One of the most popular requests that I get during the fall season is “healthy desserts.” While I have some personal reservations about the word healthy (I could write a whole article about that) I will say that this recipe checks all of the boxes for a feel-good dessert in my books. The apples are the star of the show, so be sure to pick ones that are naturally sweet! The cobbler topping is made with a little bit of almond flour to add a little more flavor, texture, and nutrients.
This Recipe Can Be Made:
- Gluten Free
- Dairy Free
- Corn Free
- Peanut Free
- Soy Free
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
Why I Love This Recipe:
- Naturally Sweetened (Apples)
- Crowd Pleaser
- Low in Added Sugars
- 3g of Natural Protein per Serving (Almonds!)
It’s FALL Which Means it’s APPLE SEASON!
For this recipe, I recommend choosing a sweet apple. Why? Because the sweetness from the apples is the primary source of sweetness for the entire dish! I highly recommend using honey-crisp, gala, or pink lady. Avoid the bitter green apples that you might use in an apple pie!
Healthy Almond Flour Apple Cobbler (Gluten Free + Vegan)
This apple cobbler is a wonderful dessert that you can feel good about eating. It can easily be made vegan without compromising on taste or structure. It's also low in added sugars (most of the sweetness comes from the apples) and includes a little bit of protein from the addition of almond flour!
Equipment
- Chef’s Knife
- Cutting Board
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Small Bowl
- 2 Medium Mixing Bowls
- Wooden Spoon or Spatula
- 9-10” Cast Iron Skillet (or 8” x 8” baking dish or 8” pie pan)
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 9 cups sweet apples (honeycrisp, gala) (~6 apples; cored, and cut into ¼” slices)
- ⅓ cup brown sugar (sub granulated sugar)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (ground)
- 1 tablespoon Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Flour
Cobbler Topping
- 1 tablespoon flax seed (sub 1 egg)
- 1 cup Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Flour
- ¾ cup almond flour
- ½ cup brown sugar (sub granulated sugar)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons vegan butter (cold, cut into small cubes; sub regular butter or coconut oil)
- milk (sub milk alternative)
- non-stick cooking spray
- Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (optional for serving)
Instructions
Prepare Topping
- In a small bowl, scramble the egg or prepare the flax egg (see notes below). Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix the gluten free flour, almond flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir together until well combined.
- Add the cold, cut vegan butter into the flour mixture. Use a fork to gently break apart the butter until there are no large chunks and the mixture resembles wet sand. Add the egg and stir until the egg is completely incorporated into the mixture. If the mixture does not have the texture of playdough, add milk or water (1 tablespoon at a time) until it is the right consistency. Allow the mixture to rest for 15 minutes while you prepare the filling.
Prepare Filling
- Set the oven rack so that it is positioned halfway from the top. Preheat oven to 350F and lightly coat a 10” cast iron skillet (or baking dish) with non-stick cooking spray (or oil).
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the thinly sliced apples, brown sugar, lemon zest, cinnamon, and flour. Set aside while you prepare the topping.
- Pour into the prepared cast iron pan or baking dish.
- Scoop the cobbler topping evenly on top of the apple mixture. I like to do 5 or 6 scoops around the perimeter of the cobbler with 1 scoop in the middle so that each piece of cobbler has a generous amount of topping.
Bake Cobbler
- Place in oven and bake for 45-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and apples are bubbling. If the topping is starting dark before the apples are fully cooked, cover lightly with foil to prevent the topping from burning.
- Allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Best enjoyed with some homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream!
Notes
To make 1 flax seed egg, combine 3 tablespoons water with 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed and allow to sit for at least 5 minutes. Mixture should thicken in texture.