Crabapple Crumble Pie

Hi, it’s David. I have a confession to make. I don’t like apple pie and I have never liked it. I apologize to all my relatives and friends for saying that I liked your pies, I was just trying to be polite. The truth is that big pieces of apple – ovenbaked until soft – tastes gooey, slimy and kind of scary in my world.

I know that 99,9% thinks that apple pie is the best thing ever. But I don’t. I like my apples raw.

Luise loves apple pie. And because of that most apple pies are way sweeter than they need to be she wanted to make an apple pie her own way. My first reaction was of course No F-ing Way. No apple pies on this blog. Then I realized, hey maybe now I have a shot of making an apple pie that I actually could finish without hiding the apple pieces in a napkin. So here is our version of an apple pie.

 

Since I don’t like big gooey apple pieces we decided to use really small pieces in this pie. We also decided that we wanted a crunchy, nutty kind of pie, so we didn’t use any flour or egg. Just nuts, seeds, oat, coconut oil and maple syrup. Without thinking about it also turned out vegan. Luise insisted on topping it with baked crabapples, and even though I gave my apples to Elsa (she loved them!) I must admit that they looked pretty.

This pie is actually quite similar to a granola. Although the small apple pieces will be soft (almost melted) and the pie will hold together, but just barely. Try serving it with a greek or goat yogurt (soygurt if your vegan) instead of the traditional ice cream or vanilla custard, the tanginess in the yogurt tastes great together with the sweet crumble. Be sure to serve this pie while it’s hot.

Crabapple Crumble Pie
Serves 8

This is a two piece pie. Make the crumble in one tray and the crabapples on another. Put them together before serving each portion.

Baked Crabapples
8 crabapples (use small regular apples if you can’t find crabapples)
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 375° F/190°C. Cut the apples in half and place on a greased baking tray. Lightly dust with ginger and cinnamon. Bake them until they are soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, around 30-40 minutes. While the apples are in the oven, make the crumble.

Apple crumble
1 1/2 cup / 200 g raw almonds, finely chopped
1 1/2 cup / 175 g rolled oats
3 tbsp raw sunflower seeds
3 tbsp dried shredded coconut, unsweetened
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 pinch sea salt
4 sweet crispy red apples, cored and cut into small dices
5 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil, room temperature
5 tbsp maple syrup (can be replaced with agave or runny honey)

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add apples, maple syrup and coconut oil and work it together by your hands to a sticky crumble. Grease a baking tray with coconut oil (or use baking paper). Flatten the crumble out on the tray in a thin layer and bake, next to the pan with the crabapples, for 15-20 minutes or until golden and crispy.

Put a couple of spoonfuls of the crumble and 2 halves of the crabapples in small bowls and serve with any kind of yoghurt you prefer.

