Vegan Apple Galette (Easy Recipe)

This ultra-easy vegan apple galette is a must-try this fall! It is full of sweet cinnamon-y flavor and it features soft apple slices wrapped in a flaky vegan crust. It is much easier to make than it seems and can be whipped up last minute with only a few simple ingredients. 100% vegan and dairy-free.

Now that we are in October, all I want to make are pumpkin banana chocolate chip muffins and pear crumble, but I had tons of apples to use, so I made this vegan apple cinnamon galette instead and it was amazing! It also makes for a very versatile dessert, allowing you to experiment with other seasonal fruits.

This vegan apple galette is a delicious quick pastry dessert that's amazing in the fall or year-round. And anyone can make it, whether you are an experienced baker or not, it is so easy to make! Just as easy as making a batch of simple vegan cinnamon muffins, I promise!

It features a tender and perfectly sweetened cinnamon apple filling tucked in a flaky vegan sweet pastry crust that's made without butter. This version is entirely vegan and dairy-free, but still is just as tasty and comforting as the classic French fruit pastry.

It truly is a fuss-free homemade baking recipe that's very straightforward and meant to be rustic, so no need to look for perfection. Galettes share a lot of characteristics with fruit pies, although I find galettes even easier and quicker to make with a more charming and homey vibe. This recipe makes for an amazing last-minute treat served with ice cream or with a drizzle of peanut butter caramel sauce to accompany your afternoon tea, but also great for brunch, breakfast or as a healthy dessert.

Let me know if you give it a try! ❤️

❤️ Why you will love this recipe

• Easy vegan dessert recipe with an appetizing rustic look
• Just as good as apple pie, but without all the fuss and no pie dish needed!
• Great for the fall, but also any time of the year
• Very versatile and pretty forgiving recipe
• The soft apple contrasting with the flaky crust is amazing!
• Vegan and dairy-free recipe

🗒 Ingredients you will need (+ substitutions)

• Flour: you will need all-purpose white flour to make the crust. Avoid using bread flour and I have not tested it with whole wheat flour, although I think it would work fine too.
• Coconut oil: I like to use coconut oil instead of butter to make a vegan crust as I find it gives a similar flaky and rich crust result compared to a regular pie crust recipe. Use refined coconut oil to avoid a coconut-y flavor and make sure your oil is solid or cold when using. You can also use the same amount of vegan butter if you prefer (if it is salted, then omit the salt!).
• Cinnamon: there is a lot of room with the spices you can use. Add more or less cinnamon depending on your taste and feel free to also include ground cardamom, nutmeg and ginger.
• Lemon juice: it helps prevent the apple slices turn brown too quickly and adds a yummy zesty flavor.
• Apples: you can use any kind of apple to make this fruit galette. I used McIntosh apples because they turn almost into a compote while baking and I like a softer fruit in pies and galette. But try making it with Granny Smith (very tart and stay firm while baking, use half the amount of lemon juice or add more sugar), Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apples.
• Cornstarch: helps thicken the apple filling slightly so it does not turn watery or too juicy when slicing the galette. You can use arrowroot powder or completely omit it as well.
• Cold water: feel free to add 1-2 ice cubes to the water you want to use for making the crust. This will help prevent the oil from melting in the dough while mixing or processing.

⭐️ Find the full list of ingredients with quantities down below in the recipe card!

📝 Variations

• Other fruits: you can swap the apples for pears, berries (blackberries, raspberries or strawberries), cherries and plums. If the fruit is naturally very juicy, then you might want to add more cornstarch. You also might need to tweak the amount of lemon juice and sugar depending on their natural sour vs sweet flavor.
• Spices: especially if changing up the fruit, you can flavor the galette with vanilla extract or almond extract instead of cinnamon.
• No food processor: I like making pie crust using my food processor as it is quick, less messy and it breaks down the coconut oil perfectly in seconds. That being said, you can combine the flour, brown sugar, salt and coconut oil in a bowl and crush the oil into small crumbs using a fork or a pastry cutter.

🍽 How to make a vegan apple galette

Step 1: Combine the sliced apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch and lemon juice.

Step 2: In a food processor, add the flour, brown sugar and salt, then pulse a few times to combine.

Step 3: Scatter the solid coconut oil over the flour mixture, then pulse until uniform and the oil is broken down into small pieces (do not overprocess!).

Step 4: Add a small amount of very cold water (1-2 tablespoons at a time) until the dough comes together (to test if ready, then press the mixture into your fingers to see if it holds together).

Step 5: Transfer the dough over parchment paper and roughly shape it into a ball.

Step 6: Roll the dough into a 12-inch wide disc, then gently transfer over a large baking sheet.

Step 7: Transfer the apple slices over the disc of dough while leaving an edge of about 2 inches free of apples.

Step 8: Fold the dough over the apples leaving the center uncovered.

Step 9: Brush a small amount of plant-based milk over the folded part of the dough.

Step 10: Sprinkle some brown sugar over the dough, then bake at 400ºF for 40 minutes. If the galette becomes too dark at some point, then loosely cover it with a piece of aluminum foil.

⭐️ The detailed recipe can be found down below in the recipe card!

💡 Baking tips

• Make sure your coconut oil is solid and not liquid. This is essential to make a crust that's flaky with a light texture. If it is very warm in your house and your jar of coconut oil tends to be liquid, then place it in the fridge for an hour before using.
• Do not over-process or overmix the vegan galette crust mixture! Small chunks of coconut oil still intact are what you are looking for to get a flaky result. If you overmix, then you can end up with a tough and chewy crust. Aim for a crumbly and rusty mix and have a peek at the quick video in the recipe card for a visual.
• Add just enough cold water to bring the dough together without adding too much. For me, it is usually 3-4 tablespoons. You are looking for a crumbly texture that holds well when pressing into your fingers.
• Limit how much you handle the dough! Your hands are warm and will melt the coconut oil if you handle the dough too much, plus you don't want to work the gluten to ensure the crust is flaky!
• The fruit filling can caramelize and the crust might turn golden brown pretty quickly, so watch closely while it bakes. I usually cover the galette loosely with a layer of aluminum foil after 30 minutes.

🍎 Serving suggestions

This galette is great served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or coconut whipped cream. If serving for breakfast or brunch, then garnish with a dollop of vanilla coconut yogurt instead.

For a nice treat, drizzle vegan peanut butter caramel over and dust more cinnamon or some powdered sugar, if desired.

❗️ Storage tips

I find fruit galettes to be best enjoyed within 24 hours as the juice from the fruit can turn the crust softer and less flaky. Keep the galette at room temperature for 24 hours, then transfer to the fridge (in an airtight container) if you need to store it a little longer (no more than 3 days).

❓ FAQs

I hope you like this vegan apple galette recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

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