It was with a certain amount of joy that I woke up in my own bed yesterday morning. With the Adelaide-based conference out of the way, it has started to dawn on me that our wedding really is in five days. Five days!
A (mostly) home-based Sunday in sunny Perth was just what I needed to adjust from the frenzy last week. The luxury of a day with no outside commitments also, of course, meant that I could spend some time in the kitchen.
At the moment, I really don't need to be baking huge quantities of goods. After the wedding, it is only a week before our one month trip away, and so we are trying to run down food rather than stock up on it. Fortunately, there are some things that can be made quickly and then eaten quickly. These no-bake apple crunch squares are definitely in that category, and have the added bonus of including just three core ingredients.
Interestingly, the resulting squares reminded me of rice bubble bars (the type made with marshmallows) and fruit leather. I appreciate these are quite different products. I can only say that these squares seem to blend the two, with the 'puff' and slight stickiness of rice bubble bars, and the dominant fruit flavour and texture of fruit leather. I made my squares quite thin, which might have added to the fruit leather experience.
These aren't my favourite no bake treats, but that is because apple isn't my favourite dried fruit. They are enjoyable for a change, though, and are lighter than standard dried fruit and nut mixes. Making them as squares instead of balls was also nice for something different.
You really can't get much simpler than this!
A (mostly) home-based Sunday in sunny Perth was just what I needed to adjust from the frenzy last week. The luxury of a day with no outside commitments also, of course, meant that I could spend some time in the kitchen.
At the moment, I really don't need to be baking huge quantities of goods. After the wedding, it is only a week before our one month trip away, and so we are trying to run down food rather than stock up on it. Fortunately, there are some things that can be made quickly and then eaten quickly. These no-bake apple crunch squares are definitely in that category, and have the added bonus of including just three core ingredients.
Interestingly, the resulting squares reminded me of rice bubble bars (the type made with marshmallows) and fruit leather. I appreciate these are quite different products. I can only say that these squares seem to blend the two, with the 'puff' and slight stickiness of rice bubble bars, and the dominant fruit flavour and texture of fruit leather. I made my squares quite thin, which might have added to the fruit leather experience.
These aren't my favourite no bake treats, but that is because apple isn't my favourite dried fruit. They are enjoyable for a change, though, and are lighter than standard dried fruit and nut mixes. Making them as squares instead of balls was also nice for something different.
No-bake apple crunch squares
A apple-flavoured treat that is reminiscent of rice bubble bars and fruit leather strips
Vegan
Makes 20 squares
Ingredients
1 cup (80g) dried apple rings
1/2 cup (70g) raw cashews
1 cup (15g) puffed cereal (I used Abundant Earth puffed millet)
1 tbsp apple sauce
1 tsp vanilla (optional)
Method
Roughly chop the dried apple. Process the dried apple and cashews in a food processor until well mixed and starting to look crumbly (~ 1 minute).
Add the puffed cereal, apple sauce and vanilla to the food processor and continue processing until the ingredients are well mixed and starting to clump together.
Line a square baking tin (or a loaf tin) with baking paper and press the apple mixture firmly into the tin. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until set. Cut into squares before serving.
The best thing is, these could also be modified in almost never-ending ways - different dried fruit, different puffed cereal, and different nuts. An apricot and almond version comes to mind as a good pairing. A tablespoon of nut or sesame seed butter would add creaminess if that's your thing. These could also be made in a loaf tin, to make thicker slices, or you could double the ingredients to make higher squares.
All in all, I suspect I'll be seeing more of these sorts of squares in my kitchen in the future.
All in all, I suspect I'll be seeing more of these sorts of squares in my kitchen in the future.
What did you get up to - or make - over the weekend?
These look so tasty! I love how they have a fall feel to them :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Gabby!
DeleteFive days! Oh, Kari! So thrilling :)
ReplyDeleteP.S. Dried apples aren't my favourite either; maybe added some lemon zest would create pizzazz?
Ooh, lemon zest would be brilliant. Pizzazz indeed :)
DeleteAnd thank you!!
