How to Make a Vegan Apple Pie

Vegan apple pie replaces the butter with vegan substitutes.

Apple pie is one of the tastes of summer, and the aroma of apple pie baking calls to mind drowsy summer days, picnics and state fairs. Most apple pie, however, relies on butter, both to make the crust and the filling, making this popular pastry off-limits to vegans, who avoid all animal products. If you're trying a vegan diet for yourself or preparing a dessert for a vegan guest, your favorite desserts needn't drop from the menu. Vegetable oil or vegan butter substitute can replace the butter used in apple pie for a delicious, dairy-free dessert.

Things You'll Need

• 9-inch pie pan
• Vegetable oil-based cooking spray
• Food processor
• 1-1/2 cups unbleached white flour
• 6 tbsp. vegan butter substitute or 5 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp. white vinegar
• 2 tbsp. ice water
• 8 Granny Smith apples
• 1/2 cup vegan butter substitute or 3/8 cup vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp. unbleached white flour
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

Instructions

Pie Crust

1. Spray a 9-inch pie pan with a vegetable-based cooking spray.

2. Use a food processor to coarsely blend 1-1/2 cups of the flour and 6 tbsp. of the vegan butter substitute or 5 tbsp. of the vegetable oil. Slowly add the vinegar through the feed tube of the food processor while it's running, then slowly add the ice water until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. You may not need to add the full tablespoon of ice water.

3. Press half of the dough into the pie pan to cover the bottom and sides evenly. Reserve the other half for the top of the pie.

4. Chill the crust in the refrigerator for 30 minutes prior to adding the apple filling and baking the pie.

Pie Filling

1. Peel, core and slice the apples.

2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Melt 1/2 cup of the vegan butter substitute or heat 3/8 cup of the vegetable oil in a saucepan. Stir in 3 tbsp. flour, followed by the water and white and brown sugars until the mixture forms a paste. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to keep the mixture at a simmer.

4. Remove the pie crusts from the refrigerator and add the apples to the pie pan. Roll and cut the other half of the crust into strips and place them in a lattice pattern over top of the apples.

5. Pour the sugar mixture carefully over top of the pie. Bake the pie for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for an additional 45 minutes or until the apples soften.

References

• Savvy Vegetarian: Vegan Baking Substitutes, Egg & Dairy Free Desserts
• "Vegetarian Times Complete Cookbook"; Vegetarian Times; 1995
• Allrecipes.com: Apple Pie by Grandma Ople