Gluten Free Apple Crisp (Ina Garten Recipe)

This Gluten Free Apple Crisp is based on the recipe by Ina Garten! It's made using fresh apples, citrus, and a streusel topping with oats.

My recipe for Ina Garten Apple Crisp first appeared on Sunday Supper where I am a contributor.

This Ina Garten Apple Crisp is one of my go-to desserts during the fall baking season. It's easy to prepare and serves all the cozy vibes that we love as the weather turns cooler.

I'm not a baker by nature but when I'm looking for inspiration I turn to the masters – People like Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa. Apple crisp is a quintessential fall dessert and this one is based on her Old Fashioned Apple Crisp recipe.

It’s classic Ina Garten – Rustic and elevated at the same time. And of course it’s totally mouthwatering. Ina's recipe is not gluten free, but I have adapted it to be so, but it's every bit as delicious as the original.

This apple crisp is made with a combination of sweet and tart fresh apples that are combined with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon and orange zest. The citrus adds a layer of flavor that isn't found in other apple crisp recipes.

The apples are baked with a buttery oat streusel topping until hot and bubbly. The streusel is crunchy, the apples tender, and the whole thing is perfect served with some whipped cream or ice cream.

Jump to:

• Which Apples Are Best For Apple Crisp?
• Ingredients For Gluten Free Apple Crisp
• Do The Apples Need To Be Peeled First?
• How To Make Streusel Topping
• How To Make Apple Crisp
• How To Tell When Apple Crisp Is Done
• How To Make Homemade Whipped Cream
• What To Serve With Apple Crisp
• Can This Apple Crisp Be Made Ahead?
• How Long Does It Last In The Fridge?
• Can It Be Frozen?
• Gluten Free Apple Crisp (Ina Garten Recipe)

Which Apples Are Best For Apple Crisp?

The key to any apple dessert are the apples themselves. It's important to choose apples that are crisp and not overripe. Overripe apples may lead to soggy apple crisp.

Ina's recipe is made using either McIntosh or Macoun apples. McIntosh apples are great because they're the perfect balance of sweet and sour. I recommend using them if you can find them.

The problem is that McIntosh and Macoun apples are not available or easy to find in many regions of the United States or across the world.

If you are unable to find them (as I was), I recommend a combination of sweet and sour apples for that perfectly balanced flavor profile.

If you can't find McIntosh apples I recommend a mixture tart apples like Granny Smith and a sweeter variety such as Gala, Braeburn, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady.

Ingredients For Gluten Free Apple Crisp

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 5 medium-large Granny Smith Apples (or any variety of tart apples)
• 5 medium-large Gala Apples (or any variety of sweet apples, such as Braeburn, Honeycrisp, or Jonagold)
• 1 Lemon (zest and juice)
• 1 Orange (zest and juice)
• 1 ¼ cup Sugar (split)
• 2 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1 tsp. Nutmeg
• 1 ½ cups Gluten Free Flour Blend (or AP flour if not gluten free)
• ¾ packed cup Brown Sugar
• 1 cup Gluten Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats (or regular old fashioned rolled oats if not gluten free)
• ½ tsp. Kosher Salt
• ½ lb. Unsalted Butter (cold) (equals 2 sticks butter)
• 2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream (optional)

Feel free to use 5 lbs. of McIntosh or Macoun apples in place of the Granny Smith and Gala apples if you can find them.

Do The Apples Need To Be Peeled First?

When it comes to apple desserts, I recommend peeling the apples first. The apple skins can be tough and make for an unappealing texture after the apple crisp has baked.

To prepare the apples, all that's needed is to peel and dice them. Once the apples are diced, they are placed in a large mixing bowl and tossed with both granulated and brown sugar, warming spices, and both lemon and orange juice and zest.

To make sure that the apples cook evenly, it's important to make sure that they are relatively the same size.

1. To make the filling, peel 5 medium-large sized tart apples such as Granny Smith and 5 medium-large sized sweet apples such as Gala (or 5 lbs. of McIntosh or Macoun apples).
2. Dice the apples into chunks, making sure they are all relatively the same size to ensure that they cook evenly.
3. Place the diced apples into a large mixing bowl.
4. Using a Microplane, add the zest of 1 whole lemon and 1 whole orange. Cut both the lemon and orange in half and squeeze 2 Tbsp. of lemon juice and 2 Tbsp. of orange juice into the bowl of apples.
5. Add ½ cup of granulated sugar, 2 tsp. cinnamon, and 1 tsp. nutmeg to the apples.
6. Stir all of the ingredients until completely combined. Set aside.

How To Make Streusel Topping

The next step is to make the streusel topping. I have to admit that I’m a big fan of streusel topping. I love the buttery crunch and chunks of oatmeal on top of just about any dessert.

Streusel is a crunchy crumb topping made from butter, sugar, and flour. Sometimes oats are added to streusel topping, as is the case with this gluten free apple crisp.

This recipe is gluten free and calls for a gluten free flour blend, such as Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Flour. It's also made with gluten free old fashioned rolled oats. Feel free to use AP flour and regular old fashioned rolled oats if gluten is not an issue for you.

The streusel topping is easily made using the paddle attachment of a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer or any stand mixer. You can use an electric hand mixer set on low speed as well.

It's very important that the butter is cold so that it incorporates into the streusel properly. If the butter is too warm, it will create a doughy texture and the streusel won't be crumbly.

