Cranberry Apple Pear Vegan Crumble

It's hard to beat a good crumble, and this Cranberry Apple Pear Vegan Crumble is really something special! We're talking tart cranberries & Granny Smith apples,  sweet, soft pear & a crumbly, nutty, buttery topping, all baked to golden perfection. It's an absolute crowd pleaser & so easy to make!

Now to the crumble...We are talking Granny Smith apples, because they keep their shape nicely and give a little bite rather than turning to mush, sweet pear that dissolves into a delicious puree, bursts of tart cranberry and a light, crumbly buttery golden topping studded with chewy oats and crunchy almonds. Feel free to ditch the almonds if you need to make it nut-free though, it's still amazing without.

Paul (a.k.a Mr A Virtual Vegan) has been away for a couple of weeks so he has missed out on taste-testing this beauty, but apple-y desserts are his favourite so I think this might just make an appearance on Christmas Day, along with the multitude of Vegan Christmas Puddings that I have in storage after testing that recipe more times than I care to remember.

HOW TO MAKE VEGAN CRUMBLE

There are just a few simple steps to making this crumble.

First, make the crumble topping. Put the flour, vegan butter, sugar, salt, and almonds in a food processor.

Pulse until the flour is looking bread-crumby and the almonds are in chunky little pieces.

Then remove the blade, add the oats and stir through.

At this stage I really recommend freezing the crumble topping. All it needs is 30 minutes, although it can stay in there for weeks in a sealed container or a freezer bag if you want to make it ahead of time.

While that's in the freezer, peel and chunkily chop your fruit and put it into a large bowl.

Toss with vanilla, cinnamon, sugar and a tiny bit of flour then pour it into the casserole you are going to bake it in and scatter over a few cranberries.

Then remove the crumble topping from the freezer and spoon it evenly over the fruit.

Bake until golden, enjoying the wafty, festively spiced smells as they drift through your house!

WHY FREEZE THE CRUMBLE?

Freezing the crumble before baking slows the melting of the butter and improves the texture. There isn't a massive difference, and by all means, if you don't have time, just bake it right away.  But, even if you can stash it away in the freezer while you peel and chop the fruit it will make a slight difference. It makes the topping lighter and more crumbly, and causes the powdery mixture, to become a little more clumpy and nubbly, adding a more interesting mouth-feel and look.

CAN I MAKE FRUIT CRUMBLE IN ADVANCE?

This Cranberry Apple Pear Vegan Crumble is really easy to make, and although I don't recommend making the whole thing in advance, because the apples and pears will probably go brown and the crumble topping might get soggy, you can still make things easier for yourself by making the crumble topping as far ahead as you want to and keeping it in a sealed bag or container in the freezer. Then on the day you want it, it won't take long to put together at all.

I am loving this Cranberry Apple Pear Vegan Crumble because its:

• The perfect cozy fall or winter dessert
• Quick and easy to make
• Family friendly
• Perfect for the holidays as the cranberries give it a festive look and flavour
• Easy to make nut-free if you need to
• Makes your house smell amazing while it cooks
• It reheats really well
• You can easily double or triple it if you are expecting a large crowd

HOW TO SERVE CRANBERRY APPLE PEAR VEGAN CRUMBLE

This fruity Vegan Crumble is best served warm from the oven. It is really good served with:

• vanilla ice cream
• coconut whipped cream
• thick coconut milk from a can
• So Delicious Cocowhip
• vegan custard (a very British accompaniment!)

My favourite ways to eat it are with So Delicious Vanilla ice cream or custard!

If you are cooking for family or friends over the holidays, consider giving this Crumble a try. I can guarantee that it will go down really well!

Hungry for more vegan desserts?

Recipe