30 Comments

  • Liv
    Thank you for the crumble recipe, married well with mangoes instead of apples!
  • Well, you ARE crazy for not liking apple pie, you know that?;) But if that means making new versions of apple pie (for us who love anything apple - baked or raw, sweet or not!) you´re forgiven! Looks great! And maybe just what I need after (too) many (too) sweet apple cakes lately...
  • Emma
    http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_apple_seeds_poisonous Everyone will have you believe that apricot seeds are also poisonous, even though it is a traditional health food in some countries. I wonder if these people are some how connected to the drug companies, who always seem to try and scare monger us into thinking fresh fruit and vegetables are "dangerous" too. Hrrmmmm. I personally think this recipe looks and sounds wonderful. Awesome work.
  • Sommer J
    Please, be wary here of what you're doing. Do a little more research into your ingredients. Apple seeds are HIGHLY toxic... a handful can kill a small child. The same as the innards of peach, nectarine and other fruit seeds/pits. I highly recommend that if you continue to use this recipe you remove the seeds as you have a small child pictured in your blog. Beyond that, this recipe looks amazing and I can't wait to try it!
    • Dear Sommer J! Thank you for your comment and your concern. Maybe we should write more clearly in the recipe that you're not supposed to eat the seeds. And Elsa have learned that from the beginning. Fruit and vegetables comes with seeds and pits, we can't always eat. But it is nothing to be afraid of! Happy Cooking /Luise
  • Salve ragazzi!!! Ho appena scoperto il vostro blog...ho letto tutti i post e ho scoperto che avete vissuto per un pò in italia, wow!!! Così vi scrivo in italiano e rispolverate un pò la lingua... ^_^ Che magnifica idea quella di prendervi sei mesi per girare i paesi che più vi ispirano, lo vorrei fare anche io un giorno... Ho segnato come da provare praticamente tutte le vostre ricette...son fantastiche... Ci sentiamo al prossimo post!!! Un bacione...
  • oh how i LOVE crumble! thanks for sharing i am bookmarking this :O)
  • Lillemor
    I know love, and I have always loved to make appelpie. How many times did you hide it in your napkin? I love the photos and I love you all! Mum
  • Looks and sounds well yummy!
  • Hjördís
    beautifull pictures you got there, and i have to say, I dont like appple pies either ,, but Im going to try this one soon. But here there in Iceland there are no apples called Crabapples here, So im going to have to change this all just a bit. thanks for those wonderfull recipes -Hjördís
  • as alwAYS, BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS, AND A WONDERFULL RECIPE, yOU JUST GAVE ME AN IDEA FOR TODAY'S DESSERT, THOUGH I'LL HAVE TO CHANGE A BIT THE RECIPE SINCE I'VE NOT ALL THE INGREDIENTS at home...THANKS! :)))
  • Carole
    I kind of prepare something close to this pie, and here around, we call it "BETTY" : flour, oats, butter, sugar, cinnamon, lemon zest… Half way from a crumble and a pie, much tastier ! Fabulous with any season fruit : apples, pears, prunes, berries… Discovered your blog a few days ago, what a trip ! Thanks and keep doing, Best to you
    • Carla
      To Carole, what is the recipe for your "BETTY"? I would love to try this....pls!!
  • Chelsea
    I always thought they were poisonous! The grown-ups warned against the crabapple trees that lined our playground. So can I just go up to any c-apple tree, pick some little red dudes and bake this wonderful pie?!
    • Hi Chelsea! Crabapples are not poisonous. They might taste a bit tart when they are raw, but when they are baked they get a sweet taste. We got our apples at Whole Foods Market, but I'd much rather pick them straight from a tree. /David
  • Valeria
    I actually didn't like apples until I turned 17 (about a year and a half ago, so I haven't experimented much with apples) but this seems interesting since my favorite breakfast is yogurt with granola. I'm definitely giving it a try, specially these days that's been a little chillier and rainy, something warm is always appreciated. By the way, the avocado soup was a HUGE hit at my house, everyone loved it!
  • I've never been a fan of apple pie either - just had this debate with the husband about our Thanksgiving menu (we finally settled on apple/cherry). This looks so warm and yummy - I'll bet it would make a sweet breakfast!
    • Hi Diana! I can tell from experience that it works great as breakfast as well ;) /David
  • Looks delicious! I love apple pie but your crumble looks scrumptious. That photo of your daughter is so precious.
  • Those baked crab apples look AMAZING. So beautiful!
  • As always, I love everything about this post. Especially your willingness to give apple pie one last shot. Simply beautiful!
  • Did I try to feed you guys apple pie? i don't remember. One word...BOOTS! She looks adorable. The recipe looks killer, as expected.
  • Gorgeous pictures! And so impressed with your ability to turn something you hate into something edible :)
  • Rachel
    I'm also not a big fan of apple pie so this sounds like a perfect substitute. :) Thank you for a great recipe.
  • Jennifer L.
    Mmmm, I've been hankering for a little granola something to have with my goat yogurt for breakfast. This will be great. Maybe I'll make this later today instead of the granola thing I was already thinking of making. I hope your travels are going well!
  • Hi! I found your blog yesterday on G Living. Your photos and recipes are awesome. I must say your little one it too cute!!
  • What a unique recipe! I've never baked with crab apples and I love your addition of coconut oil! And Im happy you have found a cooked apple dish that you enjoy as well:)
  • We'll forgive you for not liking apple pie only because the photo of Elsa is just too adorable! ;-D I love this recipe, so many delicious ingredients, what's there not to love? And goat yoghurt, I can imagine, would be so perfect with this! Maria x
  • Oh my goodness! I'm going crazy over these pictures! How adorable! And now I'm craving apple crumble, though those crabapples are precious.

Leave a comment