Apple Pie Parfaits

It is officially fall! The first day of fall was four days ago and the high today is…95. So while it may not quite feel like fall, we can still celebrate by busting out the decorations and using all the warm, spiced flavors! These Apple Pie Parfaits are full of all the fall flavors: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and coziness. 🙂 Warm, spiced apples are “cozy” between layers of dairy free whipped cream and nutty, crunchy granola crumble. Delicious! I knew this recipe was a keeper when my picky nephew kept asking for more. *praise hands* I hope you and your family enjoy this vegan, refined sugar free fall treat as much as mine did!

• Servings: 4
• Print

Ingredients

For the apple filling:
• 4 medium sized apples, thinly sliced (I used two Gala and two Granny Smith. I also left the skin on for looks + extra fiber, but you can peel them if desired.)
• 1 tbsp of coconut sugar
• 1/2 tbsp of pure maple syrup
• 2 tsp of ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp of ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp of ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
For the granola crumble:
• 1/2 cup of old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup of slivered almonds
• 1 tbsp of whole flax seeds
• 1/2 tbsp of coconut sugar
• 1 tsp of cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp of salt
For the whipped cream layer:
• Generous spoonfuls of dairy free whipped cream (there is also a coconut cream whipped cream made by Reddi Whip)

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Drop apple slices in the boiling water and boil for about 5-7 minutes, until tender crisp.
3. While the apples are boiling, make your granola crumble by combining all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pulse until combined, but with texture – you don’t want granola dust!
4. Once apples are cooked, drain and return to pot. Stir in remaining apple filling ingredients until all slices are coated in “coziness” 😉
5. In a glass of your choice, layer whipped cream, granola crumble, and apple slices. Repeat layers until you reach the top, ending with whipped cream!
6. Serve warm.
7. Keep leftovers separate – apples in the fridge and crumble at room temperature. Simply reheat the apples when you want more and layer away!

For more recipes to celebrate fall (or “hotumn” as I saw on Facebook), check out my Cinnamon Applesauce, Slow Cooker Apple Cider, Pumpkin Bread with Crumb Topping, or Pumpkin Spice Cake. And to make your home smell like a fall-themed bakery, use my “recipe” for Apple Cinnamon Stovetop Scent! I certainly wish it were cooler, but it’s my favorite season, so I will still celebrate! Enjoy this marginally cooler weather, celebrate anyway…and enjoy your pinch of crazy!

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase using the links, it is of no extra cost to you, just a small commission for me. Thank you for supporting A Pinch of Crazy!

 

Advertisement

Banana Bread with Granola Crumble

A Girl Can Dream

Picture this: it’s 2 o’clock in the afternoon, and the baby is napping. You clean the house top to bottom, put all the dishes and laundry away, balance the checkbook, then do a nice little 20 minute home workout. After all that, the baby is still napping so you go get a piping hot cup of coffee and a warm slice of fresh banana bread from the kitchen. You curl up with your cozy fleece blanket and enjoy your snack while listening to the melodious birds outside your window.  Paradise. *sigh*

This is what I WANTED to happen when I made my banana bread, but honestly, those afternoons almost never happen. What actually happened was: I left the kitchen a mess, went to sit down on the couch with my coffee and banana bread when I heard, “MAMAAAA!” from upstairs. I ended up drinking lukewarm coffee and sharing my banana bread with Zemirah while simultaneously folding laundry (then re-folding after Z dragged it off the couch). The banana bread was so good and the company so cute, that I couldn’t help but enjoy my afternoon even though it wasn’t picture perfect.

Whatever your idea of the perfect day is, one bite of this banana bread and you will be transported to your own personal paradise! It’s cozy, warm, and perfect for the cooling weather, to either enjoy yourself or share with your little ones. No need to worry about sugar content making them hyper, because it is both gluten free and refined sugar free!

