Raw Apple Cookie Recipe + FP UK Bonfire Night

Remember, remember the 5th of November! Celebrating the UK winter celebration ‘Guy Fawkes Night’ with Sophie from Dust Granola.

Any excuse for a themed bake, right? Having missed last year’s Bonfire night festivities, I cannot wait to celebrate! The atmosphere is one-of-a-kind. Families and friends coming together, viewing amazing firework displays, warming up in front of the biggest bonfire you will ever see, sharing a giggle whilst feeling 10 years old again, and wanting nothing more than a bag of marshmallows or a toffee apple.

Whether there is a fireworks display scheduled in your town or city, or you’re holding one at home for this year’s Guy Fawkes Night, I see every reason to get in the mood with some festive treats. Living here in London, it is my and my friends’ ongoing tradition to attend the local bonfire event. It kicks off in the early evening with food vans and a fun fair, leading up to the always spectacular fireworks display which, for me, is the highlight of the night! This year I decided I’m going to have a few friends round beforehand, roasting up some autumnal root veg and, of course, a healthy, vegan version of a childhood favourite — toffee apples.

Now these are no ordinary toffee apples. No, these are scooped onto a raw spiced almond cookie, topped with your favourite coconut yoghurt and a sprinkling of my Dust Granola. No, these are, in fact, a taste bud explosion! Much like the fireworks display we would be ooh’ing and ah’ing over later. So onto the recipe.

Makes 6 cookies
Ingredients:
For the cookie 
1 cup of pitted medjool dates
1 1/2 cups ground almonds (you can use whole and whizz them up in a processor yourself, too)
3 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

For the apples 
3 medium-sized apples – sliced thinly
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp clove – ground
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
2 tbsp date nectar/syrup
optional: pinch of Himalayan salt

*You could also use mixed spice here — I happened to have them separately. You’d need about 3-4 tsp.

Tools:
food processor
grease-proof paper/baking paper
lined baking tin (or plate will also be fine)
cookie cutter – my preferred shape was a star — what shouts fireworks-inspired cookies more, right?!

rolling pin – hands will also do just fine

What to do:
1. First, preheat your oven to about 150 degrees. Now onto making the cookie base. Place all of your ingredients into a food process/blender and whizz together slowly until the ingredients combine. Leave a small amount of the ground almonds with which to roll your dough out. You may also need to scrape down the sides of your blender.
2. Once you have a dough-like consistency, sprinkle the remaining almond meal onto a surface where your dough does not stick. Press or roll out and use your cutter to create about 1cm thick shapes.
3. Place your cookies onto a plate or tray and place in the fridge/freezer for about 30 minutes to harden up. You may need to leave them for a little longer if putting in the fridge.
4. Now for those delicious sticky toffee apples. Thinly slice your apples, leaving the skin on. Put in a baking tray and add the rest of the ingredients. You can add more spice, if desired, and a tiny pinch of salt. Bake until slightly browned, soft and gooey. Around 20-30 minutes, but do keep an eye on them!
5. Remove your cookies from the freezer, spoon a good dollop of the warm apples on each, and serve with your favourite dairy-free coconut ice cream or yoghurt (and not forgetting a sprinkling of Dust Granola and some extra maple syrup)! These also make for a killer leftover breakfast, — just add a few chopped fresh apples or other desired fruit, another handful of Dust Granola, and you’ve got yourself a pretty amazing, healthy starter meal!

+How do you celebrate Bonfire Night? 

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