These easy vegan baked apples with cinnamon oat streusel are a simple dessert which happens to be lower in refined sugar than traditional recipes. Rolled oats add texture and crispness to the clumpy, melt in your mouth streusel topping. This recipe come together in minutes and make your home smell amazing while they bake. These vegan baked apples also make a lovely breakfast served with yogurt (or on their own).
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
Clumpy streusel oat topping sits atop soft baked apples—this version is made without butter and includes rolled oats and whole wheat flour for a wonderful rich streusel. Oats add texture to streusel topping, making it a little more crisp than traditional streusel, and butter is replaced with coconut oil, which doesn't impart any flavour to the final recipe.
Because there is less refined sugar than traditional baked apple recipes, this recipe also works as a breakfast topped with plain yogurt. Minimal prep time is involved in preparing the apples and mixing the streusel. This is a new take on traditional baked apples that is vegan, dairy-free, lower in refined sugar, yet every bit as cozy and good.
Ingredients & Substitutions
The ingredient list for these easy vegan baked apples are fairly straightforward and simple. For the full ingredient list and quantities of each, please see the recipe card further down the post.
Gala Apples: Almost any apple will work for this recipe. However, I recommend not using the red delicious variety as they tend to be too dry and get rather mealy when cooked or baked. Ideally, you want a fresh apple that is juicy, crisp, and will hold together well after baking. Gala, ambrosia, pink lady, cosmic crisp, jazz, granny smith, braeburn, fuji or honey crisp work for this recipe.
Fresh Lemon Juice: Citric acid found in lemon juice his helps prevent the sliced apples from over browning.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is best used when it’s softened, not liquid for this recipe. Opt for refined coconut oil which has little to no taste. Vegan butter can be used instead in equal measure in place of coconut oil.
Whole Wheat Flour: You can also use all purpose flour or whole spelt flour in equal measure.
Brown Sugar: for a lovely caramel sweetness. Dark or light brown sugar will work fine.
Rolled Oats: alternatively, you can use quick oats in equal measure.
Ground Cinnamon: essential for fall baking and the perfect spice for apples.
Step by Step Guide
The most time consuming part of this recipe is preparing the apples—they need to be washed, cut in half lengthwise and cored with a melon-baller. Otherwise, this recipe comes together rather quickly. For the full detailed instructions, please see the recipe card further down the post.
STEP 1: Prepare the apples and arrange them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
STEP 2: In a bowl, combine the coconut oil, flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon and salt.
STEP 3: Use a pastry blender (or clean hands) to combine the ingredients until you have pea sized crumbs and there is no dry flour remaining.
STEP 4: Fill each apple with enough streusel to form a small mound, then sprinkle each filled apple with lemon juice.
STEP 5: Bake until the apple juices start to run and they are easily pierced with a knife.
STEP 6: Cool slightly and serve warm with a scoop of your favourite ice cream or plain yogurt.
Storage &Make Ahead
Storage: This recipe should be stored covered in the fridge for up to 3 days, but they are best served the same day they're made, shortly after they come out of the oven. Note that the streusel topping will lose it's crisp texture over time.
Make Ahead: Prepare the apples and give them a light coating of lemon juice on the cut side to prevent excessive browning. Fill the apples with the streusel and place them on the baking tray, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours in advance of baking. Remove the plastic wrap before baking per the recipe instructions.
More Recipes
If you enjoyed my vegan baked apples with cinnamon oat streusel, you may also enjoy these other favourites:
Healthy Vegan Rhubarb Oat Crumble
Vegan Spiced Apple Baked Oatmeal [gluten-free]
If you made my Vegan Baked Apples with Cinnamon Oat Streusel please leave me a comment below with a star rating; it really helps others who are interested in making the recipe. For more from The Simple Green, follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest. Consider becoming a subscriber to receive emails of new recipes and posts.
Easy Vegan Baked Apples with Cinnamon Oat Streusel
Ingredients
- 4 Gala apples, sliced in half lengthwise, core removed
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ⅓ cup coconut oil, softened (not liquid)
- ½ cup whole wheat flour, or whole spelt flour
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 Pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a medium baking tray with parchment paper. Arrange cored apple halves on the tray, cut side up. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the coconut oil, flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Using a pastry blender or clean hands, combine the ingredients until you have pea sized crumbs and there is no dry flour remaining.
- Fill each apple core with enough streusel to form a small mound, then sprinkle each filled apple with lemon juice. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the apple juices start to run and they flesh is easily pierced with the tip of a knife.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes. Serve warm with a scoop of your favourite dairy free vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or plain yogurt.
Notes
Nutrition
This is an approximation of the nutrition offered in this recipe, and is created using a nutrition calculator. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your preferred calculator.
Disclaimer
all recipes on The Simple Green are developed and tested in a Canadian kitchen, at normal elevation, using electric appliances and ingredients available in Canada. Results may vary.
These look SO delicious and SO perfect for fall! I have a bag full of apples right now so will be making these for dessert soon!
Thank you so much, Lizzy! I hope you love them and let me know how they turn out 🙂