Vegan Bourbon Cobbler (Peach, Nectarine, Strawberry, Blackberry)

This is a vegan variation of my recipe: Southern Bourbon Fresh Peach Cobbler Southern Bourbon Peach Cobbler. This tastes slightly different because I use coconut, but very tasty, and you wouldn't think it was vegan if someone hadn't told you. I've found nectarines are very nice (and inexpensive) in my area during the summer, but any fruit or combination could be used. Some possibilities include: peaches, nectarines, strawberries, blackberries, cherries, raspberries, plums, blueberries, mango, apricots, rhubarb, and other berries and stone fruit. The recipe would have to be varied if you wanted to use a less juicy fruit like apples or an acidic fruit like pineapple.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 12-16

Ingredients

• 3  cups nectarines or 3  cups  peaches, peeled and sliced
• 2  cups strawberries, sliced
• 1 1⁄2 cups  unbleached cane sugar or 1 1⁄2 cups brown sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1  dash ground cloves
• 2  ounces Cointreau liqueur or 2  ounces  orange liqueur
• 4  tablespoons  fruit jam
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  lemon extract or 1⁄2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1⁄2 lemon, juice of
• 1⁄3 cup applesauce
• 1 1⁄2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2  tablespoons wheat germ
• 1  tablespoon flax seed meal
• 1⁄2 cup coconut milk or 1⁄2 cup soymilk
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 cup margarine (butter flavored)
• 1  cup  shredded coconut
• 1⁄2 cup sugar, for topping (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Combine all ingredients up to lemon juice in a large bowl and let sit.
3. Pour apple sauce on bottom of an 8 1/2" by 11" baking pan.
4. Combine flour with remaining ingredients except sugar for topping.
5. Drop tablespoon fulls of the dough onto the apple sauce on pan to cover. Leave some small gaps as this helps the dough rise through the fruit to get crisp on the top.
6. Pour fruit mixture over dough.
7. Bake for 45 minutes or until dough is cooked.
8. Top with remaining sugar if desired and bake an additional 5-15 minutes until top is crisp. You can also try the broiler, or a kitchen torch to carmelize the sugar. It is easy to burn the top doing this, so be sure to check regularly if this is your chosen method.