Tag

walnuts

Browsing

I’ve been making a variation of this healthy gluten-free apple crisp for the last 6+ years! But it wasn’t until this year that I finally decided to sit down, perfect it, and write out each ingredient.

It’s just one of those staple recipes I come back to every fall/holiday season. It’s that perfect end-of-day treat, best enjoyed warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream… and maybe even a healthy homemade pumpkin spice latte on the side?? Yup, now we’re talkin’! So head to your local orchard, pick alllll the apples, then run home and bake up this cozy apple crisp.

overhead image of healthy gluten free apple crisp in a baking dish

What Makes This the BEST Gluten-Free Apple Crisp?

  • Quick and Easy: No complicated steps, just mix, sprinkle, and bake!
  • Wholesome Ingredients: Made with healthier alternatives like coconut sugar and almond flour.
  • Perfect Texture: Gooey apples with a crisp, buttery oat topping. YUM!
  • Adaptable for Dietary Needs: Can easily be made vegan and nut-free without sacrificing flavor.
  • Delicious Fall Flavor: The combination of tart apples, cinnamon, and a touch of lemon gives this dessert a warm and comforting taste.

What You’ll Need to Make This Recipe

Apples: Granny Smith apples are recommended because they hold their shape well and provide a nice tartness that balances the sweetness of the topping. Other firm apples like Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Fuji are also great options.

Coconut Sugar or Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness without overpowering the dish. Coconut sugar is less refined and has a subtle caramel flavor.

Corn Starch: Helps thicken the apple juices as they bake, preventing the filling from becoming watery.

Lemon Juice (Optional): Brightens the apple filling and enhances the flavors. It also prevents the apples from browning too much before baking.

Cinnamon: Essential for that classic fall flavor. It adds warmth and depth to both the filling and the topping!

Rolled Oats: Provides a crisp, crumbly texture to the topping. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if necessary.

Almond Flour: A great gluten-free alternative to regular flour, adding a subtle nutty flavor and additional texture to the topping.

Butter (Non-Dairy Optional): Adds richness and helps create a crispy topping. Non-dairy butter works perfectly if making this vegan. I used Miyoko’s non-dairy butter and it works great in this recipe!

Top 5 Apples For Baking

  1. Granny Smith: Tart and firm, making them perfect for baking as they hold their shape.
  2. Honeycrisp: Sweet, juicy, and crisp, adding great flavor and texture.
  3. Pink Lady: Sweet with a nice tartness, they retain their shape well when baked.
  4. Braeburn: Well-balanced between sweet and tart, perfect for crisps and pies.
  5. Fuji: Sweet and firm, they add a great depth of flavor to any baked dessert.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

  • Make it Nut-Free: Replace almond flour with oat flour or a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to make the recipe nut-free.
  • Vegan Option: Use non-dairy butter to keep it fully vegan.
gluten free apple crisp on a plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Can I Make Other Gluten-Free Fruit Crisps?

Absolutely! This versatile crisp recipe can be adapted with various fruits:

Cherry Crisp: Use fresh or frozen cherries in place of apples. Reduce the coconut sugar slightly to account for the cherries’ sweetness.

Pear and Cranberry Crisp: Replace apples with sliced pears and add 1 cup of fresh cranberries for a tart twist.

Peach Blueberry Crisp: Substitute peaches and blueberries, but reduce the sweetener slightly as these fruits can be naturally sweeter.

Why This Recipe is Perfect for Any Occasion This gluten-free apple crisp is not just another dessert; it’s a comforting, warm, and healthier treat that everyone can enjoy. Whether you’re accommodating dietary restrictions or just looking for a delicious fall dessert, this crisp checks all the boxes. Plus, it’s easy to adjust, making it the ideal recipe for any gathering.

Gluten-Free Apple Crisp

5 from 2 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes
Total time

35

minutes

This healthy gluten-free apple crisp is the easiest and best fruit crisp you’ll ever make. It’s perfectly sweet with a crumbly oat topping, and ready in no time! This recipe is not only gluten-free but can be adapted to be dairy-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free.

