Autumn is a time for cozy sweaters, colourful leaves, and most importantly, indulgent comfort food. And nothing quite encapsulates the essence of this season like a warm slice of homemade apple pie. The rich aroma of cinnamon, baked apples, and that flaky, golden pie crust – it’s a symphony of flavours that simply screams, “Fall is here!”
But what’s even more delightful is that this particular recipe is 100% vegan, making it a delightful treat for everyone at the table, whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving with your family or Christmas.
With the Spiced Vegan Apple Pie in your baking arsenal, you’re just a few steps away from creating a dessert that’s bound to be a hit at family gatherings. So, roll up your sleeves, preheat the oven, and let’s jump right into the recipe for this scrumptious spiced vegan apple pie!
Creating the Perfect Pie Crust: Your Foundation to Flavor
The homemade pie crust is the heart of our Spiced Vegan Apple Pie! The crust is like the foundation of your culinary masterpiece, so let’s get it right. Pie crusts are all about striking the perfect balance between tender and flaky. To master this art, we’ve started with a base of sieved all-purpose flour. This ensures a lump-free, light, silky texture. Next, we introduce a harmonious blend of sunflower oil and coconut oil. The sunflower oil adds a neutral, flexible texture, while the coconut oil infuses a delightful, tropical flavour. Mixing these oils into the flour takes some finesse. The result is a sand-like texture, and here’s where the magic begins. We bring everything together by adding water, and kneading gently until it forms a cohesive ball. The key here is not to overwork the dough. This ensures that your crust remains tender and delicate, with no risk of turning tough and chewy. If you’re doubling the recipe to create a lattice top, divide the dough into two balls.
Before rolling out the crust, it’s off to the fridge for at least two hours. This is a crucial step that allows the gluten in the dough to relax. When it comes to pie crusts, a relaxed gluten is a good thing. It helps prevent the crust from shrinking while baking, ensuring that it remains perfect for your Spiced Vegan Apple Pie.
Creating the Lattice Design: A Visual Feast
Now, let’s talk lattice – the finishing touch that takes your pie from great to awe-inspiring. This mesmerizing crisscross pattern doesn’t just look pretty; it serves a purpose.
In short, the journey of crafting a homemade pie crust and that enchanting lattice is an essential part of your pie-making adventure. It’s not just about taste and texture but also about creating a dessert that’s as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate.
The lattice top is like a pastry prism, allowing the spiced apple filling to bubble and breathe, while giving the juicy fruit a chance to caramelize to perfection. Plus, it’s a visual feast. The interplay of golden-brown dough and bubbling apple filling is a sight to behold, making your Spiced Vegan Apple Pie not just a treat for the taste buds but also a work of edible art.
Coconut Oil: A Healthful Twist in Our Spiced Vegan Apple Pie Recipe
Now, let’s take a moment to talk about the superstar ingredient in our Spiced Vegan Apple Pie crust – coconut oil! It’s not just a culinary game-changer; it’s a health-conscious cook’s best friend. Here’s the lowdown on why we adore this tropical delight and how it elevates our pie-making experience.
Not only does coconut oil lend a subtle, nutty flavour to your pie crust, it also offers a plethora of health benefits. Coconut oil is high in good fats that are believed to have heart-healthy properties. The MCFAs in coconut oil are also known to rev up your metabolism. Think of it as your body’s little energy booster, helping you burn calories more efficiently. Coconut oil is a fantastic moisturizer for your skin and can help tame unruly locks. So, while you’re baking that delicious pie, you might just whip up a DIY spa treatment as well!
Coming to how coconut oil fits into our Spiced Vegan Apple Pie, it’s the unsung hero of our recipe. Its unique flavour profile, somewhere between the tropics and the bakery, adds a subtle richness that pairs wonderfully with the spiced apple filling. But here’s the beauty of it: you get all those health benefits while indulging in a slice of heaven! So, not only does your pie taste amazing, but it’s also a feel-good treat for your body.
