Every fall, my family and I go through at least three batches of homemade apple crisp. Yeah, we like the stuff. Even though my mom and I have plans to make some next week, I couldn’t get apple crisp off of my mind last night. I thought, how could I make apple crisp a) a bit healthier and b) filling enough to justify eating it for dinner?
What I ended up with is quite possibly what I’ll be eating for the next three days.
peanut butter apple crisp (yields one serving)
ingredients:
- 1 apple
- 2 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1/4 cup granola
- 1 tbsp walnuts, chopped
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp chia seeds (optional)
- sugar or stevia (optional)
directions:
- Core and slice the apple. (FYI – an apple corer/slicer like this is a great investment.)
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- Place the apple in a bowl, sprinkle with sugar or stevia, and microwave for 90 seconds.
- In a separate bowl combine protein powder, granola, walnuts, chia seeds, and cinnamon.
- Put the peanut butter and coconut oil in a third bowl (or mug), and microwave for 20 seconds.
- Pour melted peanut butter/coconut oil over the granola mixture and combine.
- Top the cooked apples with the peanut butter/granola mixture.
I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about a mock dessert. This was seriously so good!
Not only was this tasty and filling, but I love the idea of single-serving desserts. I especially love single-serving desserts that can also pass as a meal 
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For those of you who aren’t comfortable using the microwave, I assume you could bake this for 8-10 minutes and get good results. I, however, am a) lazy and b) wasn’t sure if the peanut butter and coconut oil would burn in the oven.
If there were one more reason to love the fall season – this is it.
Another seasonal fix I’ve indulged in lately was a pumpkin donut.
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It was an impulse purchase, but what can I say? I didn’t even know pumpkin donuts existed!
Iced coffee was the natural pairing with my donut (as well as the typical self-photo-while-drinking-iced-coffee).
Clearly my sweet tooth has completely taken over, and I don’t really want to stop it. I’m healthy..like..that..?
Time to get back to the daily grind! Enjoy your Thursday, darlings 
xoxo G
- What’s your favorite seasonal dessert?
Mmm apple crisps! Has me wishing for another cold snap to come through!
awesome creation! i loveeeee pumpkin pie. can’t wait for it at thanksgiving weeee
I need that now.
Ooooo I want a pumpkin donut!!!
I absolutely love apple crisps. They just scream fall to me, along with homemade pumpkin pie! Yum!
That apple crisp looks awesome, so creative!
OK, that pumpkin doughnut has me majorly craving cider doughnuts. I use to get them every fall when I lived in MA, and they’re so tiny but so so good. (It’s required you eat at least 12.)
That looks amazing. You are right, the apple slicer is the best kitchen tool ever to have.
I started to drool a little bit looking at the PB apple crisp!
Pumpkin donuts and sugar awesomeness! I’ll take all natural sugar any day over nasty Aspartame, but that’s just me. If you want sugar, go for it lady 
You look happy and that’s what matters!
Favorite seasonal dessert, which in my opinion shouldn’t be seasonal, is pumpkin spice cake. Although with the pumpkin shortage it puts a damper from that happening
I’m sure the pumpkin donut was delicious but when fall comes around I’m think cider donuts are amazing!
AllieNic (Frisky Lemon) says
Um…that. Looks. RIDICULOUS! I actually can’t believe how good that looks…I kind of want it right NOW! I will definitely be trying this one out…
I think my favorite fall dessert is anything pumpkin related- pumpkin pie especially…
Girlfriend, you take a better photo of your morning coffee than I do! This morning I ordered a Pumpkin Spice coffee at Bruegger’s Bagel and thought I’d take a photo to post on my blog. FAIL. I totally dropped my camera and it smashed and died. Not happy!
I didn’t know they made pumpkin donuts, either! Gosh, I bet that was good!
PS- ♥ the pic! Blue def suits ya!
I need an apple corer…off to google it!
I can’t wait to make a crisp and something with pumpkin.
that looks sooo good!
this looks amazing, i think i’d eat it for breakfast:-) Do you think you could do it without the coconut oil?
