Hazelnut Apple-Pear Crisp (vegan, gluten-free)

Vegan baking gets easier and easier the more you attempt it. I used to feel so limited, and now I am starting to feel more adventurous in the kitchen. Some of the best ways to enjoy something gluten-free and vegan is keeping it simple and enjoying pure food for what it is! Like apples... and pears. So here's a recipe to repeat this autumn season again and again.

Hazelnut Apple-Pear Crisp Recipe:

Slice up 3 apples and 3 pears on the bottom of a 9 inch pie pan or 8x8 Pyrex pan. I like using a tart apple and a sweeter pear so to have a nice flavor combo. Fill up the pan with the sliced and diced fruit and then toss with 1 TB of white rice flour, 1 TB of sucanat or some sweetener, and then 1 TB of cinnamon.

Topping:

In another bowl mix... 

1 1/2 cup of ground hazelnuts (I grind whole hazelnuts in a food processor or coffee grinder) You could also use another nut of preference....almonds or pecans perhaps...

1/2 cup of sweet sorghum flour

3/4 cup of sucanat (dried sugar cane) or other natural sweetener like date sugar, beet sugar, or agave nectar.

1 ts. of baking powder

1/2 ts. of sea salt

1 TB of ground cinnamon 

1 ts. of ground nutmeg

1 ts of vanilla

1 TB or so of a non-dairy milk, I used almond milk

2 large TB of organic palm oil shortening (or coconut oil works too)

Spoon mix the topping to get it to a crumble like texture and then crumble over the apples and the pears. It's that easy!

Then bake in a 350 degree oven for 45-55 minutes until you can see the apples bubbling. Let cool for at east 15 minutes so that you don't burn your tongue... I know this will be hard because the smell filling your kitchen and home will make you want to devour this immediately! :) Or at least you can show off to the friends and neighbors your baking skills by the heavenly aroma. It is best served warm with a little dairy-free coconut ice cream on the side or on top. Let yourself enjoy this treat and the season of fresh apples and pears!

This is a great recipe to share with friends. Mainly because it is so easy, but it will impress them with how yummy and easy vegan baking can really be! Is your mouth watering yet? Well it should be.... Enjoy and have a great Friday!