This dessert is easier and faster to make than an apple pie or crisp, and requires no baking. Instead of refined sugars, this recipe uses dates for sweetness, and lemon juice and nutmeg for that extra zing.
Crumble topping:
1/2 cup walnuts
2 pitted dates
Diced apples:
3 apples, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Apple sauce (that will be tossed with the diced apples, above):
2 apples, peeled and diced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
5 pitted dates
¼ cup raisins
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Topping: Blend the walnuts and dates in a food processor until the texture is similar to Grape Nuts. Spoon into a small bowl and set aside.
Filling: Toss the 3 peeled, diced apples with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and set aside in a bowl. Next, in the food processor, blend all of the sauce ingredients: 2 apples, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 6 pitted dates, raisins, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Toss this mixture with the sliced apples.
Serve: Place one-fourth of the apple filling into 4 small dessert dishes and sprinkle with date-nut topping.
Note: Use a good eating apple, such as a Gala, Fuji or Pink Lady in this recipe. / Use Meyer lemons if you can get them.
Preparation: 15 minutes; cooking time: 0 minutes; serves: 4
Cathy,
re this recipe: “For the date crème , blend all ingredients in your food processor until very smooth and creamy (2-3 minutes).”
What ingredients do you use for the date creme?
Rita
Hi Rita, I removed the date creme from the recipe because I felt it was sweet and decadent enough as is. But if you want to make it, blend till smooth in a food processor: ¾ cup macadamia (or cashew) nuts, ½ cup soy milk, and 3 pitted dates. I also edited the recipe slightly, so please use the current version.
-Cathy
Thanks!! I’ll make it without and save the creme for sometime I serve it to company.
Rita
This was delicious!! Surprised the heck out of me … I couldn’t imagine how uncooked apples would taste like dessert.
Made 6 generous servings and I just bought apples to make it again this week.
Thanks for a great recipe!
You’re so welcome!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Made this last night and actually put it in the oven for a little bit because it smelled so much like an apple pie just had to make it nice and hot and steamy!! YUMMY. It will be made again and again. Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to hear you speak at Engine 2 Extra holiday cooking series!!
Thanks Regina! That is a good idea, glad to hear it worked for you.