9. Healthy apple crumble
A healthier take on classic apple crumble, this recipe tops soft cinnamon apples with a refined sugar-free granola (which also makes a brilliant breakfast).
Ingredients
- 3 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1cm chunks
- 3 eating apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1cm chunks
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 50g dried berries or sultanas
- 175g-200g (see below) granola crumble
- 2 tsp coconut oil or butter
- natural yogurt, to serve
GRANOLA CRUMBLE (MAKES 500G)
- 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 100ml maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 300g rolled oats
- 50g whole hazelnuts
- 50g pumpkin or sunflower seeds
- 50g flaked almonds
- a large pinch sea salt flakes
Method
- STEP 1
Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. To make the crumble, whisk the oil, maple syrup and vanilla in a large bowl, then tip in the remaining ingredients and mix well so everything is coated in the syrup and oil. Tip onto two large baking trays lined with baking paper, spread out into a single layer, and bake for 30-35 minutes, stirring now and then, until golden, crisp and toasted. Leave to cool on the trays. The crumble will keep in an airtight container for a month.
- STEP 2
Put the Granny Smith apples in a pan with 3 tbsp of water. Cover and simmer over a medium heat for 10 minutes until the apples are very soft. Stir in the eating apples, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup and dried fruit. Add a splash more water if needed, and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until the eating apples are just starting to soften.
- STEP 3
Tip the apple mixture into a 20cm square baking dish. Sprinkle over the granola crumble. Dot over the coconut oil or butter, and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the topping is golden and crisp, and the apple filling is piping hot and bubbling at the edges. Serve with spoonfuls of natural yogurt.
10. Healthy granola
Start every day the right way with this easy-to-make, healthy granola. Serve with milk or yogurt, and plenty of fresh fruit, for an energising breakfast.
Ingredients
- 100g bran
- 150g jumbo porridge oats
- 25g sesame seeds
- 100g walnuts, chopped
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil
- 6 tbsp maple syrup
- 200g dried fruit
Method
- STEP 1
Heat oven to 160c/140c fan/gas mark 3. Mix the jumbo porridge oats, bran, walnuts and sesame seeds in a non-stick roasting tin.
- STEP 2
Combine the maple syrup and sunflower oil and drizzle over the dry mixture, tossing together.
- STEP 3
Bake for 20-25 mins or until crunchy. Cool then stir in the dried fruit and store in an airtight container. Serve with milk or yoghurt.