Raw Apple Crisp

This is so yummy, nutritious and worth the effort! The recipe makes lots to share with friends or family, but it also keeps well in the refrigerator. The apples tend to soften somewhat, which I find desirable for this recipe. I like to store the topping and apple layer separately in the fridge, to keep the topping from getting soggy.

Topping:
1 c. almonds
2 c. walnuts
2 c. honey dates, loosely packed
pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 T. lucuma powder
3/4 c. ground chia
1/4 c. ground sesame
optional: 1 c. soaked and dehydrated buckwheat kernels (you need to have these on hand as they take many hours to dehydrate until crispy) to add crunch

First I should mention that it is always best to soak all grains, nuts and seeds for at least a few hours before using them, discarding the soaking liquid and rinsing. In my case, I had already soaked and dehydrated the buckwheat, walnuts and almonds, but I just ground up the sesame seed and chia seed in my Vita-Mix blender (a coffee grinder works well too) but they can be left whole too. If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can soak, rinse and then dry the nuts in a clean kitchen towel or just use unsoaked nuts. The lucuma powder is also optional, but adds really great flavor and nutrition.

Chop the walnuts and almonds in a large food processor until you have the texture of bread crumbs. Add the dates and process until the mixture is combined evenly. Add the rest of the topping ingredients, except the buckwheat and process with the pulse button. Empty into a large bowl and combine well (adding the buckwheat if desired) using your hands, as the mixture may be too stiff for the food processor.

Apple layer:
10 organic apples, peeled, cored and sliced (set aside 1 c. sliced apple for sauce)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Juice from one lemon
1/2 c. honey or medjool dates, soaked 1 hr. in 1/2 c. water or to cover
2 tsp. cinnamon

In blender, put 1 c. sliced apple, vanilla, lemon juice, dates with soaking liquid and up to another 1/2 c. water to make blending easy. Puree until liquified. Pour over apples, shake cinnamon on top and stir.

To serve, put the apple mixture in the bottom of a nice bowl and then crumble the topping over the apples.

Enjoy!

Making raw food is really foolproof – sort of like playing with mud pies. You can add stuff until the food is to your taste. You really can’t go wrong, so have fun and experiment with this recipe – make it your own!