This is one of my oldest and most beloved dessert recipes. It is much easier and faster to make than an apple pie, and it requires no baking.
Raw Apple Crumble
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 6 (makes about 5 cups)
Ingredients
- For the crumble topping:
- 2 ounces walnuts or pecans (about ½ cup)
- 1 ounce pitted dates (about 2 Medjool or 4 Deglet Noor), chopped
- For the apple filling:
- 4 medium apples, peeled or unpeeled, cored and chopped (about 4 cups)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- For the applesauce:
- 2 medium apples, peeled or unpeeled, cored and chopped
- 2½ ounces pitted dates (4 to 5 Medjool or 8 to 10 Deglet Noor), chopped
- ¼ cup raisins
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- To make the crumble topping, place the nuts and dates into a food processor, and process until the mixture resembles Grape Nuts cereal (don’t overprocess; it should be loose). Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. (Keep the food processor handy for step 3.)
- To make the apple filling, toss the chopped apples and lemon juice together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- To make the applesauce, place all of the ingredients (apples, dates, raisins, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg) into the food processor, and process to the consistency of applesauce, adding a little water as needed.
- Stir the applesauce into the bowl of chopped apples and lemon juice. Serve on small dessert plates or bowls sprinkled with the crumble topping.
Notes
Try another type fruit in place of one apple, such as a pear, peach, nectarine, mango, banana, or persimmon, or some berries or pineapple.
If you’d like to bake this dessert, use an 8×8-inch baking pan and cook at 350°F for 35 to 45 minutes or until the apples are tender (topping can be added before or after).
If you’d like to bake this dessert, use an 8×8-inch baking pan and cook at 350°F for 35 to 45 minutes or until the apples are tender (topping can be added before or after).
Nutrition Information
Serving size: ¾ cup Calories: 171 Fat: 6.4g Saturated fat: 0.6g Carbohydrates: 30.5g Sugar: 23.6g Sodium: 1mg Fiber: 4.1g Protein: 2.2g Cholesterol: 0
If you make this recipe and enjoy it, please share a comment below or on my Facebook page. If you’d like to print this recipe, use the green “Print” button near the top-right of the recipe. Learn more about the Straight Up Food Cookbook here. Thank you!
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. 🙂
You have so many wonderful recipes! I think the photographs make it look so appetizing! I substituted almonds for the walnuts and it was delicious!! Thanks Cathy!
This was delicious. Always great to try recipes with a short and simple list of ingredients! While I like things tart, I do recommend cutting back on the lemon juice a tad if you are using a very tart apple such as a granny smith.
LIke another reviewer, I heated this up in the oven for about twenty minutes. Mmmm.
There I was thinkin ‘oh I have to find some receipes for church MLK Daniel fast’ starting weds….I was looking for non dairy milk w/out sugar…up popped your site….Great receipes…I’m so excited! AND REALLY TASTY…..I’ll be directing my church here…YAH!!!!! Thanks so much Cathy
This is delicious! I’ve given up sugar, so I’m looking for recipes just like this one. Made it last night and I was blown away! Perfect dessert comfort food:).
I love these desserts. Can you tell me how I could make a baked cheesecake plant friendly using dates for sweetening? Not sure if that is something you’ve worked on or not but my family insists on lemon cheesecake for Christmas and holidays and they are all diabetic. I’m trying to show them how they can have their “cake” and eat it too 🙂
Hi Gina, I don’t have a cheesecake recipe but my colleague Katie Mae does in her ebook that is amazing. 🙂
I made this for my omnivore parents last night and everyone loved it!
Just made this last night because I was wanting dessert but didn’t want to feel heavy. This was straight up fantastic! Adding it to my arsenal for my non SOS, omni eating friends.
Thank you! Yes, all types of eaters enjoy this dessert. 🙂
I had this raw and it was delicious. For my family, I baked it on a pizza crust and topped it with the macadamia cream and my husband said it was the best dessert pizza he has had in his life. That includes pre-vegan and SOS free food. Thank you for your recipes, as always!
Wow, how cool! So creative. 😉
Wow! this was a winner with me but most importantly with a 13y/o!
I’m getting 4 cups of apples (filling) from a little more than 2 apples and I would say they’re medium sized. Should I do a little more or stick with the “about 4 cups” amount. Thanks so much also for your recipes. You seem like such a lovely person. I want to get my sister to true north, but we live in NJ. Not so easy, but hoping I can convince her one of these days soon.
Thank you Sharon! 😉 This recipe is very flexible, so do whatever feels right. More apples is fine. TrueNorth is amazing; I hope your sister makes a trip someday. Thanks!
Our church is doing the daneil fast and I had some apples googled and this recipe came up. Made it love it thank you for sharing
Thanks Lin! 😉
Hi! Is there a good substitute for the nuts if I wanted a less fat version?
I think rolled oats could work given the right ratio of oats to dates, although I have not tried this. 🙂
I made your recipes with fallen untreated apples a bit tart, but it was delicious. The dates makes up for the lack of sweetness of the apples (and I added a few more). As I had no mor walnuts or pecans, I substituted with cashew nuts. It was really delicious and there are more apples to pock up, so I’ll be making this dessert again,. Thank you for this easy, quick and simple dessert!
Madeleine