1. Cut ½ lb. (equals 2 sticks) of cold unsalted butter into chunks.
2. Add 1 ½ cups gluten free flour blend (or AP flour if not gluten free), ¾ cup granulated sugar, ¾ packed cup brown sugar, 1 cup gluten free old fashioned rolled oats (or regular old fashioned rolled oats if not gluten free), ½ tsp. kosher salt, and the diced butter to the bowl of a stand mixer.
3. Place the paddle attachment onto the stand mixer and mix the streusel on low speed until the mixture is crumbly and roughly the size of peas.

If you find that the mixture is too doughy or buttery, simply add more flour and mix until the streusel resembles the texture of small peas. The streusel can be combined using a fork if needed.

How To Make Apple Crisp

As far as desserts go, this gluten free apple crisp is easy to prepare.

All that's needed to make it is to pour the apples into a buttered baking dish, add the streusel topping, and bake until the apples are hot and bubbly.

Ina’s recipe calls for an oval 9 x 14 x 2 inch baking dish so by all means use that if you have one but my baking vessels are pretty basic so I went with a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and it seemed to work just fine.

Feel free to use a 9 x 13 inch metal, glass, or ceramic cake pan or baking dish in place of the oval baking dish if needed.

Place the baking dish on top of a sheet pan if you are concerned about it spilling over the sides of the dish. The sheet pan can help to catch any drips in the oven.

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Generously butter a 9 x 13 inch baking dish to ensure that the apple crisp doesn't stick to the surface as it bakes.
3. Pour the apple mixture (along with any juices) into the baking dish and spread them evenly over the dish.
4. Pour the streusel topping evenly over the apples until they are completely covered.
5. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for one hour.
6. Remove the apple crisp when it has finished baking.
7. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

How To Tell When Apple Crisp Is Done

The streusel topping on the apple crisp will become golden brown and the apples will get nice and bubbly as they cook. The sugars in the dish caramelize as it bakes creating a nice color and candy-like appearance around the edges.

The apples should be easily pierced with a fork or knife when they are finished baking. They should be soft but not mushy.

This apple crisp smells amazing as it bakes. One of the best things about fall desserts is the incredible scent of apples, spices, and buttery topping.

How To Make Homemade Whipped Cream

This step is optional, but a delicious addition to homemade apple crisp.

Making your own whipped cream only takes a few minutes and it totally worth the effort. The whipped cream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or prepared while the apple crisp is baking in the oven.

All that's needed to make it is 2 cups of cold heavy whipping cream and the whisk attachment of a stand mixer or a handheld electric mixer.

Feel free to add 2 Tbsp. of sugar, maple syrup, or sweetener of choice if you'd like to sweeten the whipped cream a bit.

1. To make the whipped cream, pour 2 cups of cold heavy whipping cream into the bowl of a stand mixer (feel free to add 2 Tbsp. of sugar or sweetener of choice for sweeter whipped cream).
2. Using the whisk attachment, mix the whipped cream on medium speed for 3-4 minutes, or until it forms stiff peaks (alternately, you can use an electric hand mixer).
3. Store the whipped cream in the refrigerator until needed.

What To Serve With Apple Crisp

You can serve this dish while it's still warm. I find it to be delicious on its own, but a scoop of homemade whipped cream, crème anglaise, or ice cream takes it over the top.

A drizzle of caramel sauce, maple syrup, honey, sorghum, or any other sweetener would be a tasty addition.

And, of course, you can't serve apple desserts without a cup of coffee.

The addition of orange and lemon zest gives this recipe a bright and vibrant flavor. It’s unlike any apple crisp I’ve tried and found it to be a lovely change. The citrus in this dessert really pops!

It doesn’t feel heavy like many fall desserts but still retains that richness that we crave this time of year.

Love fall desserts? Check out these recipes!

• Crustless Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Pumpkin Panna Cotta
• Maple Pecan Pie
• Pumpkin Bread Pudding
• Maple Bourbon Walnut Pie
• Gluten Free Pumpkin Scones
• Gluten Free Pumpkin Waffles
• Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake
• Baklava Tartlets

Can This Apple Crisp Be Made Ahead?

This gluten free apple crisp can be made the day ahead.

1. Simply prepare the recipe as directed, allow to cool completely, cover and store in the fridge for 1 day.
2. To reheat, place the baking dish in an oven heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook until warmed through.

How Long Does It Last In The Fridge?

This apple crisp lasts 1-2 days covered at room temperature or 3-4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Make sure to allow it to cool completely before transferring to the refrigerator for storage.

Can It Be Frozen?

Yes, this apple crisp can be frozen.

How To Freeze

1. Prepare the recipe as directed (using a freezer-safe baking dish) and allow to cool completely before transferring to the freezer for storage.
2. Tightly cover with a later or plastic wrap and a layer of foil.
3. Label with the date and store in the freezer up to 3 months.

How To Reheat

1. Transfer to the refrigerator 24 hours before heating and allow to thaw.
2. Remove the plastic wrap and foil and heat in an oven heated to 350 degrees until warmed through.

In the words of Ina Garten herself, 'How easy is that'?

Love apple desserts? Check out these recipes!

• Cast Iron Skillet Apple Crisp
• Gluten Free Apple Pie
• Gluten Free Apple Galette
• Buttermilk Apple Cake
• Sour Cream Apple Muffins

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