I will admit, I’ve not always been a fan of apple crisps. Sometimes they’re just too dry, crunchy and low on fruit. If a crisp needs a pile of ice cream to make it more palatable, you know you need a new recipe.
In comes this recipe. The first time I had a soft and gooey apple crisp was at a friend’s brunch potluck 16 years ago. It was decadent. It was buttery. It felt like it broke all the apple crisp rules.
It had more vanilla than the average person would put, more flour than oats, and a hefty amount of butter. It felt like dessert for breakfast.
I’ve adapted my friend’s recipe to make it vegan and to include extra fruit: especially pear. So if you’re a big fan of pears, vanilla and breaking healthy breakfast rules, this recipe is for you.
Why You’ll Love this “apple crisp”
Who needs dry, crumbly apple crisp when you can have a moist, soft vanilla crumble over your baked fruit?
This breakfast recipe can also double as dessert, and it’s so good that you’ll forget you ever needed ice cream.
So grab your pears and apples, we’re going to turn them into a morning feast!
Ingredients
2 apples, peeled and cut in bite-sized pieces
3 pears, peeled and cut in bite sized pieces
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup quick oats
1/3 cup white granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup vegan butter (melted)
1 tbsp vanilla extract
How to MAKE THE CRUMBLE
Step 1: prepare the fruit
Peel and chop the fruit into small, bite-sized pieces. Place at bottom of 9″x9″ baking pan.
Step 2: prepare the dry ingredients
In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon.
Step 3: prepare the wet ingredients
Melt the vegan butter in the microwave, then mix in the vanilla.
Step 4: Combine everything
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until it forms a soft dough.
Step 5: add the batter on the fruit
With a small spoon, take small scoops of the batter and place over the fruit evenly.
Step 6: bake
Bake at 350ºF for 30-40 minutes.
Step 7: enjoy warm (not hot!)
Remove from oven and let cool for 20 minutes before serving.
This recipe makes 6 generous portions.
Tips for making it gluten free
- Replace the all purpose white flour with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour for best results. Make sure your quick oats are gluten free too!
Storage Tips
Cool the dish completely, then store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Vegan Vanilla Apple Pear Bake With Soft Crumble Topping
Ingredients
- 2 apples, peeled and cut in bite-sized pieces
- 3 cup pears, peeled and cut in bite sized pieces
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup quick oats
- 1/3 cup white granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup vegan butter (melted)
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Peel and chop the fruit into small, bite-sized pieces. Place at bottom of 9"x9" baking pan.
- In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon.
- Melt the vegan butter in the microwave, then mix in the vanilla.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until it forms a soft dough.
- With a small spoon, take small scoops of the batter and place over the fruit evenly.
- Bake at 350ºF for 30-40 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 20 minutes before serving.
Notes
FAQ
Can I use only apples or only pears in this recipe?
Yes! If using only pears, you can add chopped walnuts to the crumble for extra depth of flavour and texture.
Why is the topping soft instead of crunchy like a traditional crisp?
This recipe creates a soft crumble-style topping rather than a dry, crunchy crisp. The melted vegan butter and vanilla combine with the flour and sugar to form a soft dough that bakes into a tender, buttery layer over the fruit. It’s more similar to a light cobbler topping than a classic oat-heavy crisp.
If you try this recipe, leave a comment below!
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