It may not be pumpkin spice time yet (Says who? It’s always pumpkin spice time to me!) but apples are ripening and it’s a great time to whip up some apple crisp. I am gathering with friends this evening, so I made a chai apple crisp that is gluten-free for one of my friends’ dietary needs.
You can’t fault me for rushing Autumn if I’m using chai spices! And anyway, there are so many benefits to chai spices. Medicinally they’re immunity boosting, digestion aiding, circulation stimulating, and so much more—check out THIS blog post for more on that. Chai spices also help soothe, relax, and even help with sleep. And symbolically / spiritually, many of these warming spices are said to bring prosperity, protection, joy, and divinatory insight. Plus, they’re just cozy and tasty! Perfect for a gathering with friends paired with tart Granny Smith apples.
Here is the recipe!
Gluten-Free Chai Apple Crisp—
Ingredients
For the filling—
- 8-10 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced or chopped
- 2 Tbsp gluten-free flour blend
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice mix (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves) or ¼ tsp of each
- 1/4 – 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the crumble—
- 1 cup gluten-free old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup gluten-free flour blend
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
- 1/8 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp cardamom
- 1 stick of butter of choice, cold, cubed
Method
Preheat oven to 375° F. Grease a 9 x 13 glass baking dish and set aside.
Prepare apples and put in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle with sugar, flour, and spices and stir to coat; add vanilla extract and stir again. Scoop this mixture into your greased baking dish.
In the same mixing bowl if you’d like, mix the oats, flour, spices, and salt well. (If you’d like to ease back on the spices, omit them from the crumble.) Add the brown sugar and butter and cut in with a pastry blender or fork until pebbly consistency is reached. Sprinkle over the apple filling evenly.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes; cool before serving.
Notes
Serves 6-8
Substitute in your favorite chai spices and play around with the amounts to your preference!
Would also be amazing with walnuts in the crumble topping.
This recipe could easily be adapted to be non gluten free with conventional flour.
Are you a big fan of apple crisp? And do you think August is too soon for it? Let me know in the comments!
The Herbology Faerie 