Assembling the spicy apple cinnamon filling
As our homemade Spiced Vegan Apple Pie continues to take shape, we arrive at the heart of this delectable creation – the apple cinnamon filling. It’s here where the magic happens, where the humble apple transforms into a luscious, spiced sensation. Let’s take a closer look at what goes into this irresistible concoction.
Once the apples are cored, peeled and sliced into fine, delicate half-moons, they’re ready to soak up all the flavorful goodness that follows.
Now, it’s time to infuse our apple slices with an array of spices. We start with a generous dose of sugar, adding sweetness to balance the tartness of the apples. A splash of lemon juice brings a zesty twist to the mix, awakening and brightening the apple’s natural flavours.
But it’s the spices that truly elevate our Spiced Vegan Apple Pie. Cinnamon, with its warm and familiar embrace, is front and center, followed by the gentle heat of ginger. Cardamom and mace bring an exotic touch, adding depth and complexity to every bite.
We’re not stopping there, though. A handful of walnuts adds a delightful crunch, giving the filling an irresistible texture. To ensure the filling isn’t too runny, we dust everything with a tablespoon of flour, creating a perfect balance between juiciness and structure.
A Versatile Fall Dessert
Our Spiced Vegan Apple Pie isn’t just for sweet endings; it’s a culinary masterpiece that shines at gatherings. From cozy family get-togethers to festive parties, this delectable dessert perfectly complements the fall season.
With its warm, comforting flavours and rich spices, our pie encapsulates the very essence of autumn. Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, hosting a Christmas feast, or enjoying a casual weekend gathering, this heartwarming pie is a crowd-pleaser that leaves everyone craving seconds.
But don’t limit yourself to after-dinner indulgence. Our Spiced Vegan Apple Pie is a flexible delight, equally delightful as a breakfast treat paired with your morning coffee or hot chocolate. For a truly decadent twist, savour it with a scoop of your favourite ice cream for dessert that will make your taste buds sing.
In the realm of desserts, our Spiced Vegan Apple Pie is like a warm embrace on a crisp fall day. So, whether you choose to enjoy it after a meal or as a delightful morning starter, let this pie be your companion for every cozy, joy-filled moment this season. Each bite is a slice of autumn’s finest offerings. Bon appétit!
Spiced Vegan Apple Pie
Equipment
- Pie dish 28cm
- Rolling Pin
- Lattice maker/knife
Ingredients
Crust (double if you are making a lattice on top)
- 300 g All-purpose flour (or Half-White Flour)
- 60 g Coconut oil
- 80 g Sunflower oil (or another neutral liquid oil)
- 6 tbsp Water cold
FILLING
- 1 kg Apples (sweet variety)
- 100 g Cane sugar
- 3 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 2 tbsp Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Ginger (powder)
- ¼ tsp Cardamom
- 1 pinch Mace
- 70 g Walnuts (broken)
- 2 tbsp All-purpose flour (divided)
- 2 tbsp Coconut Oil
Instructions
- Sieve the flour. Mix it with the sunflower oil, and coconut oil until a smooth texture is achieved.
- Add the water and knead gently and roll into a ball. Make two balls if you have doubled the recipe to make a lattice. Store in the fridge for at least two hours, for best results.
- Preheat the oven to 200C. Press the dough into shape to get an even layer that covers all edges of your pie dish. Poke holes into the bottom using a fork.
- Core and peel the apples. Slice them into half and cut into fine slices.
- Mix the cut apples with sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger, mace, cardamom, walnuts and 1 tbsp flour.
- Sprinkle 1 tbsp into the prepared pie crust and transfer the filling to it.
- Roll out the dough for the lattice to get a 5mm thickness. You can then use a lattice cutter and transfer this to the pie. Alternatively, use a knife to cut about 1.5cm thick strips of the dough and weave them over the pie.
- Brush the top with coconut oil and bake for 50-60 minutes.
- Let your apple pie cool before serving.