Five days, how exciting! I too had the joy of waking up in my own bed this morning after a few days away for dance camp. I didn't want to get out. Have a brilliant week and an even better wedding.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lisa :) And I'm glad you had that joy of your own bed, especially as an end to your wonderful time at the camp.
DeleteThese sound great - I am not so keen on dried apple either so I immediately thought of an apricot version. And I love your leaf plate. Five days is not long - they will whizz by!
ReplyDeleteThey will! They are! :)
DeleteI am quite keen to try an apricot version next time I make these. I bought dried apple on a whim but I think apricot would be a better match.
Looks really yummy- thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tasha :)
DeleteOMG - 5 days - so excited for you guys! Wishing you all the best for the big day. The apple bars look amazing. I have found two new vegan sites tonight that I love - I am all for sweet recipes that are healthy too.
ReplyDeleteThank you! And I'm really glad you've discovered some more vegan sites - sweet recipes that are healthy are a pretty great concept (mind you, not all vegan sweet recipes are healthy, but the proportion seems to be higher than average!).
DeleteI can't believe you have just five days to go. That's so exciting. And to have a lovely four week holiday after the wedding will be such a great start to marriage. Best wishes with getting everything organised for your big day xx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Charlie xx
DeleteAll the food looks incredible! Your presentation is stunning!
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
DeleteThis looks awesome! All the Best for the big day!
ReplyDeleteThanks Asmita!
DeleteI can't believe your wedding is so soon!! You must be so excited. :) These apple bars sound like the perfect thing to (not) bake :P I love how they can be adapted to just about any dried fruit!
ReplyDeleteI am getting more excited and more nervous :P But mostly excited!
DeleteI'm glad you like the look of these :)
I'm not a big apple fan either so /I'm not sure I'd like them but they look tasty!
ReplyDeleteYou could swap the apple for a different fruit? I think pretty much any dried fruit would work.
DeleteI haven't eaten dried apples in years. I like the sound of these squares and think they would be great with dried apricot too.
ReplyDeleteWow, the countdown really is on now! Hope the week isn't too stressful Kari and your wedding is a perfect day.
Thank you Mel :) And I think the dried apricot would be a winner - it's what I'll do next time I think.
Delete5 days! that is SO exciting! enjoy!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is! Thank you :)
Deleteno bake recipes are some of my FAVORITE due to the consitency - these look really good :)
ReplyDeleteMe too Kailey :) I'm glad you like the look of these!
DeleteI love this idea! The flavors seem very autumn-y to me, and I love that. : )
ReplyDeleteThanks Raechel, and thanks for stopping by!
DeleteIt's times like this I really wish I had a food processor! Ahh, the possibilities are endless, and this recipe looks so simple and yummy.
ReplyDeleteI spent so many years thinking / feeling that way :P Hopefully you'll get one eventually, but in the meantime, you could probably make a semi-version of these by mixing nut butter and apple sauce and puffed cereal by hand? I'm not sure how they'd come out but they might work!
Deletei kno i've already told u about my love affair with crumblies...nuf said. actually, i wanna see u do a whole post about a recipe for just the crumblies. :) but the whole treats here look delish! hehe
ReplyDeleteTeehee, that would be a great post - crumblies galore :)
DeleteYum! So glad that you were able to relax after a busy week. ;) Baking and making goodies is always a fun way to do that.
ReplyDeleteThese look pretty easy to make too! :) I am seeing this on top of some greek yogurt!
They would go brilliantly with greek yoghurt! Great thinking :)
DeleteErmagerd! I knew you were having a short engagement but I had no idea it was all so close! Enjoy it!!!
ReplyDeleteIt did rather creep up! I think we must be in the 'very short' category - 5 months from engaged to married :P Thank you!
DeleteDried apple isn't my favourite dried fruit either... but I agree, it's nice and light and I LOVE puffed millet... these sound like a great snack.
ReplyDeleteGetting back in your own kitchen and creating is such a god feeling after time away, no?
It is just brilliant :)
Delete