfumey flavor.
Just enough coconut oil is blended with oats, pecans, natural cane sugar and warm spices for the topping. I’ve cut down on the sugar too, so it is not overly sweet – a problem with too many apple desserts. The filling contains a little apple cider which adds moisture, (so it’s not dry) and double apple zing!
Vegan desserts can be quite delicious – give this one a try, I believe this recipe is a great start, and does not sacrifice flavor. Coconut oil replaces butter in typical crisps and is a healthy alternative with a nutty flavor.
Give Rapadura sugar a try! Similar to coconut palm sugar in taste; an unrefined and unbleached whole cane sugar with caramel notes. Use it in recipes calling for light brown sugar, you’re going to love it’s pure molasses tang.
I’ve used Zestar apples for the crisp (a newish variety that came to market in 1999) – an early season type which holds up well in this dessert. They are firm like granny smiths, with the a sweet-spicy-tart flavor. It’s fun to try new apples, just choose one that holds it’s shape.
This season, farmers’ markets and apple orchards offer just picked, local apples in a diversity of colors and flavors. Each year it seems like new varieties are “coming to market” – some become trendy (think Mutsu, Jazz and Honeycrisp.) I would like to add Zestar apple to that list!
Enjoy the first flavors of Fall,
Karen
Vegan Apple Raspberry Crisp
Equipment
- 1 9" X 9" baking pan or 8" x 10"
Ingredients
Oat Pecan Layer:
- 6 tablespoons coconut oil, organic
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- a pinch pinch ground cloves and nutmeg
- ¾ teaspoon natural almond extract
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 8 tablespoons pecans, coarsely chopped
- ½ cup organic whole cane sugar, such as Rapudura*
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 4 tablespoons gluten-free all purpose flour
Apple Raspberry Layer:
- 5 large apples, (6 cups) peeled and chopped into 1” chunks – try “Zestar” variety
- 6 tablespoons natural apple cider
- ½ cup natural brown sugar, such as Rapudura* (can use coconut palm sugar)
- 3 tablespoons gluten-free all purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 pinch sea salt
- ½ cup fresh raspberries
Instructions
- Have ready a 9″ square pan, or a 8″ x 10″ pan. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Oat Pecan Topping:
- Heat coconut oil, (microwave works fine) until it has melted slightly, and is no longer solid. Add the oil to a medium sized bowl with the rest of the topping / Oat Pecan Layer ingredients, stir to combine.
Apple-Raspberry Layer:
- Place the apple cider in a medium sized bowl – add the apples as you cut them and toss to coat, the cider will keep them from browning. Add the sugar, gluten-free flour all purpose flour, cinnamon and salt to the apples. Mix to combine.
- Portion the apple mixture into the baking dish. Add raspberries, tucking them in a bit. Top the apples with the Oat Pecan topping, press down lightly. Place on a rimmed baking tray to fit and bake in the oven until bubbly around the edges and golden brown on top, approximately 25 minutes.
- *Rapudura sugar is an unrefined and unbleached whole cane sugar with caramel notes. Can substitute coconut palm sugar or light brown sugar.
- May substitute regular flour for gluten-free.
- The crisp can be made into eight single serving baking dishes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
