Filling
5-7 firm, tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (Golden Delicious, for example)
4 tablespoons organic brown rice syrup
-OR-
2 tablespoons pure agave syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Canola oil, high heat, or pure grapeseed oil or other
Topping
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
½ cup organic whole wheat pastry flour
2/3 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
½ cup organic brown rice syrup
¼-1/3 cup pure agave syrup
¼-1/3 cup high-heat canola oil or other healthy high-heat oil
For Filling
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees; lightly oil pyrex or tempered glass baking dish. Toss apple slices with sweetener and cinnamon. Spread apple slices in prepared baking dish.
For Topping
In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients — oats, flour, chopped pecans, cinnamon, and sea salt – then mix in wet ingredients — brown rice syrup, agave, and oil. Spread over apple slices (you might need to dampen your fingers to do so.) Bake for 40-45 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden.
Optional: “Caramelized” Sauce
½ cup organic brown rice syrup
2-3 tablespoons creamy almond butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
Pinch sea salt
2 tablespoons unsweetened oat, almond, or cashew “milk”
Heat rice syrup in a large sauce pan over medium heat until just boiling. Allow to boil another 30-60 seconds. Turn off flame and whisk in almond butter, butter, and salt until smooth, even texture. Pour in oat, almond, soy, or cashew milk and store “caramelized” sauce in a glass jar (leave uncovered until cool.)
Adapted from A Banquet of Health by Penny B. Block, PhD
This recipe looks delicious and probably tastes very good with the sweetners suggested along with apples. However, doesn’t this contradict the dietary approach that states carbs and sugars feed cancer and should therefore be avoided? Your thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated, Dr. Block. Thank you.