Baked Apple, Caramel & Crumble

Growing up in a small village in East Anglia (England), I was surrounded by wild growing fruit. Apples and blackberries were always in abundance when in season and anything apple and/or blackberry related was always a favourite for me.

Years later any offer of apple and blackberry pies, crumbles, tarts, crips, cobblers, to name a few, will always receive a resounding ‘yes’ from me. Of all these options, crumbles are my absolute favourites. Excitingly for me, I found some blackberries here in Lagos and of course the rest is history. Here is as plant-based, gluten free version of the age old Apple & Blackberry crumble with a modern twist. If you are ever craving a dessert, this one is pretty quick to prepare and bake. I have tried out this recipe a number of times, and kept stumbling on the plating. I have this thing for nicely plated food. Thankfully, this time the plating worked.

New Baked Apple 8

New Baked Apple 17

New Baked Apple 15

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Interesting fact. Crumbles are of Irish origin and they can be made sweet or savoury, although the sweet version – particularly apple, rhubarb, blackberry – is much more common. Crumbles became popular in Ireland during World War II, when the crumble topping was an economical alternative to pies due to shortages of pastry ingredients as the result of rationing. [source: wikipedia]

Print Recipe

Baked Apple, Caramel & Crumble

Serves: 3 Prep Time: 20 mins Cooking Time: 30 30 Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

Apples

• 3 Medium apples

Salted Caramel Sauce

• 1 tbs Coconut butter, softened or coconut oil melted
• 3 tbs Date paste (or 2 tbs maple syrup)
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• ½ tsp Sea salt
• 1 tsp Vanilla

Crumble Topping

• 1 cup Gluten-free rolled oats
• ½ cup Nuts roughly ground (almonds, walnuts or cashews. Don't use peanuts)
• 6 tbs Date paste
• ¼ cup Coconut oil, melted
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• ½ tsp Almond extract
• ½ tsp Nutmeg
• Pinch Ground cloves (optional)
• ¼ Salt

Instructions

Apples

1. Cored ¾ if the way through
2. Fill with black berries berries
3. Bake uncovered for 25 - 35 mins - depending on the size of your apples. They should be slightly golden in colour
4. Remove from the oven and set aside for plating

  Salted Caramel Sauce

1.  Place all the ingredients in a mini food processor
2. Mix all ingredients together until well combined  and completely smooth (adding additional water as necessary, but using as little as possible)
3. Pour caramel into a small bowl and set aside while

Crumble Topping

1. Mix all ingredients by hand in a large bowl, until well combined
2. Sprinkle onto a dehydrator sheet
3. Dehydrate at 115F overnight until dry