This might just be better than chocolate.
I’ve had apple crisp desserts before and the amount of sugar loaded into them is outrageous. Apples are a beautiful, naturally sweet fruit…why add excessive amounts of sugar? I don’t understand it or see the need when fruit is involved. I want to taste the actual fruit, not just sugar. A little bit to enhance it is plenty.
This turned out so delicious and full of flavor, you’d think you would feel guilty eating it.
Served alongside my homemade cinnamon ice cream…..mmmmm. (That recipe coming soon!)
Recipe: Serves 6 Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 30 mins
Gluten free (Make sure all ingredients are labeled to be in a gluten free facility if you’re gluten sensitive, in case of cross contamination)
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Filling ingredients:
1 very large or 2 small honey crisp apples
1 small granny smith apple
Note: You will need about 4 1/2 cups total combined of apples
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon (I love a strong cinnamon flavor, but feel free to use less if you don’t)
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon arrowroot powder
1 tablespoon raw sugar (the thick golden crystals)
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 cup chopped pecans (you can leave out if you want, but I love the crunch and flavor they add)
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
Topping ingredients:
3/4 cup blanched almond flour
1/2 cup gluten free oat flour
3/4 cup gluten free old fashioned oats (not instant)
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/2 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1/2 teaspoon arrowroot powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon organic coconut spread, room temperature, plus extra for greasing the dish
Extra raw sugar for sprinkling on top, optional
Directions:
Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees and grease the bottom of a 9 inch pie dish with coconut spread.
Peel and slice the apples into wedges, about 1/4 inch thick. I used one very large honey crisp apple and one small granny smith apple. I chose to use mainly honey crisp apples in this dish (as opposed to all tart apples) because of their natural sweetness, making the need for sugar very minimal. You could also use all honey crisp apples if you like, but I liked adding a small amount of tart from the granny smith to it for more depth.
In a bowl, add all the sliced apples with all the “filling” ingredients and stir well. In a small cup, mix the “topping” ingredients very well. Pour the apple filling into the greased dish and spread out evenly. Pour the topping mix over the apples and spread out evenly. Sprinkle additional raw sugar on top, if desired. I sprinkled some to give it some more crunch and a nice sheen. Bake for 30 minutes or until the apples are tender, when pierced with a fork. Once they are tender to your preference, turn the oven to broil for about a minute to make the top golden brown. Best served straight out of the oven!
Try not to eat it all at one sitting!
Enjoy!
Oh I love fruit crisps or crumbles. This looks great and can’t wait to see the recipe for the cinnamon ice cream.
Thank you!! It was so satisfying!
This and a homemade cinnamon ice cream recipe? I can’t wait!!!
Thanks Alice!
What a delicious crisp my friend got everything I love
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Me too Uru!
Looks heavenly! Yum!!!!
By the way, thank you for mentioning gluten free options 
Absolutely my dear!! I’m trying to have as many as I can and accommodate the requests for them. It’s important to me! Thank you so much!
Thank you so much
It seems that more and more people are having issues with gluten. Have a great weekend and thanks again for all your wonderful recipes 
I really enjoy crumbs and crisps; especially as the weather gets cooler. They are such a great comfort food. Your honey apple pecan crisp looks and sounds so delectable! I like the strong cinnamon too, and the raw sugar. Your topping ingredients are all perfect!
Thank you so much Judy!! I really appreciate the compliments!
Better than chocolate?!?! You have peaked my interest!! YUMM!!!
Haha! Might be, might. I pretty much ate the whole thing in one day. My friend made it and her and her husband ate the whole thing after dinner…so I guess I’m not the only one, lol!
Looks so good! I know what you mean about sugar-loaded desserts, I never want it to overpower my baking. Oh and I’m looking forward to your cinnamon ice cream too!
Thank you!! I agree…it’s done way too often. I like sweets, but I also want to taste the other ingredients!
I am not a dessert person but your photos made my mouth water.
Aww that was so sweet…you made my day, truly!! Thank you for the compliment!
I can’t wait for that cinnamon icecream recipe
and I agree with you on the fact that sometimes the amount of sugar added to fruit desserts is scary
I too love a strong cinnamon flavor
I know right…I can’t get enough cinnamon
. I need to make some more of the ice cream for a post….my husband ate it all before I could take enough photos, haha!
hehehe..My husband does that too!
YUM I so agree–apples are naturally so sweet, why do normal apple crisp/pie recipes have to add so much sugar and fat? This looks like the perfect recipe to highlight their natural sweetness…pinning to make later
Also, is there anything I can sub for the arrowroot powder if I don’t have it?
Thank you so much Erika!! I hope you love it as much as my friends and I have! Absolutely, cornstarch should work just fine too.
Let me know how it turns out. Seriously, honey crisp apples are amazing..adding buckets of sugar just ruins it and I even have seen people pour sugar on apple chips….another thing I don’t understand?? lol. I like sugar too, but its just not necessary in many instances. 