Vegan Apple Cranberry Crumble Pie Recipe
A cozy, comforting Vegan Apple Cranberry Crumble Pie combining crisp apples and tart cranberries beneath a golden, buttery crumble topping and flaky vegan crust. Perfect for fall and holiday gatherings, this dairy-free and egg-free dessert offers a delicious plant-based twist on a classic favorite.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes plus chilling time
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
For the Crust (Option 2 – Homemade)
- 1/2 cups organic all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons organic cane sugar
- 1/2 cup vegan butter, VERY COLD, cubed or grated
- 1/3 cup VERY COLD unsweetened almond milk
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
For the Filling
- 5 organic apples, peeled and sliced (a mix of Granny Smith, Sweet Tango, Gala recommended)
- 2 cups whole cranberries, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup organic cane sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (from filling instructions)
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter, cut into pieces
For the Crumble Topping
- 1 cup organic all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup organic brown sugar
- 1/4 cup organic rolled oats (optional; can substitute with flour)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons vegan butter, partially melted
Optional Serving
- Coconut whipped cream or your favorite dairy-free ice cream
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the pie and crust.
- Prepare Store-Bought Crust (Optional): If using a store-bought vegan crust, place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil paper. Note that baking time with store-bought crust is approximately 45-50 minutes.
- Make Homemade Crust: In a small cup, combine unsweetened almond milk and apple cider vinegar; stir and set aside for 5 minutes to curdle.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, sea salt, cinnamon, and cane sugar.
- Cut in Vegan Butter: Add cold cubed or grated vegan butter to dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, blend until the mixture resembles coarse peas and is crumbly.
- Add Liquid Mixture: Gradually pour in the almond milk and vinegar mixture, stirring and working with one hand until dough is moistened enough to form a ball. If dough seems too dry, add almond milk one tablespoon at a time.
- Chill Dough: Form dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to 1.5 hours or overnight.
- Prepare Pie Filling: In a large bowl, combine sliced apples, cranberries, cane sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir to evenly coat the fruit.
- Make Crumble Topping: In another bowl, mix flour, rolled oats (if using), brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add partially melted vegan butter and stir with a spatula until mixture becomes crumbly.
- Roll Out Dough: After chilling, lightly flour a surface and roll the dough into about ½-inch thickness. Place dough into a lightly buttered 9-inch pie dish, folding and tucking edges as needed.
- Pre-bake Crust: Poke small holes across dough bottom with a fork. Add parchment paper and pie weights, then bake for 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven and discard weights and parchment.
- Assemble Pie: Spoon the apple and cranberry filling evenly into the crust. Tuck pieces of vegan butter throughout the filling. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the fruit.
- Bake Pie: Bake at 375°F for 45-60 minutes, until filling bubbles and crust plus topping are golden brown.
- Cool and Chill: Remove pie from oven and let it cool completely for 1-2 hours. Then refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, before slicing.
- Serve: Slice and serve with coconut whipped cream or your favorite dairy-free ice cream for an extra special touch.
- Enjoy: Indulge in this delicious, vegan-friendly apple cranberry crumble pie!
Notes
- You may use your favorite store-bought vegan pie crust instead of making the crust from scratch; bake time will be about 45-50 minutes.
- For the vegan butter in the crust, use very cold cubed or grated for best texture.
- Plant-based milk alternatives such as almond milk or other unsweetened milk can be substituted.
- Mixing apple varieties like Granny Smith, Sweet Tango, and Gala adds a balance of tartness and sweetness.
- If you prefer a smoother crumble without oats, substitute the rolled oats with more flour.
- Letting the pie chill overnight improves flavor and makes slicing easier.
- For the best results, use fresh cranberries, but frozen work fine as well; no need to thaw before mixing.
- If dough feels too dry when adding milk mixture, add 1 tablespoon increments until the dough comes together but remains firm.
