Gluten-Free Apple Crisp
This Gluten-free Apple Crisp is the perfect rustic fruit dessert! Its warm filling reminds me of caramel apples and it is topped with a hearty streusel made from gluten-free and nut-free ingredients. To elevate this somewhat healthy dessert to the next level, be sure to enjoy it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Apple season is here! What better time than now to get cozy with a serving of Gluten-Free Apple Crisp, fresh out of the oven? Baking is the perfect activity for a chilly day, and the aroma of apples, cinnamon, and sugar will fill your whole house.
Before perfecting this recipe, I had my biases against apple desserts. However, this finalized recipe for apple crisp is a game-changer: rich in flavor without being overly sweet and baked perfectly to achieve soft, not mushy, apples!
INGREDIENTS FOR GLUTEN-FREE APPLE CRISP
This Gluten-Free Apple Crisp recipe may seem to have a long list of ingredients, but each one of them has been carefully selected to make a harmonious fruit dessert that is rich without being overly sweet. Continue to see what I used and why.
For the Filling:
Apples: Feel free to use whatever semi-tart or tart apple you prefer. I like a mixture of Pink Ladies and Granny Smith for a sweet but not overly tart crisp.
Lemon juice keeps the apples fresh.
Maple syrup is a natural sweetener that adds depth and warmth.
Alcohol and Extracts: Vanilla extract, bourbon, and amaretto all pair nicely with the apples, all while adding depth.
Tapioca Starch is a gluten-free thickener that will keep your apple filling from being too watery.
Butter gives the filling a caramel consistency and flavor.
For the Crips:
Gluten-free Grains and Seeds: Gluten-free oats, buckwheat groats, sunflower seeds, and all-purpose gluten-free flour are the base for this Gluten-Free Apple Crisp streusel. They make the topping hearty with a satisfying crunch.
Sweeteners: coconut sugar keeps this dessert from being overly sweet, while a touch of brown sugar adds depth.
Binders: melted butter is the element that holds the crisp together while adding that amazing rich flavor that no other ingredient can replicate
Spices: cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and salt compliment the flavors in this dessert making it warming and perfect for fall.
WHAT ARE THE BEST APPLES FOR APPLE CRISP?
The best apples to use when making apple crisp are semi-tart or tart apples. These apples are usually crisper and hold their shape better while baking. They also have a slightly acidic flavor that helps to balance out the richness of the sugar and butter in the recipe.
You can use your favorite semi-tart or tart apples. Here are a few suggestions if you don’t know where to start: Pink Ladies, Honeycrisp, Cameos, Braeburn, McIntosh, Jonathan, Empire, Granny Smith.
I’ve tested this recipe with both Pink Lady and Granny Smith apples and each one resulted in its own unique flavor. Using exclusively Pink Lady apples will result in a sweeter and softer apple crisp. Using only Granny smith apples will result in a crisp with a sharper flavor. I think using a mixture of both would create the ultimate balance of sweet and tart!
DOES APPLE CRISP CONTAIN GLUTEN?
This apple crisp recipe happens to be gluten-free, but you wouldn’t even know it! Rustic fruit desserts are very easy to convert into a gluten-free treat which is one reason why I love them.
I’ve made my version gluten-free by thickening the filling with tapioca starch instead of flour and using gluten-free grains such as oats and buckwheat in the crisp topping. I also sub a gluten-free flour where regular flour would normally be used.
There is no need to save this recipe just for apple season! It’s so versatile that you can just swap whatever seasonal fruits are available for the apples.I can’t wait to use this template with berries in the spring, peaches in the summer, and pears in the winter- there is literally a crisp for every season! I’d love to hear from you if you make this recipe or try it with a different fruit. Happy baking!