Sticky pecan and melted apple sundae

Ingredients:

Pecans:

• 1 cup raw pecans
• 1tbsp coconut oil
• 2tbsp coconut sugar
• 2tsp maple syrup
• 1/4tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch of sea salt

Apples:

• 4 medium-sized ripe green or red apples (I used half granny smith, half gala)
• 1tbsp coconut oil (or vegan butter)
• 3tbsp coconut sugar (plus more for topping // or sub organic brown sugar, cane sugar, or stevia to taste)
• 1tsp ground cinnamon (plus more for topping)
• 1/2tsp fresh ginger
• 1 medium lemon, juiced (yields ~2tbsp or 30 ml as original recipe is written)
• 2tsp arrowroot or cornstarch for thickening (optional)

Toppings:

• 6-8 scoops Vanilla Bean Coconut Ice Cream
• 1 batch of Coconut Whipped Cream (optional)

How to make:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C), and arrange pecans on a bare baking sheet. While the oven is preheating, peel, core, and thinly slice apples (see photo).

• When the oven is preheated, bake the pecans for 7 minutes. Then remove from oven, top with coconut oil, coconut sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt, and toss with a spoon or spatula until evenly coated (I like doing this on the pan to save time/mess, but you can also do this in a mixing bowl). Bake for 3-6 minutes more, or until fragrant and deep golden brown. Be careful not to burn. Set aside.

• While the pecans are baking, add coconut oil and apples to a large, rimmed skillet and begin cooking over medium heat. Add coconut sugar, cinnamon, ginger, lemon juice, and arrowroot or cornstarch (optional) and toss/stir to combine.

• Cover the apples and reduce heat to medium-low to soften for about 10-15 minutes – stirring occasionally.

• Once the apples are tender and soft (sample one to check), remove the cover and increase heat to medium. Sprinkle on a bit more cinnamon and coconut sugar and stir to coat. Cook for 2-4 minutes more – this will add a slightly sticky, caramelized finish to the apples. Set aside.

• To make sundaes, divide apples between serving dishes and top each with 1-2 scoops of Vanilla Bean Coconut Ice Cream, Garnish with pecans and sprinkle with pecans.

• Best when fresh. Store leftover pecans at room temperature in a sealed container up to 2 weeks. Store leftover apples in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

*Total prep time: 30 mins

*Serves: 4

*Suitable for: all