I have discovered the wonders of coconut sugar and will not be looking back! If you are wondering where to get coconut sugar, you can get it right here on Amazon as a multi-pack or a single bag. This is the brand I use and I absolutely love it; it smells amazing and adds a nutty/caramel flavor to baked goods. Yum! This recipe was also my first time baking with a gluten free flour mix so I was a little worried, but it turned out great! I used this blend of rice flours and tapioca starch; it rose beautifully and the texture is wonderful. (These are both affiliate links, but truly the brands I used with this recipe and others, and will continue to in the future!) If you need coconut sugar and/or gluten free flour, use the links, you’ll have them at your door in two days, then you can bake guilt-free to your heart’s content.

Other than the coconut sugar and gluten free flour, everything else is standard banana bread ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen! This is perfect for either breakfast or an afternoon snack, slathered with butter or ghee, and enjoyed with your favorite hot beverage. The laundry pile is optional.

Banana Bread with Granola Crumble

Makes one loaf or 15 muffins.

Ingredients:

For the bread:

• 3 very ripe bananas
• 2 beaten eggs
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1.5 cups gluten free flour
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

For the granola crumble:

• 1/2 cup of old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup of walnuts
• 1/4 cup of coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup of coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 F
• Grease either a loaf pan or muffin tins and set aside
• Mash bananas with a fork
• Add in the rest of the wet ingredients
• Stir until well combined
• In a separate bowl, whisk together dry ingredients (for bread only, not the crumble)
• Combine dry ingredients into wet ingredients
• Stir until well combined
• Pour batter into pan (3/4 of the way full for muffins)
• Make granola crumble by combining all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulsing until walnuts are chopped and it comes together loosely
• Top batter with crumble, pressing down slightly
• Bake 35-45 minutes for loaf (10-12 minutes for muffins), until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean
• Cool completely before slicing
• Store, covered, in refrigerator for a week

Whatever your personal paradise might be, I am almost certain it involves healthy baked goods 😉 Let this banana bread transport you there…and enjoy your pinch of crazy!

Fruit and Nut Granola

A Healthy Snowball

If you’ve read my other breakfast posts, you know that mornings are early and slightly chaotic around here. If you haven’t read my other breakfast posts, you should 😉 I’ll even make it easy for you and leave you links here and here for some easy and healthy breakfast prep! But, seriously, it is tough to get in a healthy breakfast when you are trying to rush out the door in the morning. However, it is so important for your blood sugar and your metabolism…there’s a reason why they (whoever “they” is) say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

A healthy breakfast is good for your body, but I’ve found, also important for my mind. If I eat a donut for breakfast (and let’s be real, who eats just ONE donut?!), it is so much easier for me to make unhealthy choices the rest of the day. I will have low energy from my donuts so I won’t want to work out, but I will still be hungry because my nutritional needs weren’t met, so I may binge eat for lunch, and so on. But if I start my day out with a satiating, nutritional breakfast, that sets me on a healthy track for the rest of the day. After my healthy breakfast (and of course coffee), I will have the energy for a morning jog, then eat a healthy snack and drink some water when I get home, and it just snowballs in a healthy way.

So here I have refined sugar free Fruit and Nut Granola which you can prep ahead of time and grab and go! I hope you can make a batch to enjoy throughout your week and start your days with a healthy snowball!

Fruit and Nut Granola

Delicious with milk, plain Greek yogurt, or by itself! Makes about three cups.

Ingredients:

• One cup of old fashioned oats (GF if needed)
• 1/2 cup of almonds, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup of walnuts, coarsely chopped
• One tbsp of chia seeds
• One cup of dried fruit, chopped (I did half a cup of apricots, half a cup of dates)
• 1/2 to one tsp of cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• One generous tbsp of raw honey, plus more for drizzling
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 F
• Prepare large baking sheet with baking spray
• Combine dry ingredients except sugar on baking sheet
• In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, sugar, and honey
• Pour over mixture on the baking sheet
• Stir until everything is evenly coated
• Spread out in a single layer on baking sheet
• Bake for five minutes, stir, then bake for another 3-5 minutes until desired toastiness
• While still warm, drizzle with additional honey and let cool and harden

I mean no ill will against donuts, but if I start my day with donuts I know my sugar monster will stalk me all day. Who wants a monster stalking them all day?! I hope making this granola gets your monster off your trail and sets your healthy intention for the day. Eat a healthy breakfast…and enjoy your pinch of crazy!