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Celiac.com 03/09/2024 - As the chill of winter sets in and orchards are blanketed in frost, there's no better time to cozy up with a freshly baked dessert. And what better way to make the most of the winter apple harvest than with a delectable gluten-free apple crisp? Infused with the comforting spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and the sweetness of tender apples, this timeless dessert promises to warm both the palate and the heart. Whether you're gathering with loved ones for a festive occasion or simply seeking solace on a chilly evening, this gluten-free apple crisp recipe is guaranteed to bring joy and satisfaction. Benefits of Gluten-Free Baking In recent years, gluten-free baking has become increasingly popular, driven by the growing awareness of celiac disease and gluten sensitivities. For those who must avoid gluten, whether due to medical necessity or personal preference, finding satisfying and delicious alternatives to traditional baked goods can be a challenge. Fortunately, gluten-free baking offers a wide range of benefits, from providing access to safe and enjoyable treats to promoting experimentation with new and flavorful ingredients. One of the key benefits of gluten-free baking is the opportunity to explore alternative flours and ingredients that offer unique textures and flavors. Instead of relying solely on wheat flour, which contains gluten, gluten-free recipes often incorporate a variety of alternative flours such as almond flour, coconut flour, and gluten-free oats. These alternative flours not only provide a gluten-free option for individuals with dietary restrictions but also add depth of flavor and nutritional value to baked goods. Additionally, gluten-free baking encourages creativity and experimentation in the kitchen. By exploring different combinations of flours, sweeteners, and flavorings, home bakers can discover new and exciting ways to create delicious treats that everyone can enjoy. Whether it's swapping out traditional wheat flour for almond flour in a cake recipe or using gluten-free oats to make a hearty breakfast cookie, the possibilities are endless when it comes to gluten-free baking. Overall, gluten-free baking offers a wealth of benefits for individuals seeking to enjoy delicious baked goods while avoiding gluten. With the right ingredients and techniques, gluten-free baking can be both satisfying and rewarding, allowing home bakers to indulge in their favorite treats without compromising on taste or texture. Selecting the Perfect Apples When it comes to making gluten-free apple crisp, selecting the perfect apples is key to achieving the best flavor and texture. While there are many varieties of apples available, not all are well-suited for baking. For apple crisp, it's important to choose apples that hold their shape well when cooked and offer a balance of sweetness and tartness. One of the most popular apple varieties for baking is Granny Smith, known for its tart flavor and firm texture. Granny Smith apples hold up well during baking and provide a nice contrast to the sweet crumble topping. Other excellent baking apples include Honeycrisp, Braeburn, and Jonathan, each offering its own unique flavor profile and texture. When selecting apples for gluten-free apple crisp, it's also important to consider how the apples will be prepared and cooked. Some recipes call for peeling and slicing the apples, while others leave the peel on for added texture and flavor. Additionally, the size and thickness of the apple slices can impact the overall texture of the dessert, with thicker slices resulting in a firmer filling and thinner slices yielding a softer texture. Overall, the key to selecting the perfect apples for gluten-free apple crisp is to choose varieties that are firm, flavorful, and well-suited for baking. By taking the time to select high-quality apples, home bakers can ensure that their apple crisp turns out deliciously flavorful and perfectly textured. Creating the Gluten-Free Crumble Topping Once you've selected the perfect apples for your gluten-free apple crisp, it's time to prepare the delicious crumble topping that will take your dessert to the next level. This gluten-free crumble topping is made with a combination of almond flour, gluten-free oats, brown sugar, butter, and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Together, these ingredients create a rich and flavorful topping that pairs perfectly with the sweet and tart apple filling. To begin, gather your ingredients and preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, gluten-free oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Stir the dry ingredients together until well combined, then add the cold butter. Using your hands or a pastry cutter, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Be careful not to overmix, as you want the butter to remain cold for a flaky and crumbly texture. Once the crumble topping is ready, set it aside while you prepare the apple filling. Preparing the Apple Filling To prepare the apple filling for your gluten-free apple crisp, start by peeling, coring, and slicing your