First, preheat your oven to 450°F/230°C and then find yourself an oven safe dish that’s about 4 inches in diameter. You can also use a large muffin tin for the baking portion, but start off with a microwave safe bowl until you get past step #6 below.
Next, chop up ½ of a medium sized apple (I used Fuji) and place it in the dish.
Then, grab your cinnamon and lightly dust the top of the chopped apples.
Now add your sweetener of choice. I used coconut sugar but granulated or brown sugar will work, as well. If you choose to use a calorie-free sweetener such as monk fruit or stevia, you may want to add only ½ the amount called for in the recipe, as many calorie-free sweeteners are much sweeter than coconut, white or brown sugar.
Next, add the lemon juice. If you don’t have any fresh lemons handy, the bottled type of lemon juice will work just fine.
This next step is a big part of the reason why this recipe is so quick to make: take your apple mixture and microwave on high for one minute. If you’re not a fan of microwaving or if perhaps you don’t even own one - no biggie! Just add 3 - 5 minutes to the oven cooking time below. *If you’re using a muffin tin, transfer the apple mixture over to that tin once this step is complete.
In a separate bowl, add the old-fashioned rolled oats, non-dairy butter, cinnamon, sugar and walnuts (IF you’re a walnut person. Pecans are also a nice choice) and mix it all together with your fingers until all ingredients are well incorporated.
Add this lovely oatmeal concoction to the top of your apple mixture.
Place your dish on a baking sheet and place on the top rack in the oven. Bake for approximately 6 - 10 minutes or until the highest peaks of the oatmeal start to turn a light brown color. Two other indicators that the dessert is done baking is the glorious smell that suddenly permeates the kitchen, plus, the juices from the apples start to bubble.
Ta-daa!! And there you have it… your own personal sized apple crisp! If you’re using a muffin tin, carefully spoon the dessert out into the serving vessel of your choice.As a note: Be careful when handling after removing from the oven, as the dish may be very hot!Serve with non-dairy vanilla ice cream, if desired.