Winter Market Maple Dream (Print Version)

Warm apples, toasted pecans, and maple glaze combine for a cozy gluten-free dessert.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Fruit

01 - 4 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Gala), peeled, cored, and sliced
02 - 1 pear, peeled, cored, and sliced

→ Nuts

03 - ½ cup chopped pecans

→ Sweetener

04 - ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
05 - ¼ cup coconut sugar or light brown sugar

→ Spices and Flavorings

06 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
09 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Crisp Topping

10 - ¾ cup certified gluten-free rolled oats
11 - ½ cup almond flour
12 - ⅓ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed (or dairy-free substitute)

→ Garnish (optional)

13 - Extra maple syrup for drizzling
14 - Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (gluten-free, optional)

# Step-by-step Instructions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - In a large bowl, toss apples, pear, ¼ cup maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt until evenly coated. Spread mixture in prepared baking dish.
03 - In a separate bowl, blend oats, almond flour, coconut sugar, and chopped pecans. Add cold cubed butter and work into mixture with fingertips or pastry cutter until crumbly.
04 - Evenly sprinkle oat topping over fruit layer. Drizzle remaining 2 tablespoons maple syrup over the top.
05 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until topping is golden brown and fruit is bubbling.
06 - Allow to cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Optionally drizzle extra maple syrup and add vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It fills your home with the kind of scent that makes people linger in the doorway.
  • The topping gets so golden and crisp you might eat it straight off the spoon.
  • Its gluten-free without tasting like compromise.
  • You can assemble it in one bowl and forget about it while it bakes.
02 -
  • Cold butter is non-negotiable, if its too soft the topping will turn greasy instead of crumbly.
  • Dont skip the salt in the fruit mixture, it balances the sweetness and makes the spices sing.
  • If your fruit is especially juicy, toss it with a tablespoon of cornstarch or tapioca starch to avoid a soupy bottom.
03 -
  • Toast the pecans in a dry skillet for three minutes before adding them to the topping, the difference is startling.
  • Use a mix of tart and sweet apples for more dimension, one variety can taste flat.
  • If the topping browns too fast, tent the dish with foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.

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