Summer (or any) Fruit Crisp

You’ll never miss the sugar in this naturally sweet, delicious, supremely customizable and insanely easy vegan fruit crisp!

Light, bright, and loaded with antioxidants, this versatile crisp is a perfect, simple dessert for anytime of year, but particularly alluring right now with the bountiful yields of the season. Keep the relative quantities while changing up your filling to showcase whatever’s in season. Just be mindful of potential adjustments to cooking times. Firm apples may take longer, for example; or, you could lightly saute them before topping and baking. Pictured here is a mix of summer berries, but my personal favorite right now is a blend of berries with peaches. Whichever way you go, this refined sugar free, low-sugar, no-oil crisp allows the purity of vibrant flavors to shine.

Back-to-school promotions are already beginning to abound, but it’s the height of summer! Instead of deploring the speedy passage of time, let’s slow down and celebrate the moment. Enticing ways to do so are bountiful, and up there among the top contenders is a little time to revel in the unadulterated joy of summer fruits. Whether it’s the lustrous sheen of plump berries, or blushing, softly fuzzy peaches, ripe, beckoning fruits are sheer delight. Just the name of any one conjures up captivating, cheerful images —bursting berry-stained lips or peach juice drizzling down children’s (and adults’) sun-kissed faces.

Lately summer-fruit-style, carefree, juicy joy has felt elusive. I’ve been bogged down and clogged, obsessed even, with all the worries. Just recently, though, I had a moment of clarity while swimming. Something about the water is just so all-around therapeutic, encouraging flow in every way. I realized that a part of me had begun equating relaxation with betrayal. As if daring to enjoy a moment of ease—let alone bliss—would ultimately mean cessation of attention to the things that weigh on my mind, choosing to no longer be informed. And that just isn’t true. To bask, even for a little while, in the reasons for happiness, settling into moments of serenity—is to restore. Fill your cup and reinforce the passion and the why behind caring so much it hurts.

Enjoying this simple, delectable vegan crisp

I led off declaring that you’d never miss the sugar in this crisp, and I meant it. That said, I full-on endorse serving with a generous dollop of vegan ice cream! Vanilla is a perfect choice, obviously—so are Salted Caramel, Snickerdoodle, Cookie Dough, and anything with cinnamon notes. The topping is crispy-crunchy, just as the name suggests; this is not a cozy English crumble, but it is oh so comforting. It is, however, a superbly luscious and cozy treat, especially combined with sweetly refreshing, creamy ice cream. Nice cream works fabulously, too, as does coconut whip and dairy-free yogurt.

Fresh or frozen fruits work well in this beautiful dish. Optionally, I like to include whole husk psyllium in the topping, too. Psyllium offers powerful health benefits, with both soluble and insoluble fiber nourishing beneficial gut bacteria, key to whole body health.

Go ahead and experiment with the topping as well as the filling: the simple, oil-free blend uses just a little coconut sugar plus apple or orange juice for sweetness, with the juice serving as a binder. Swap coconut sugar for maple syrup, cutting back on or even eliminating the juice; add chopped nuts or coconut shreds; play with the flour. Whole wheat, gluten-free, oat, and almond all do well. Truly, this is one stunningly simple, forgiving mix. Let it bring you to your berry bliss!

Want to include gut-helper psyllium? Use code HAPPYAPPLE for 15% off Organic India USA!

Vegan summer (or any) fruit crisp

Vegan summer (or any) fruit crisp

Yield: 4-6
Author:

You’ll never miss the sugar in this naturally sweet, delicious, supremely customizable vegan fruit crisp!

Ingredients

For the filling
  • 6 cups mixed summer fruits of choice (berries, stone fruits, any combo)
  • 1/4 Cup maple syrup
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice (optional)
  • 1 Tablespoon Ceylon Cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon flour, cornstarch, or arrowroot flour
For the topping
  • 1 Cup oats
  • 1/2 Cup flour of choice (whole wheat, almond, gluten-free all work well, or a mixture
  • 2 Tablespoons whole husk psyllium (optional)
  • 1/4 Cup coconut sugar
  • 1/3 Cup apple or orange juice (more as needed)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat an 8x8 baking pan or similar lightly with cooking spray (optional). Set aside.
  2. Prepare the filling: Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes.
  3. Prepare the topping: Combine the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Add in the juice and stir to form a crumbly mixture that holds together--it will be on the wet side.
  4. Place the fruit in the prepared pan and sprinkle evenly with the topping. Bake 40 minutes or until the filling is softened and bubbling. Let cool slightly (about five minutes). Serve warm, topped with vegan ice cream, coconut whip, or dairy free yogurt.

Notes

Experiment with filling and topping! Firmer fruits mixed in, such as apple, may result in a longer cooking time needed. You can also saute these fruits lightly before combining with the other ingredients.



Nutrition Facts

Calories

408

Fat

2 g

Sat. Fat

0 g

Carbs

98 g

Fiber

13 g

Net carbs

86 g

Sugar

61 g

Protein

5 g

Sodium

41 mg

Cholesterol

0 mg
DessertsWendy McMillanfeaturedComment