Ingredients

  • For the apples:
  • 5-6 apples, peeled and thinly sliced (about 1/8-inch thin)

  • 1/4 cup coconut sugar, or brown sugar

  • 1 tablespoon corn starch

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (optional)

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • For the crisp:
  • 1 cup rolled oats

  • 3/4 cup almond flour

  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar, or brown sugar

  • 6 ounces butter, cut into 1-inch cubes (I used non-dairy butter)

  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
  • Add all apple ingredients to a 9-inch baking dish and toss together until evenly coated, then spread apples into an even layer around the dish.
  • Add all crisp ingredients to a large bowl. Use a fork to mix together, until a crumbly mixture forms. Sprinkle crisp topping evenly over the apples.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes or until apples are soft, then let cool slightly before serving.

Recipe Video

Did you make this recipe?

Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

Like this recipe?

Follow us @samdoesherbest on Pinterest

Carrot cake is my all-time FAVORITE kind of cake! And a few weeks ago I realized – I’ve made healthy carrot cake cookies, gluten-free carrot cake muffins, and even carrot cake baked oats but I’ve never made an actual carrot CAKE before. I know, I was shocked too. So I found the time and started recipe testing!

I knew my carrot cake had to be a few things – gluten-free, dairy-free, and ideally refined sugar-free. I also really wanted to keep this cake recipe as healthy as possible, so I stuck to almond flour as the base, and coconut sugar and maple syrup to sweeten it. But don’t worry, I wasn’t willing to compromise on taste or texture, so after a few (failed) tests I finally did it! The BEST EVER gluten-free and dairy-free carrot cake, naturally sweetened and oh-SO delicious.

gluten free and dairy free carrot cake ingredients on a table.

What You’ll Need to Make Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Carrot Cake

Eggs: Room temperature eggs blend more evenly into the batter, resulting in a uniform texture and improved rise during baking, creating a fluffy and tender cake.

Coconut Sugar: If you don’t have coconut sugar, brown sugar will work in its place! Both impart a delicious caramel flavor to this healthier cake recipe.

Maple Syrup: Maple syrup contributes a natural sweetness to the cake, enhancing its flavor profile without overwhelming the other ingredients, while also providing moisture for a soft and moist crumb.

Almond Flour: Almond flour serves as the star ingredient in our gluten-free cake, contributing a delicate nutty flavor and providing moisture for a moist and tender cake, making it an ideal choice for those following a gluten-free or grain-free diet!

Shredded Carrots: Wrapping shredded carrots in a paper towel helps to remove excess moisture, preventing the cake from becoming overly dense and ensuring a light and airy texture.

gluten free and dairy free carrot cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting on a baking sheet.

Tips and Tricks

  • Bring your eggs to room temperature before baking to ensure they incorporate seamlessly into the batter, resulting in a lighter and fluffier cake.
  • Pat the shredded carrots dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture, preventing the cake from becoming soggy and dense.
  • Start with a small amount of milk in the cream cheese frosting and gradually add more if needed to achieve the desired consistency, ensuring it’s spreadable yet holds its shape.
a slice of gluten free and dairy free carrot cake.

This Carrot Cake Recipe Is…

The BEST Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Carrot Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

4 from 3 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: DessertDifficulty: Medium
Servings

10

servings
Prep time

20

minutes
Cooking time

25

minutes
Total time

45

minutes

This gluten-free and dairy-free carrot cake is simply heavenly – and made in just one bowl! It’s bursting with warm spices, shredded carrots, and topped with a luscious cinnamon cream cheese frosting. This cake is an incredible treat for any occasion!

