Recipe: Healthy Vegan Apple Crumble (easy!)

This easy, healthy and delicious apple crumble recipe will wow and nourish your guests!

You know those meals that remind you of home? Well healthy apply crumble is it for me. My Mum isn't one who loves to spend hours in the kitchen or slave over complex recipes. She is really into quick, healthy, nutritious, feel-good food. Mum's specialty recipes that keep me coming home are:

1. Vegetarian Lasagna

2. Bocconcini, Basil and Tomato Salad with balsamic glaze (and vegan bocconcini is now a thing!)

3. Healthy Apple Crumble

I have the biggest sweet tooth so of all of Mum's recipes the Healthy Apple Crumble is the one I make the most (or ask Mum to make when I visit). It's gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and refined sugar free, not that you needed more excuses to try this delicious dessert!

It's great because it's not only healthy and a naturally sweet treat but it is super easy to make. Most if not all of the ingredients can be stocked in the pantry for dessert emergencies. I usually use tinned apples although fresh apples or pretty much any other tinned fruit will work too. My Mum uses mixed berries in hers which adds a tartness to balance the sweetness of the apple. She also uses flaxseed oil, sunflower seeds and honey in the crumble. I use maple syrup or rice bran syrup in place of honey and if I don't happen to have flaxseed oil or sunflower seeds on hand I improvise. If there's any recipe that's easy to improvise it's this one. Get creative and make it your own.

I prefer a ratio of more crunchy crumble topping to soft and sweet apple because, let's face it, the crumble is the best part! So this recipe is top loaded.

Serve it warm with a dollop of cool coconut yoghurt or icy cold dairy-free ice cream (Zebra Dream is a favourite in our house), although it's just as good on it's own.

Serves 12

INGREDIENTS

Apple layer

- 1x 800g can of sliced apples

- 2 teaspoons cinnamon

- 1 teaspoon maple syrup

Crumble layer

- 3 cups oats

- 1 cup walnuts

- 1 cup pumpkin seeds

- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut

- 1/2 cup rice malt syrup

- 1/2 cup maple syrup

Optional: Another great thing about this recipe is it's so easy to mix and match the fruits, seeds and nuts so you'll never get bored of it and can use what you have in the pantry at the time. Mix it up each time by using different seeds or nuts (almonds and sunflower seeds work well), add a drop of flaxseed oil for a boost of Omega-3 and try mixing berries or other fruits in with the apples. 

RECIPE

1. Preheat oven to 180C degrees.

2. Empty entire can of apple slices into an ovenproof dish. Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of maple syrup then stir to combine.

3. In a large mixing bowl combine remaining ingredients. Pour crumble mixture on top of apples.

4. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until crumble is golden brown and crunchy.

5. Serve with ice cream, coconut yoghurt or as is.

Serving Suggestions

- Serve with coconut yoghurt or dairy-free ice-cream.

- Top with fresh berries.

- Reheat individual servings of crumble in the oven at 180C degrees for approx. 10 mins or microwave for 1-3 minutes depending on serving size.

Storage Suggestions

Refrigerate in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

What meals remind you of home? Do you have recipes that are passed from generation to generation in your family? Do you like healthy desserts? What's your ideal ratio of apple to crumble?

If you tried this recipe I'd love to hear from you. Use the hashtag #chelseycrafts on Instagram or post in the comments form below.