apples. Depending on your preference, you can slice the apples thinly for a softer filling or leave them slightly thicker for a firmer texture. Place the sliced apples in a large mixing bowl and toss them with lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of brown sugar. These simple ingredients enhance the natural sweetness and flavor of the apples, creating a deliciously spiced filling that pairs perfectly with the crumble topping. Once the apples are coated in the spice mixture, transfer them to a baking dish and spread them out evenly. Then, sprinkle the gluten-free crumble topping over the apples, covering them completely. The crumble topping will add a delightful crunch and buttery flavor to the dessert, making it irresistible to anyone who tries it. Assembling and Baking the Apple Crisp With your apple filling and crumble topping prepared, it's time to assemble your gluten-free apple crisp and bake it to golden perfection. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake the crisp for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. Once the apple crisp is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. For an extra special treat, serve the warm apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. The combination of warm, tender apples and crunchy crumble topping is sure to delight your taste buds and leave you craving more. Gluten-Free Apple Crisp Recipe Ingredients: 1 cup almond flour 1 cup gluten-free oats ½ cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg Pinch of salt ½ cup cold butter, cubed 6 cups peeled, cored, and sliced apples 1 tablespoon lemon juice Instructions: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a baking dish. In a large mixing bowl, combine almond flour, gluten-free oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add cold butter to the dry ingredients and use your hands or a pastry cutter to work the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside. In another bowl, toss sliced apples with lemon juice to prevent browning. Arrange the apple slices evenly in the greased baking dish. Sprinkle the crumble topping mixture over the apples, covering them completely. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an extra indulgence. Enjoy your delicious Gluten-Free Apple Crisp! Conclusion In conclusion, gluten-free apple crisp is a delicious and satisfying dessert that celebrates the flavors of fall and the bounty of the apple harvest. With its tender apple filling, crunchy crumble topping, and warm spices, this gluten-free treat is perfect for sharing with friends and family or enjoying on a cozy autumn evening. By following this simple recipe and using high-quality ingredients, you can create a gluten-free apple crisp that is sure to impress even the most discerning palates. So go ahead, indulge in the flavors of fall with this irresistible gluten-free dessert.

Celiac.com 10/13/2018 - Two important principles sort of collided in my brain the other day. One was the recent recommendation to increase our intake of whole grains based on the new food pyramid from the USDA. The other was our interest in time-saving prepared foods to make dishes that are at least partially homemade. About the same time these two ideas were melding in my brain, I realized how many wonderful new gluten-free cereals and crackers are now on the market. I wondered if we could boost our whole grain intake by using ready-made gluten-free cereals or crackers in home cooking. While not all of the cereals and crackers are truly “whole” grain, most are only partially refined and still quite nutritious. So, here’s my idea: One of my favorite desserts is a fruit crisp. You can make it any time of the year, using fruits in season (in my case, fruits that have sat on the kitchen counter past their prime, yet are still edible). In the fall it might be apples. Winter is perfect for pears. I like stone fruits during summer, such as peaches, plums, or cherries. Or, if you’re really desperate just open a can of whatever fruit appeals to you. Revving Up Your Home Cooking with Ready-Made Cereals Here’s where the new cereals come in. Prepare the fruit filling according to any fruit crisp recipe or use the recipe I provide here. For the topping, I like to toss Nutty Rice or the new Nutty Flax cereal from Enjoy Life Foods with maple syrup (or honey, brown rice syrup, or agave nectar). Add ground cinnamon to taste and then sprinkle it over the prepared fruit. Spray with cooking spray and bake at 350°F until the fruit is done and the topping is browned. Sometimes to speed things up, I microwave the covered fruit filling for 5-10 minutes on high, then uncover it, add the topping, and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes or until the fruit is soft and the topping is crisp and nicely browned. I particularly like the Nutty Flax cereal because it uses both flax and sorghum for a nutritious combination. Add extra spices such as 1/8 teaspoon each of nutmeg, allspice, or cloves for even more flavor. I also like to use the granola from Enjoy Life Foods as the topping for these fruit crisps. It’s already sweetened and flavored, available in Cinnamon Crunch, Very Berry