Ingredients

  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, or coconut sugar

  • 1/3 cup maple syrup

  • 1/4 melted coconut oil

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 1/2 cups almond flour

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 1/2 cups shredded carrots, wrapped and dried in a paper towel to release as much moisture from the carrots as possible

  • 3/4 cups walnuts, roughly chopped

  • 1/2 cup raisins

  • For the cinnamon cream cheese frosting:
  • 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened (I used non-dairy cream cheese)

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened (I used non-dairy butter)

  • 4 cups powdered sugar

  • 3-4 tablespoons milk (I used non-dairy milk)

  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line two 6-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. Then, coat pans with a light layer of oil to prevent sticking.
  • In a large bowl, beat together the eggs and coconut sugar or brown sugar with either a hand or stand mixer on high speed until pale and thick, about 5 minutes.gluten-free-carrot-cake-step-1
  • Add in the maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Beat for a few seconds to combine.
  • Add in the almond flour, cinnamon, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. Beat for one minute, or until the batter is fully combined. Then, add in the shredded carrots, chopped walnuts, and raisins, and use a spatula to fold those ingredients into the batter.gluten-free-carrot-cake-step-02
  • Transfer and divide the batter between the two prepared cake pans and bake 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted down the center of each cake comes out mostly clean.
  • Carefully remove the cakes from the pan by sliding a sharp knife around the outside edge of the cake, then flipping the pans over onto a wire cooling rack. Let the cakes cool completely on the wire rack before frosting.gluten-free-carrot-cake-step-03
  • Once cakes are cool, make the cream cheese frosting by adding all frosting ingredients to a large bowl and beating with either a hand or stand mixer until fully combined. Start by using just 3 tablespoons of milk in the frosting, then add an additional tablespoon of milk if the frosting is too thick.gluten-free-carrot-cake-step-04
  • Place one of the cooled cakes on a cake stand or serving plate, then spread 1/3 of the frosting on top. Then, place the other cooled caked on top of the frosting layer and cover both stacked cakes with remaining frosting.
  • Spread the frosting into an even layer over the top and around the outside of the cake. Then, for additional decoration, pressed chopped walnuts around the sides of the cake. Either serve cake immediately or cover and store in the fridge for up to 1 week.gluten-free-carrot-cake-step-05

Recipe Video

Did you make this recipe?

Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

Like this recipe?

Follow us @samdoesherbest on Pinterest

This gluten-free zucchini bread is deliciously moist! It’s super easy to make and loaded with fresh zucchini. Enjoy a thick slice of this gluten-free zucchini bread with a little butter for breakfast or as a snack!

gluten-free zucchini bread on a baking sheet.

The Story Behind This Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread Recipe

My parents were those people that built a garden during quarantine. Anyone else?? And while it took a while to enjoy the fruits (literally) of their labor, oh man was it worth all their hard work! They have strawberries, blueberries, lettuce, every herb you can think of, and a whole BUNCH of zucchini. Like A LOT of zucchini. So when they sent me home a couple weeks ago with a massive bag of homegrown zucchini, I knew exactly what I was going to do with it. Though I had never made gluten-free zucchini bread before, so I took a few notes from my gluten-free banana bread recipe, tweaked things a bit, and this incredible recipe was born!

sliced gluten-free zucchini bread on a baking sheet with milk on the side.

What You Need To Make Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread

Zucchini – This dark green veggie is loaded vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants! It’s also high in fiber and has been proven to aid healthy digestion. Good-for-you zucchini also flourishes in the summer months! (A big reason why my parents currently have SO much of it right now).

To prep zucchini for this recipe, simply slice off one end and run the zucchini down a cheese grater. Continue to grate the zucchini until you have one heaping cup worth of shredded zucchini. Once grated, you’ll wrap the zucchini in a dish towel and squeeze out as much of the liquid from the zucchini as possible. This summer vegetable holds on to a lot of water, and to avoid a soggy zucchini bread, you’ll want to squeeze out as much of that water as you can. Once the water is removed, you’re ready to use your shredded zucchini in this gluten-free zucchini bread recipe!

Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour – I use and love the King Arthur Measure for Measure Gluten-Free Flour for most of my gluten-free baked goods recipes. It’s a solid gluten-free flour that holds its structure when baked and never fails me. However, you can use your favorite gluten-free all purpose flour for this recipe. My one suggestion is to always make sure that whatever gluten-free all purpose flour you use contains xanthan gum. Xanthan gum is crucial to binding and quite literally keeping everything together.

gluten-free zucchini bread step 1
gluten-free zucchini bread step 3
gluten-free zucchini bread step 4

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

  • Make it Nut-Free: Omit the almond flour in this recipe and use an additional 1/2 cup of gluten-free all purpose flour instead.
  • Make it Vegan: To make this a gluten-free and vegan zucchini bread, try using either two flax eggs, one ripe mashed banana, or 1 cup of apple sauce in place of the eggs in this recipe.
  • Add Gluten: Use 2 cups of regular all purpose flour in place of the gluten-free all purpose flour and almond flour.

Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: SnacksCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

45

minutes
Total time

55

minutes

This gluten-free zucchini bread is deliciously moist! It’s super easy to make and loaded with fresh zucchini. Enjoy a thick slice of this gluten-free zucchini bread with a little butter for breakfast or as a snack!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shredded zucchini

  • 1 1/2 cups gluten-free all purpose flour, see Notes

  • 1/2 cup almond flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 2 eggs

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil or butter, melted

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit and lightly grease a 9×5 loaf pan.
  • Wrap the shredded zucchini in a dish towel and squeeze over the sink to remove as much water from the zucchini as possible, then set aside.
  • Mix together the gluten-free all purpose flour, almond flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, melted coconut oil, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until combined.
  • Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold together until no flour remains.
  • Gently fold in the shredded zucchini until just combined.
  • Transfer batter to prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour: I use and love the King Arthur Measure for Measure Gluten-Free Flour in this recipe, though you can use any all purpose gluten-free flour you’d like as long as it contains xantham gum.

Did you make this recipe?

Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

Like this recipe?

Follow us @samdoesherbest on Pinterest

Fresh and crunchy shaved Brussels sprout salad, finished off with an out-of-this-world maple dijon dressing! A quick and easy side dish, comes together in just 10 minutes. A gluten-free salad, with nut-free and vegan options!

brussels sprout salad in a a bowl with serving utensils.

What You’ll Need to Make Brussels Sprout Salad

Brussels Sprouts – You can either buy shaved Brussels sprouts, or shave them yourself with a mandoline or sharp knife. If using a mandoline, cut off the the stem end of each sprout, then run the sprout down the mandoline to thinly slice. Or, if using a knife, remove the stem end then place the sprout on its side on a cutting board, then make thin slices through the sprout. Once shaved, your sprouts are ready to add to this delicious salad!

Pomegranate Arils/Seeds – First thing I want to note is that pomegranate arils are the exact same thing as pomegranate seeds. When buying your pomegranate for this salad, you have two options, you can either purchase the seeds out of the pomegranate, or you can purchase a whole pomegranate and remove the seeds yourself. I always opt for the latter option because it’s so much cheaper, and super easy to do! For help on how to cut a pomegranate, check out my step-by-step tutorial HERE.

Walnuts – Chopped walnuts add the perfect crunch to this recipe! Walnuts are creamy and buttery, and simply so good in this salad. However, if you don’t have walnuts, feel free to use any nut you have on-hand! Others I recommend are pine nuts, chopped pecans, or even unsalted pumpkin seeds.

Soft Cheese – Any soft cheese will taste great in this Brussels sprout salad! I used a soft chèvre goat cheese, and it was perfectly tangy and delicious. Though crumbled feta, blue cheese, or even freshly grated parmesan cheese work perfectly too.

dressing being poured over brussels sprout salad.

Tips and Tricks

  • This is the perfect make-ahead side dish for holiday parties or potlucks! The flavors get better with time, so go ahead and dress the salad then let it sit in the fridge until ready to serve. I just wouldn’t recommend letting it sit for more than 4 hours before eating, at that point, it’ll begin to lose its crunch.
  • Have fun with this recipe! Don’t be shy, switch up ingredients based on your preferences. Sub pears for the apples, blueberries for the pomegranate, and use any kind of cheese you’d like!
close-up image of brussels sprout salad in a bowl.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan: For a vegan Brussels sprout salad, either replace the cheese with your favorite vegan soft “cheese,” or leave the cheese out altogether, it’ll still be delicious and full of flavor!

