Looking for delicious and healthy dessert ideas to tide you over during the holiday season? What about apple crisp –one of the easiest desserts to make; perfect for both beginner and advanced chefs.
I developed this gluten free Gingerbread Apple Crisp recipe for Shirley Braden’s blogging event, Home for the Holidays Gluten-Free Style. Every day, from Monday, November 28 through Friday, December 23, a different blogger will share a gluten-free recipe that means both home and the holidays to them. Here’s more from Shirley:
Our Home for the Holidays Gluten-Free Style blogging event offers the comfort, joy, excitement, and fun of the holidays with wonderful recipes from your favorite bloggers.
A special thanks to Shirley for including me in the event. If you are in the Fredericksburg, VA area, be sure to check out the gluten intolerance/celiac support group that she runs where they discuss topics such as celiac disease, the gluten free diet and how to survive the holidays.
This time of year can be challenging and filled with dietary dilemmas. How do we stay connected to, and feel a part of, the festivities yet remain true to what our bodies need when our visual and olfactory senses are inundated by foods that might not be part of our regular program?
If you are on a special diet, this gluten free, grain free Paleo friendly dessert recipe will likely work for you. Further, I like this Gingerbread Apple Crisp because it’s festive enough to bring to a party (or serve to guests in your own home) and also healthy enough for those needing to stay away from certain foods (sugar, gluten and dairy come to mind).
Gingerbread Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 8 cups sliced Braeburn apples (peeled, cored, and sliced)
- ½ cup blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
- 2 tablespoons brown flaxmeal
- ¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons palm shortening
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Place sliced apples in a 2 quart baking dish
- Set apples aside
- In a large bowl, combine almond flour, flax, salt, spices
- Mix in shortening, honey and vanilla
- Work mixture with your hands until it forms a dough
- Gently work in chopped pecans with your hands
- Sprinkle dough over chopped apples
- Bake covered at 350°F for 60-75 minutes
- Remove from oven, and allow to cool uncovered
- Serve
For extra holiday flare, serve this apple crisp with the Vegan Coconut Whip recipe in my latest book, Gluten-Free Cupcakes.
Cillah says
Thanks for posting, sounds yummy!
Liliane says
My husband and daughter will be tickled pink when I make this. Thank you so much!
Jeanette says
Love the idea of gingerbread spices in apple crisp. We’ve been making lots of apple crisp this year and will have to give this one a try. Happy Holidays!
Kristine says
Sounds unique, looks fab! So creative, you are!
Angela says
This looks great. Love the idea of the gingerbread. Think I’ll have to try it with my gluten free, sugar free version of Apple Pie Walnut Crumble
http://www.homecookedhealthy.com/2011/10/apple-pie-walnut-crumble-gluten-free-and-sugar-free/
Mari says
Totally off topic here, but I just wanted to give a shout out to your cookbooks. I have had the first one since it came out, and I just bought the cupcake book recently. I have made two of the recipes already, and my husband and I are just loving them. I don’t know how you do it, but don’t ever stop! Your recipes are just wonderful, and I am working my way through Gluten Free Cupcakes. Someone borrowed my almond flour cookbook so I have to buy another copy of that. It’s funny how good things always seem to disappear. I just ordered my second copy at Amazon, and I am not letting either book out of my sight again. Unlike other recipes, yours taste and look like real food and are delicious. Thanks again for everything you do; it is very much appreciated.
Shirley @ gfe says
Simple, beautiful, and delicious as always, Elana! Baked apples are pure comfort food and the gingerbread almond/pecan topping gives this recipe that extra special tasty holiday touch. ;-) Thanks so much for participating in our Home for the Holidays … Gluten-Free Style event, dear! Can’t wait for the giveaway part here in a few hours, and I know our event readers can’t either. ;-)
xo,
Shirley
Kelly says
My sweet Grandma Weez used to make us apple crisp every Thanksgiving. With a huge scoop of cool whip on top when I was little. It always reminds me of her since she isnt with us for the holidays anymore. Love my Weez. And thanks for sharing a nostalgic recipe for me!
Starbright says
Thank you for sharing this recipe for apple crisp. Crisps have become a staple for our family but I am now trying to go grain free and had not come up with a recipe yet. Thanks again!
Denise B says
Looks yummy!