Apple crisp is a staple dessert I had growing up, so I set out to do my own vegan apple crisp recipe on this classic.. and definitely made sure there was enough of the delicious topping to go around!

what you’ll need for vegan apple crisp

• Apples – I use Granny Smith; I love the sour yet sweet flavor they lend
• Lemon – To help keep the apples from browning
• Coconut Sugar – or regular sugar
• Brown Sugar – for richness
• Cinnamon – Because everyone needs a little spice in their crisp
• Rolled Oats – For the topping
• Almond Flour – This is what I use, but regular would be fine too
• Melted Coconut Oil – For the topping to meld together

how to make the vegan apple crisp filling

Firstly, peel your Granny Smith apples. Once you have them all peeled, core the apples and then thinly slice them for even cooking. Then you will place them in a bowl. After they’re in the bowl, you’ll add the lemon juice, sugars and cinnamon. Finally, mix everything well.

how to make the vegan apple crisp topping

The topping is always my most coveted piece of the crisp, so I made sure we have enough to fully cover the *entirety* of the apples. Beginning in a new bowl, add the old fashioned rolled oats, the sugar, almond flour, salt and cinnamon. Then, you’ll melt the coconut oil. I guess-timate when I’m scooping out the coconut oil and put it in a liquid measuring cup and then pop it in the microwave for 10 second increments to melt. Once you have the coconut oil melted, add it in and toss everything together.

baking your vegan apple crisp

I use this casserole dish, but you could opt for a cast iron skillet, or a brownie pan as well. First, spread the apple layer directly into the dish. I always like to give it a few more tosses once it’s in the baking dish to make sure the apples are all evenly coated. After that, add the topping evenly over the apples. Finally, pop it in the preheated 350 degree oven for about 55 minutes and let it cool 10-15 minutes before devouring!

Tips for your vegan apple crisp

• Most importantly, try to slice the apples as evenly as you can to ensure they all cook the same. You can also chop the apples into blocks if you prefer, just make sure those are also generally even
• I recommend using refined coconut oil so you don’t get a coconut flavor

I hope you enjoy this vegan apple crisp recipe as much as I do! I’d love to know, how do you make your apple crisp?

INGREDIENTS

for the filling:

• 6 Granny Smith Apples, thinly sliced
• 3 Tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 Cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 Cup brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoon cinnamon

for the topping:

• 1 Cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 Cup brown sugar
• 1/3 Cup almond flour
• 1/4 Teaspoon salt
• 1/4 Teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/3 Cup melted coconut oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place the rack in the middle of the oven.
2. Peel and thinly slice the Granny Smith apples. Place them in a large bowl.
3. Next, add the lemon juice, coconut sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon to the apples and toss to coat apples evenly. Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, add the oats, brown sugar, almond flour, salt, cinnamon.
5. Melt the coconut oil. Add to the rest of the toppings and mix
6. Pour the apples into an 11″x7″ pan, and evenly distribute
7. Spread the topping over the apples evenly
8. Bake for 55 minutes and remove. Let cool 10-15 minutes.

This is a hit year round, but it also makes a great Thanksgiving dessert! You may also want to see it in action here

Becoming a vegan or eating plant-based can seem daunting at first if you’ve never done it before! What are vegan pantry staples? Why do you need them? Why is it different than my normal pantry?

what makes a vegan pantry?

Vegan pantry staples are a little different than a normal pantry. In my plant-based diet I am making a lot more of my sauces and toppings than in a vegetarian diet. For example, you may make your own nut milks, your own ‘parmesan‘ cheese, your own ‘yogurt’ based sauces, etc. Because of this, you go through some items a lot faster than you may normally. Also, some ingredients are relied upon more heavily for their nutrients and vitamins so they get used more often.

My favorite vegan pantry: grains

I always make sure to have quinoa, couscous, farro, freekeh, and bulgar. I also love wild rice, jasmine rice, and brown rice. Grains are often the base of many vegan bowls, and I love cooking with ancient grains because of their nutrient density. For example, 1 serving of freekeh has 20% of your daily iron intake and farro has a lot of great fiber. Vegan bowls are also one of the easiest meals to make. Simply pick a grain, add some veggies and tempeh, and top with a sauce of your choosing. Voila!

Spices

Cooking with a vegan pantry, you’ll be utilizing a lot of delicious spices to infuse flavor. The spices I use the most are cumin, coriander, curry powder, cayenne, paprika and cinnamon. I also love cardamom, garlic powder, onion powder, saffron and turmeric. Many of the cusine from India and much of Asia for that matter is vegan already, so I find I use a lot of flavor profiles that tend to lend themselves to those regions.

Sauces and oils

I always keep refined coconut oil on hand! This is such a versatile oil. Buying it refined (vs virgin) means that it won’t have a coconut flavor. Other great ones to always keep stocked are olive oil, vegetable oil, soy sauce, liquid aminos (great nutrient value and is a fish sauce substitute), tahini, and rice vinegar. Also, canned coconut milk is a must — it’s great for tons of sauces. And finally, vegetable broth.

Refrigerator

Always keep some tofu (usually firm), tempeh, miso, almond butter, peanut butter and vegan butter (I love Miyokos!) Also, asian chile garlic sauce, and hoisin sauce will become your best friend for all of the Asian inspired meals you make.

Legumes and Nuts

There are a ton of vegan pantry staples in this category. I use a lot of chickpeas, cannellini beans and black beans but pick your favorites! Lentils are another great item to keep stocked in your pantry, they’re so easy to cook and are very versatile. I personally cook a lot with red and green lentils, but pick your favorite! Ffor nuts, raw cashews are my top pick. I cannot emphasize enough how much cashews are a vegan pantry staple. I use them to make vegan mac’n’cheese, parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, a mozzarella-ish cheese, etc. you get the picture. Any other favorite nuts like almonds, pecans, peanuts, pistachios, walnuts and pine nuts are also great. I use them all both in cooking (walnuts and pine nuts always go in my pesto), and as toppings (hello peanuts!) and for snacks with dried fruit.