Favorite fall dessert? Pumpkin bread! Anything pumpkin, really. I love me some beta-carotene.
YES, pumpkin bread is another seasonal love of mine
I actually have a great recipe for it - I’ll have to make that soon!
Yes - I’m pretty sure you could do without the coconut oil! I would use some sort of oil or liquid in its place, though, because that’s what helps the peanut butter get runny enough to coat the entire crunchy mixture. Keep me posted if you have luck with trying something else!
Seasonal Dessert? Does chocolate count
I’m unfortunately not a pumpkin person or squash.
How about a good ‘ole pecan pie?
That looks so tasty!! My sweet tooth has been taking over as well…. maybe the chill in the air has me craving some comfort foods!
My favorite seasonal dessert is definitely sweet potato pie. My family’s mainstay has always been pumpkin and apple pies for the holidays, but my best friend is from Atlanta, GA, and her mother makes bangin’ sweet potato pie. Sorry Grama, it just doesn’t compare!!
Pumpkin donut?! Umm YUM!
i would like for you very much to make me dessert. your bowl of amazingness sounds like the ULTIMATE dessert or meal or breakfast or just food party
I am so feeling the flavors of the season right now. A pumpkin donut? that sounds fab! i bought pumpkin ale earlier. so excited to drink it later. haha.
I really want a pumpkin donut now. Where did you pick that baby up?
This looks great — I love apple crisp! Love that you made it single serving because I end up eating too much crisp when I make a big pan!
I think all I can say after that post is Oh. My. Lanta! as well. Your apple crisp AND that pumpkin donut sound incredibly good. I’m going crazy over here with cravings and these aren’t helping.
Dunkin Donuts
Would you believe I just had pecan pie for the first time last year?? SO GOOD!!
Looks like a delicious, quick dessert!
If I said pie or anything with cinnamon, would that narrow it down enough for my favourite seasonal dishes?
There is WAY too much good food coming into season to choose! It’s like Sophie’s Choice or something.
Dunkin Donuts has their pumpkin muffins too! OMG..heaven I tell you, HEAVEN. I like to eat just the top..but that’s just me
I’m also drooling over your iced coffee 
Oh my gosh that looks so good. Going to make it sooooon!
Ooh this looks fantastic! I love single serving desserts too.
My favourite seasonal dessert is definitely pumpkin pie. I look forward to it all year!
Pure2raw twins says
Apple crisp looks great…but that pumpkin donut! YUM! I love anything with pumpkin, pumpkin pie is my fav!!!
pumpkin donut, wowzer, yummo!
Lainie says
Hey Gracie!
This is my first time commenting but I check your blog every day! I just recently hopped on the bandwagon of blogging myself although I am still getting used to the whole thing. I hope you’ll check it out!
Thanks for being such an inspiration for me to lead a healthy lifestyle!
-Lainie
I had a skinny vanilla latte and a pumpkin scone today so we’re kind of on the same page!! Plus I love the peanut butter apple crisp, anything paired with peanut butter
Yes…I saw the pumpkin muffins and almost died. They look phenom!!
wow fantastic dessert mine probably won’t look like that though but I will try.
My favorite seasonal dessert is pumpkin oatmeal cookies or apple crisps of course.
Danielle says
Wow - I need an apple corer after seeing that. Awesome!
My fav seasonal dessert is… pumpkin pie.
skinny latte says
I’ve never had a pumpkin donut per se - the closest thing I’ve had to them was at my old favourite haunt when I lived in Melbourne, a dodgy Chinese dumpling and noodle house, where they served up sweet pumpkin fritters. They were delicious!!
I love pumpkin cake and pumpkin scones too - classic Aussie teatime fare.
I’m looking forward to my local Starbucks bringing back pumpkin spice latte for the autumn here, the leaves are starting to fall…
saving this! Thank ya!
Donuts are my absolute fav so I would have been all over that!
The PB apple crisp that is