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Have you ever had a sweet treat ’emergency’? For example, you weren’t intending to make dessert during a weeknight but suddenly had a ‘must have dessert, pronto’ situation? Or your oven broke down? I’m sure some of you have been in these situations before! So I’ve got just the thing for you, now that we’re in the peak of apple season here. Even if it’s not apple season where you are, I’m certain you will enjoy this crumble as apples are such classic fruits.
I know loads of folks aren’t comfortable with the use of microwave ovens, and that there are many articles out there for or against the use of microwave ovens. For me, I made the personal choice of using microwave ovens due to the convenience. If I’m going to cook 21 meals for my family of 4 from scratch every week while on the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), a bit of convenience is very much appreciated! I use mine mainly for reheating certain foods or softening seemingly impenetrable winter squashes, though I do cook the occasional ’emergency’ sweet potato (6 minutes!) or a batch of cauliflower rice in my microwave oven. I won’t use it to make meals from start to finish (memories of my parent’s first microwave oven and the bundled recipe book from the 80’s come to mind) and I won’t defrost meat in it though. Hot and cold patches? No, thank you!
Random fact: prior to the AIP, I had never even used my microwave oven to make popcorn (that classic microwave food), and would always make my popcorn from scratch over the stove. My old covered wok was fantastic for that. While we’re on the topic of popcorn, do you know that there’s no such thing as GMO popcorn? Apparently the variety of corn used for popcorn has yet to be genetically modified. So if you ever feel the need to reintroduce corn in the form of the occasional homemade stovetop popcorn or make some for your non-AIP family, just choose an organic brand (as corn is usually heavily sprayed with pesticides), and use coconut oil and sea salt. I promise I won’t go ‘tsk tsk’ at you.
Anyhow, I digress. This ’emergency’ apple crumble is for the moments when you’re short on time, when you have kids clamouring for dessert, or when your best friends drop by unannounced for tea or dinner… just get them to help you peel the apples or mix up the crumble and pop the whole thing into the microwave oven and wait. Fifteen minutes, maximum. It’s lighter than traditional oven-baked crumble, and with a paler crumble topping that has a delicate and shortbread-y texture. Use maple syrup if you are serving it to someone with a sweet tooth, but I find it nicely sweet with applesauce. It also depends on the tartness/ sweetness of your apples. Remember to make this only when you can share it with others in order to keep your sugar intake low, but take note that it’s a homely dish so I wouldn’t suggest serving it for a posh dinner party!
My fellow AIP blogger friend Sophie from A Squirrel in the Kitchen helped me test this recipe and suggested that it would be a fantastic dessert for Halloween, and I absolutely agree with her that it would be great pre- or post-trick-or-treating. In fact, I absolutely recommend you make her 3-ingredients vanilla ice cream in advance and serve it together with the crumble. A dessert that is totally AIP, not too sweet, and won’t compete with the candy. I think it’s way better than candy! Speaking of candy, check out Erin’s Halloween Treat Swap if you are looking for healthier Halloween ideas.
Where to get certain ingredients online:
- cassava flour
- ground cinnamon
- ground clove
- ground ginger
- organic applesauce
- arrowroot starch
- Sea salt
- Coconut oil
- APPLE MIXTURE
- 4 large or 6 small apples, peeled, cored & diced (Cut each apple into 6 - 8 wedges and each wedge into 3 pieces)
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground clove
- ¼ - ½ tsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp applesauce (or 2 tsp maple syrup)
- 2 tsp arrowroot starch
- CRUMBLE MIXTURE
- ⅓ cup cassava flour
- 3 tbsp arrowroot starch
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, softened
- 2 tsp applesauce (or 1 tbsp maple syrup)
- Coconut oil for greasing a microwave-safe 8-inch casserole dish (you can even use a wide bowl)
- In a large bowl, combine the apple mixture ingredients and toss to coat evenly. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the crumble mixture and stir until slightly damp and crumbly.
- Lightly grease the casserole dish / bowl and pour the apple mixture in.
- Sprinkle the crumble mixture over the apple mixture.
- Microwave for 8 - 12 minutes (at least 10 minutes for a 1000-W oven) or until the apples are cooked to your liking and crumble top resembles shortbread crumbs. For a 700-W oven, this takes approximately 15 minutes.
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I use the microwave to reheat stuff AND I use BPA-free plastic food containers, I am certainly not a poster child for clean living but its all because I don’t have time to reheat any other way and I am more afraid of glass shattering in the freezer than I am of plastics!
Some things gotta give, right?! Let me know what you think of the crumble!
I’m sorry to be that person, but I don’t have a microwave. My birthday is in 4 days and I’d really like to make this, is there anyway to make it without one?
I’ve not tried it in the oven, but you can try baking it in the oven at around 350 – 375F for about 35 – 45 minutes, or until the apples are cooked through and the topping is golden brown. Good luck and happy birthday in advance!