Crunch, and Cranapple Crunch. All it needs is a little oil. Of course, if you prefer, you can toss it with a little extra cinnamon plus some maple syrup (or honey, brown rice syrup, or agave nectar) to heighten the sweetness. Add extra spices such as 1/8 teaspoon each of nutmeg, allspice, or cloves for even more flavor. Sprinkle over filling and spray with cooking spray. You can also add about ½ cup of this granola to your favorite bran muffins, cookies, or quick breads. The granola supplies a nice crunch and additional flavor and nutrients. Depending on your recipe, you may need to add more liquid to compensate for the cereal. Quinoa cereals by Altiplano Gold are packaged in individual serving packets, making them especially easy to incorporate into our baking. They come in three flavors––Organic Oaxacan Chocolate, Spiced Apple Raisin, and Chai Almond––and just need boiled water to make a hot cereal. Quinoa is a powerhouse of nutrients so I like to use the cereals in additional ways as well. Using the same concept for the fruit crisp above, I just sprinkle the Spiced Apple Raisin or Chai Almond dry cereal on the prepared fruit filling. Since the cereal is already sweetened and flavored, it only needs a little cooking spray. Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. If your fruit needs additional cooking time (such as apples) try the microwave method I discuss above. You can add ½ cup of the Chocolate flavor to a batch of chocolate brownies or chocolate cookies for added fiber and nutrients. Depending on the recipe, you may need to add a little extra liquid to compensate for the cereal which counts as a dry ingredient. Creative Uses of Crackers in Home Cooking New crackers by the whimsical name of Mary’s Gone Crackers are chock-full of fiber and nutrients. They come in Original and Caraway flavors and are a nutritious treat by themselves. I also take them with me on trips because they travel so well. One creative way to use these crackers and appease your sweet tooth is to dip the whole Original-flavor cracker halfway into melted chocolate. Ideally, let the chocolate-dipped crackers cool on waxed paper (if you can wait that long) or else just pop them into your mouth as you dip them. You can also place a few crackers on a microwave-safe plate, top each with a few gluten-free chocolate chips and microwave on low power until the chips soften. Let them cool slightly so the chocolate doesn’t burn your mouth. These crackers also work great with dips and spreads. Aside from dipping in chocolate, these crackers have additional uses in baking. For example, finely crush the Original or Caraway flavor crackers in your food processor and use them as the base for a crumb crust for a quiche or savory tart. The Original flavor would also work great as a replacement for the pretzels typically used for the crust in a margarita pie. Just follow your crumb crust recipe and substitute the ground crackers for the crackers or pretzels. The crackers have very little sugar, but the Original flavor will work as a crumb crust for a sweet dessert as well. Again, just follow your favorite recipe which will probably call for melted butter or margarine plus sugar. Press the mixture into a pie plate and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes to set the crust. Fill it with a no-bake pudding, custard, or fresh fruit. The crushed crackers can also be added to breads and muffins for a fiber and nutrient boost. Depending on how much you add (I recommend starting with ½ cup) you may need to add more liquid to the recipe. I’ve just given you some quick ideas for ways to get more grains into your diet and streamline your cooking at the same time. Here is an easy version of the Apple Crisp I discuss in this article. I bet you can think of some other opportunities to make our gluten-free diet even healthier with wholesome cereals and crackers. Carol Fenster’s Amazing Apple Crisp You may use pears or peaches in place of the apples in this easy home-style dessert. If you prefer more topping, you can double the topping ingredients. This dish is only moderately sweet; you may use additional amounts of sweetener if you wish. Cereals by Enjoy Life Foods and Altiplano Gold work especially well in this recipe. The nutrient content of this dish will vary depending on the type of fruit and cereals used. Filling ingredients: 3 cups sliced apples (Gala, Granny Smith, or your choice) 2 Tablespoons juice (apple, orange) 2 Tablespoons maple syrup (or more to taste) ½ teaspoon cornstarch 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon salt Topping ingredients: ¼ cup ready-made cereal ¼ cup gluten-free flour blend of choice ¼ cup finely chopped nuts 2 Tablespoons maple syrup (or more to taste) 2 Tablespoons soft butter or margarine 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon salt Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 375F. Toss all filling ingredients in 8 x 8-inch greased pan. 2. In small bowl, combine topping ingredients. Sprinkle over apple mixture. Cover with foil; bake 25 minutes. Uncover; bake another 15 minutes or until topping is crisp. Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired. Serves 6.