Vegan Apple and Cranberry Crumble (GF)

A delicious and simple hearty and wholesome dessert with a fruity sticky base and a thick, crumbly, nutty flapjack-like topping. Serve this vegan, gluten-free dessert with thick yoghurt, ice cream or custard for a really tasty dessert for all the family.

I love sweet recipes although when talking to a few friends, I realised that while I have a lot of snack sweet recipes, I don’t have as many desserts (that don’t involve cake). The kind of dessert you want to serve to friends and family… and nothing says cosy, comforting dessert more than a delicious crumble. There’s something so nostalgic about a good crumble and there are so many recipes out there. So what makes this Vegan Apple and Cranberry Crumble special?

• it’s naturally vegan
• it’s gluten-free
• it’s naturally refined sugar free
• the base is so sticky and fruity
• the topping is really thick, hearty and crumbly packed full of nuts and dried fruits
• it takes only 10 minutes to come together
• it smells amazing while it’s baking away

While it is really simple to make, my family and friends thought it was really special and so I thought it deserved a place on here! While I work on saving a few recipes for my newsletter subscribers (coming soon!) I just had to share this one now, while a lot of us have a bit more time during this strange Christmas-New Year period.

What do we need for this hearty, sticky and sweet Vegan Apple and Cranberry Crumble?

• Apples: any apple will do although they each have their own special qualities! Leave the skin on but get rid of the pips and stalk.
• Fresh cranberries: or you could use frozen cranberries too. Or, if you don’t have cranberries, use any other berry. I love using cranberries as there is something so festive about them. They’re slightly tart and work so well with the apples.
• Lemon juice: just a bit for tang.
• Coconut sugar: this keeps the crumble refined sugar free and adds a lovely caramel-like flavour. You could use a light brown or demerara sugar (which aren’t refined sugar free).
• Plain flour: or GF plain flour to keep this Vegan Apple and Cranberry Crumble gluten-free. It adds a great texture to the base and soaks up any excess moisture.
• Cinnamon: this adds a delicious warm flavour and aroma.

All of the base ingredients are stirred together and then popped into a baking dish before making the topping. The best part? No washing out the mixing bowl in between these two stages!

This Vegan Apple and Cranberry Crumble topping is quick thick and chewy, almost like flapjack. It’s oaty, nutty and sticky adding so much texture to the crumble. I love how thick it is but still feels a bit wholesome thanks to the oats, nuts and dried fruits. Here’s what goes into the topping:

• Oats: I love the texture they add to a crumble topping, making this one really like flapjack.
• Plain flour: or GF flour.
• Vegan butter: this adds a great “buttery” taste to the flapjack-style crumble topping. You could also use coconut oil.
• Agave or maple syrup: this keeps the topping refined sugar free although any sticky syrup will do.
• Mixed dried fruits and nuts: I used a really delicious Blueberry, Goji & Almond mix from Natures Heart (who I love!) but you can use any mix of dried fruits and nuts/seeds.

That’s all there is to it! Serve this hearty, wholesome, sticky and sweet Vegan Apple and Cranberry Crumble as dessert with friends and family or even as a breakfast crumble. It’s really easy to whip up, is packed with warming spices, delicious sticky and chewy textures and is great served with yoghurt, ice cream or custard, too.

If you are looking for more desserts, how about my:

• Sticky Cinnamon Apple Galette
• Strawberry and Coconut Tarts
• Double Biscoff Caramel Bars
• Raw Chocolate Fudge Brownies
• Rhubarb and Raspberry Crisp

Vegan Apple and Cranberry Crumble (GF)

• Servings: 4-6
• Time: 40 minutes
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

A delicious and simple hearty and wholesome dessert with a fruity sticky base and a thick, crumbly, nutty flapjack-like topping. Serve this vegan, gluten-free dessert with thick yoghurt, ice cream or custard for a really tasty dessert for all the family.

Ingredients

Fruity Base:
• 3 apples, cored and cubed
• 150g fresh cranberries
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 50g coconut sugar
• 20g plain flour of GF plain flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
Crisp Topping:
• 100g oats
• 70g plain flour or GF plain flour
• 110g vegan butter, melted
• 3 tbsp agave or maple syrup
• 100g mixed nut and dried fruits

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 160Fan/180*C and have a large baking dish to hand (about 20-22cm round).
2. Add the apples, cranberries, lemon juice, coconut sugar, 20g plain flour and cinnamon to a mixing bowl and toss well. Transfer to the baking dish to form an even layer. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes while you make the topping.
3. Using the same bowl (no need to clean it) add all the topping ingredients and stir to a sticky mix. Sprinkle over the fruit and bake for another 25 minutes.
4. Serve warm with ice cream, yoghurt, custard and extra cinnamon. Once cold, cover and store in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze in portions.

I hope you will enjoy this Vegan Apple and Cranberry Crumble and please let me know what you think in the comments below. I would love to see your desserts, too, please tag me in them – I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest  – please say hello!

With crumbles of love x