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
Organic high-heat canola oil, pure grapeseed oil walnut oil, or other high heat oil
Topping
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, organic preferably (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, pure grape seed, 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, and sea salt until a smooth, even texture. Pour in almond, oat, soy, or cashew milk and store “caramelized” sauce in a glass jar (leave uncovered until cool.)
Adapted from A Banquet of Health, Penny B. Block, PhD