Apple Spice Crisp Cups

These cuties are ready to eat! Perfect for a fall picnic in the park, school lunches, or just for fun with your friends :) This is basically just another apple crisp recipe, and yes, I could make these in my sleep. But I did add a few different steps and pieces to this one. I also have an alternative option for those of you that want a dessert and still want to eat ONLY fruit as sweeteners, and no maple syrup, honey, coconut sugars. Dates are the perfect sub to just lightly sweeten and moisten the crumble topping and apples just right. Maybe it's because dates taste like caramel to me- and you can't go wrong with apples and caramel ;)

The apples are soft and melty and the crumble is crisp and chewy- the perfect textures and spices to warm your weary evolving soul. The steadfast love for apple crisp never wavers when you can come to this delightful treat again and again and it is always warming and comforting. It doesn't disappoint! It may be predictable and stable- but we all need that to come back to amidst seasons of change.

How perfect that apple season happens to be the season of change and watching the worlds around us die off, nestle in, and go inward. When change is happening it might feel like the world is out of control and there is no more safe spots to land. Until you ground yourself in the earth and the gifts it brings- it seems pretty simple. Pick apples, they are a steady companion. Make applesauce, save for your future months. Make some crisp or pie, and remember who you are and the predictability will bring you back home again. And share, you can never be too lost when you have your people to connect to and share with. So I share yet another crisp recipe with you- I hope you find the space this season to go inward and nestle in- I hope you make crisp and ENJOY!

Apple Spice Crisp Cups Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, nut, seed, soy and refined-sugar-free}
Recipe makes 12 jars of crisp or 1 pan

4-5 heaping cups of peeled and finely chopped apples
(use a variety for flavor)
1/2 cup of pure apple cider
1/2 cup of date paste puree*
1/2 cup of applesauce
1/4 cup of maple syrup
1 TB of tapioca starch
pinch of sea salt
2 ts. of ground cinnamon
1 ts. of ground nutmeg
1/2 ts. of ground cloves
1/2 ts. of allspice

*cover 1 cup of pitted dates with 1 cup of boiling water and let soak, and then puree to get a thick and creamy date paste to spread, dip, save and bake with. Once you start- you can't stop! I'm sorry!

Add all of the above ingredients in a saucepan and mix and cook down until they are softer, thickened with the tapioca, and look like an apple pie filling. Turn off the heat and let cool just a bit. Then use a 1/3-1/2 cup scoop and pour into 1/2 pint jars 1/2 way. Or if you are making a pan instead of cups you can just pour the apple mixture into a 9x9 pan. This recipe will make 12 1/2 PINT JARS or 1 9x9 or you could spread it out in a 9x13 pan as well.  

If you are looking to buy these cutie jars to make these crisp cups... you can HERE...

Then you are ready to mix up and top with the oat topping...

topping:
1 1/2 cup quick cooking GF certified oats
1/3 cup of tapioca starch
1/3 cup of rice flour
1/3 cup of potato starch
pinch of sea salt
1/2 cup of coconut oil, palm oil shortening, or a mix of both
1/3 cup of maple syrup
2/3 cup of coconut palm sugar

option#2:
add in 1 cup of date puree paste in place of the coconut sugar and maple syrup in the topping and more date paste in place of the maple syrup in the apple mixture for an only sweetened with fruit option

option#3: You can add in 1/2 of nuts (pecans, almonds or hazelnuts) and sub some of the coconut oil with a nut-butter like almond butter or others...

Mix all of the above ingredients in a smaller bowl, and use your fingers to crumble together and then sprinkle over the apple mixtures in the cups or in the pan. 

If you are making the cups, you will want to put a piece of parchment on a baking pan with 6 cups on each pan. This will help if there is any spilling over to catch on the sheet rather on the bottom of your oven. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-45 minutes until golden brown, crispy, and apples are bubbling. Serve warm, just as they are or with a topping of your favorite ice cream. 

These cups are so cute, magical and I must say- SUPER FUN for leftovers, school lunches, picnics, and pretty much the most wonderful food on the go :)

I know you can make these with other fruit varieties as well, I'm sure a favorite would be blueberry too :) But since we are in apple season- I started with apples :)

Happy baking, and happy applesauce making and apple crisp sharing!

Much love, xoxo