This gluten free caramel apple crisp is the perfect dessert for that chilly fall weather. It’s full of warm spices and caramel. Make sure to serve it with some vanilla ice cream and an extra drizzle of caramel sauce.
Gluten Free Caramel Apple Crisp
Once upon a time, I was obsessed with Ina Garten. I loved all her recipes, I have all her cookbooks, and I’ve watched just about every single one of her Food Network episodes.
I feel like Ina is the millennials equivalent to Julia Child. Who’s with me on that?
One of my all-time favorite recipes of hers is her Old Fashioned Apple Crisp. It had the perfect crispy topping. It was basically an oatmeal cookie dough crumbled up and baked over the top of the apples. SO good.
However, the recipe made a ton. Like, enough to feed your family of 10 or all of the random dinner guests you’ll just happen to be entertaining. It was just way too much for me and my husband (before kids) so I adapted it to make less.
Then to throw a wrench into things, my husband has to eat gluten free and my daughter is lactose intolerant. So I adapted the recipe even further to fit my family’s dietary needs. Then I added caramel because, why not? Caramel and apples are amazing together and it makes a fun twist on the original.
The recipe includes notes on how I made it gluten free and dairy free to meet my family’s needs. I use my nightshade-free flour mix in this recipe just as I do for the rest of my baked goods. If you are looking for a paleo version that is refined sugar-free, try this Paleo Apple Pecan Coconut Crisp made by Demeter at Beaming Baker.
This is actually the first apple recipe I’ve made this fall, crazy right? I was just so excited about a few new pumpkin recipes this year (pumpkin banana bread and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins) that I just skipped right over the apples.
I HAD to circle back to apples though, I can’t forget about them! Especially since I’ve been meaning to share this recipe for almost 2 years now. Better late than never, right?
If you’re looking for more apples recipes because you can’t get enough of this caramel apple crisp? Try my slow cooker cinnamon applesauce or my slow cooker apple butter. Try all three if you’re feeling ambitious in the kitchen!
Also, I can’t help myself saying How easy is that?! Enjoy!
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Gluten Free Caramel Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
- For the filling:
- 1 ½ lb. Macintosh apples peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ C light brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch or tapioca flour
- ½ C caramel pieces for dairy free use dairy free caramels like Cocomels
- For the topping:
- ¾ C all-purpose flour or ¾ C gluten free flour PLUS ½ tsp xanthan gum
- 1/3 C granulated sugar
- 1/3 C light brown sugar
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ½ C old fashioned oats or gluten free oats for gluten free
- ½ C butter cold and cubed (use palm shortening for dairy free)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x9 inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the prepared apples, orange zest, lemon zest, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch. Mix well and pour into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the caramel pieces over the top, evenly distributing them.
- To make the topping, add the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, and oats to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix to combine.
- Add the cubed butter (or shortening) and mix on low to incorporate. When the dough starts to come together, crumble it over the top of the apples.
- Place the baking dish over a rimmed baking sheet (in case the apples bubble over) and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until the topping is browned/crisp and the apples are bubbling.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
Notes
Recommended Products
Nutrition Information
Disclaimers
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Facts are estimated and aren't always accurate. Please consult a doctor or nutritionist if you have special dietary needs.
This gluten free caramel apple crisp recipe can also be found on Weary Chef where I am a regular contributor.
Any advise for making this a day ahead?
I would make the crumb topping a day in advance and then refrigerate it separately and add it right before baking. The apples can be prepped a day ahead in the baking pan, just cover and refrigerate. I would bring the apples to room temperature an hour before baking and then add the crumb topping right before baking.
How many cups of apples would you use for this? We have an apple tree and need to trim out some apples so pounds of apples isn’t practical for this situation. TIA, love your great GF & DF recipes-keep up the great food!
It’s about 5 medium. So more or less depending on the size. I usually use a combination of apples – Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious.
I don’t have a stand mixer and can’t seem to get the butter incorporated. Any advice?
I would use a hand mixer or a food processor if you have it.
I just made this. Delicious! Really sweet, though. Next time I will use less caramel or skip out altogether. The top was divine!!!
Glad you liked it! The sweetness is to our liking but definitely feel free to use a little less caramel or sugar next time if that’s how you prefer 🙂
This was the best apple crisp I’ve ever tasted! The lemon and orange zest really make it bright and autumnal. The topping is deliciously crispy. I doubled the whole thing and put it in a 13 x 9 baking dish. I made the non-gf version. Thanks! Will be making this every Thanksgiving FOR SURE.
Thanks for the feedback Stephanie! So glad you liked it as much as we do!
So my husband LOVES caramel apple streusel pie but I am gluten dairy free as well so I took your recipe doubled the topping part, threw in some pecans and pressed 3/4 of it in a 9″ pie pan and crumbled rest on top of the filling, baked for 1 hour and it was his pie he loves so much but I can eat it too!!!! He LOVED it and so did I for the first time!!! Thank you!!!
I LOVE your idea of doubling the crumb and turning it into a pie! I’ll have to try that next time 🙂
Apples and cinnamon are number one fall food for me. Nothing better! I need to try this for a few people that eat GF and one also is DF in the family.
I think you hit the nail on the head with millennials and Ina! I like that you made this GF
This looks amazing! Those apples are just dripping in caramel!
I love apple crisp, definitely one of my favorite desserts!
You took one of Ina’s recipes and made it even better. I did not think that was possible! Well done!
This looks fabulous. Love the fact that this is gluten free. Perfect for breakfast or dessert!
This would be a great addition to our Thanksgiving menu!
I love both Ina and Julie, so it’s impossible for me to chose! But, this crisp… I could dig right in!
I would never have guessed that this is gluten free… love it 🙂
Totally with you on Ina! I can’t wait to dive into her new cookbook. Love how you lightened up her apple crisp recipe!
I love that you put caramel on it! Nothing completes an apple crisp quite like caramel!
Mmm! That’s gorgeous, Sharon! I love old fashioned apple crisp, too. ????