Vegan Peanut Butter Apple Crisp

This is a cut-and-paste recipe from various other recipes I have. Since I work with a vegan, and I constantly bake for my coworkers, I'm always on the lookout for vegan-friendly recipes that don't require a special trip to the earthy-crunchy store. This one fits the bill, and it actually tastes good enough that non-vegans won't feel as though they're missing anything (which is marvelous when you don't feel like making two different recipes).

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Yields: 1 9x9inch pan

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup peanut butter
• 1⁄4 cup butter flavor shortening
• 1⁄2 cup flour
• 1⁄2 cup rolled oats
• 3⁄4 cup turbinado sugar, divided
• 4 -5  apples (Macintosh, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious all work well here)
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  grated fresh lemon rind
• 2  tablespoons lemon juice
• 2  tablespoons water

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cut peanut butter and shortening into flour and 1/2 cup of sugar until crumbly (use two knives or a pastry blender).
2. Peel, core, and slice apples.
3. Pile prepared apples into a 9-inch square pan, and sprinkle with cinnamon, lemon rind, and 1/4 cup sugar.
4. Add lemon juice and water.
5. Cover apples with crumb mixture.
6. Bake for 45 minutes.
7. Serve while still warm.