Gut Healthy Gluten-Free Apple Crumble Recipe with Pears

Fall produce is so bountiful and this time of the year, baking is a real treat. Whether temperatures are falling where you are or not, it’s hard to resist cozy, comforting fruit desserts like this healthy, gluten-free apple crumble with pears, which lets you fully embrace the flavors of the season.

This delicious, comforting dessert is just what you want this time of year. It’s full of fiber, free from gluten, dairy, and refined sugar, and naturally sweetened with apples, pears, dates, and maple syrup. Not only that, but this gluten-free apple crumble is top 9 allergen-free, making it the perfect fall dessert for just about everyone.

The best part? The crumbly streusel topping you sprinkle over the top of the fruit that gets golden, crispy, and delicious in the oven. If you find yourself with lots of fresh apples and pears, you’re going to love this easy recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Gluten-Free Apple Crumble Recipe:

• High in Fiber: Pears and apples are both higher-fiber fruits, which can help support healthy digestion. Plus, oat flour also adds additional fiber to this sweet treat. The fiber helps feed the good bacteria in your gut and promotes motility
• Free from Common Allergens: This easy pear & apple crumble doesn’t contain any dairy, gluten, eggs, soy, nuts, or refined sugar, making it a great option for those with common allergies or dietary restrictions.
• Naturally Sweetened: This healthy baked fruit dessert is naturally sweetened with dates or date sugar and maple syrup (plus a little sweetness from the pears and apples) instead of refined sugars.
• Quick and Easy: This crumble comes together in no time at all using simple ingredients. The filling is mixed in one bowl, then poured into a baking dish, topped with crumble topping, and baked for about 30 minutes. It can be on your table in under an hour. 

Ingredients (Serves 6)

For the Filling:

• 2 large pears, diced
• 3 large apples, diced (use any apple varieties you prefer – pink lady or honey crisp would be great!)
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch or cornstarch
• 5 tablespoons date sugar (or 8 dates, pureed)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the Topping:

• 1 ½ cups oat flour (if you don’t have any oat flour, you can make this by blending up certified gluten-free oats in your high-speed blender or food processor until it’s a flour consistency)
• 4 tablespoons date sugar (or coconut sugar)
• 5 tablespoons tapioca flour (or arrowroot starch)
• 4 tablespoons coconut oil, melted (or avocado oil)
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• *I topped the crumble with a prebiotic vanilla bean coconut yogurt that’s dairy free from Cocojune for an extra gut health benefit.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and set aside an 8×8 or 9×9 inch square baking pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the filling ingredients (pears, apples, arrowroot starch, date sugar, vanilla, lemon juice, and cinnamon) and mix well until combined.
3. In a separate medium bowl, prepare the crumble topping by combining oat flour, date sugar, tapioca flour, melted coconut oil, and maple syrup. Mix until it has the texture of wet sand.
4. Assemble the crumble by pouring the apple filling into the baking pan. Flatten pieces of the crumble mixture with your fingers and spread it over the apple mixture in an even layer, leaving small gaps for the fruit to peek through.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until the top turns golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
6. Allow it to cool slightly before serving. If you’d like, serve with a dollop of coconut whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream (make sure to use dairy-free!). Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Nutrition Details

My healthy gluten-free apple crumble is full of fiber from the pears, apples, and oat flour, which can help promote healthy digestion. It’s also made using date sugar or pureed dates (if you use whole dates, they add even more fiber). In addition to sweetening the crumble, dates can also add minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium, essential for your overall health and well-being.

Finally, this crumble uses coconut oil instead of butter, which would typically be used in a crumble topping. Coconut oil may be useful as a quick form of energy, help promote satiety, and may be a good source of antioxidants.

Swaps and Substitutions

• Fruit Swaps: Rather than using pears and apples, you can swap in many different fruits, based on what you prefer. Peaches, nectarines, and berries would be lovely in this crumble in warmer weather. You could also add in fresh cranberries in the cooler months, or Italian plums in late summer and early fall.
• Switch Up Your Sweetener: If you can’t find date sugar and don’t have any on hand, you can simply puree or mince dates yourself at home or use another sweetener like maple syrup, honey, coconut sugar, and the like. Of course, if you need or prefer, you can use dark brown sugar in this recipe, though it won’t be refined sugar-free.
• Fat Swaps: If you’d prefer not to use coconut oil, you can opt for avocado oil instead for a more neutral flavor, or even olive oil, though the flavor will come through. If you’re really in a pinch, you could use vegan butter here, but avocado oil would be a better option.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can this crumble be made ahead?

If you’d like to make this crumble ahead of time, you can either prep the filling and crumble topping and store the two components separately before assembling and baking when ready to serve it or you can assemble the crumble fully and then freeze it unbaked for up to three months. When you’re ready to serve it, pop it in the oven and bake it until the filling bubbles and the crumble topping is golden brown and crispy.

What should I serve alongside this gluten-free apple crumble?

This crumble is delicious on its own, but you can also serve it alongside a scoop of dairy-free ice cream, dairy free yogurt or with a dollop of coconut whipped cream on top. The creaminess is the perfect contrast to the fruity dessert. 

This gluten-free fruit crumble recipe is the perfect way to make the most of apple season. With the added sweetness from the pears and the cinnamon adding the comforting flavor of warm spices, it’s a real crowd-pleaser. It’s nourishing, delicious, and a total winner!