Make it Nut-Free: Simply leave out the walnuts, or replace them with unsalted pumpkin or sunflower seeds.

Add Protein: Take this from a side dish to the main course by adding some lightly seasoned chicken (grilled or oven-roasted is best), or bulk it up with a can of your favorite white beans!

Brussels Sprout Salad

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: SidesDifficulty: Easy
Servings

6

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

0

minutes
Total time

10

minutes

Fresh and crunchy shaved Brussels sprout salad, finished off with an out-of-this-world maple dijon dressing! A quick and easy side dish, comes together in just 10 minutes. A gluten-free salad, with nut-free and vegan options!

Ingredients

  • For the salad:
  • 4 cups thinly sliced Brussels sprouts

  • 1 apple, thinly sliced

  • 1/2 cup pomegranate arils (seeds)

  • 1/3 cup walnuts, roughly chopped (pecans or pine nuts work too!)

  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries

  • 1/4 cup soft cheese, crumbled (goat cheese, feta, gorgonzola, etc)

  • For the dressing:
  • 1/3 cup olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

  • 1 garlic clove, minced

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

  • Add all salad ingredients to a large bowl and toss.
  • Add all dressing ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Pour dressing over salad, then either let sit in fridge for up to 3 hours, or serve immediately.

Recipe Video

Did you make this recipe?

Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

Like this recipe?

Follow us @samdoesherbest on Pinterest

A delicious peach crisp loaded with fresh fruit, and an easy crump topping. Loaded with simple, good-for-you ingredients, a dessert so healthy you could even eat it for breakfast! Perfectly sweet, best served warm with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream – YUM.

peach crisp in a pie dish with vanilla ice cream on top.

What You’ll Need To Make Peach Crisp

Peaches – Use fresh, not frozen peaches for this easy crisp recipe! Slice each peach in half, remove the pit, then slice them into 1/4-inch pieces. Either leave the skin on or peel them before slicing, it’s up to you!

Corn Starch – Corn starch, arrowroot starch, or tapioca starch will all work in the filling of this recipe. A tablespoon of either thickening agent will help the filling stick together.

Rolled Oats – Any type of rolled oats will work! The only oats you should avoid are steel-cut and/or Irish oats. Or, for a paleo version of this recipe, replace the oats with extra almond flour and chopped nuts!

peach crisp in a bowl with vanilla ice cream on top.

Tips and Tricks

  • Let the peach crisp cool for 5-10 minutes before serving! This’ll give the filling enough time to set, and prevent those peach juice from running out when served. Also, don’t forget to serve it with a big ole’ scoop of cold vanilla ice cream – it’s simply the BEST!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Paleo: For a paleo fruit crisp, use arrowroot starch instead of corn starch in the filling, and replace the rolled oats with an extra 1/4 cup almond flour plus 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans.

Make it Gluten-Free: This recipe is already gluten-free! However, to ensure no traces of gluten in your peach crisp, be sure to use a gluten-free certified corn starch as well as gluten-free certified rolled oats.

Easy Peach Crisp (One-Bowl!)

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes
Total time

35

minutes

A delicious fruit crisp loaded with fresh peaches, and an easy crump topping. Loaded with simple, good-for-you ingredients, a dessert so healthy you could even eat it for breakfast! Perfectly sweet, best served warm with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream – YUM.

Ingredients

  • For the filling:
  • 4-5 peaches, pitted, pitted, cut into 1/4-inch slices

  • 1 tablespoon corn starch

  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • small pinch cinnamon

  • For the crumb topping:
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats

  • 1/2 cup almond flour

  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

  • pinch of salt

  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, solid

  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
  • Add all filling ingredients to a bowl and toss to coat peaches, then transfer to an 8×8-inch baking dish.
  • Add all crisp ingredient to a bowl and mix together until combined.
  • Sprinkle topping over filling and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.

Recipe Video

Did you make this recipe?

Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

Like this recipe?

Follow us @samdoesherbest on Pinterest