Paleo Dutch Apple Pie is a classic dessert reimagined to fit a paleo lifestyle. This rustic apple pie features a sweet and tangy apple filling, a crunchy streusel topping, and a rich crust made without refined sugar or flour. Perfect for holiday gatherings or any special occasion, this pie offers a delicious and wholesome treat for everyone to enjoy.
Fresh and Flavorful Filling
Sweet and Tangy Apples
Using fresh baking apples like Honeycrisp ensures a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. These apples hold their shape well during baking, providing a delightful texture in every bite. For added flavor, consider mixing in a bit of lemon juice or vanilla extract.
Natural Sweeteners
Maple syrup and coconut sugar replace traditional refined sugars, adding a rich, caramel-like sweetness to the filling. Combined with ghee or grass-fed butter, these natural sweeteners create a deliciously gooey and flavorful apple mixture.
Paleo-Friendly Crust
Almond Flour Base
The crust is made from almond flour, providing a nutty flavor and a gluten-free alternative to traditional pie crusts. Combined with sea salt, cinnamon, palm shortening, and an egg, this crust is both easy to prepare and perfectly complements the apple filling.
Preparation
To make the crust, simply mix the almond flour, salt, and cinnamon together. Cut in the palm shortening and egg until the mixture can be pressed together. Press the crust evenly into a pie plate and set it aside while you prepare the filling.
Crunchy Streusel Topping
Nutty and Sweet
The streusel topping is a delicious blend of finely chopped almonds, unsweetened shredded coconut, maple or coconut sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, sea salt, and honey. This combination creates a crunchy, sweet topping that adds texture and flavor to the pie.
Easy to Make
Mix the streusel ingredients, excluding the honey, in a large bowl. Once well combined, add the honey and mix with your hands until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the apple filling before baking.
Baking and Serving
Baking Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F. After preparing the crust and filling, bake the pie for 10 minutes. Add the streusel topping, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F, and bake for an additional 15 minutes. The pie should be golden brown and bubbling when done.
Serving Suggestions
Allow the pie to cool slightly before serving for the best flavor. Drizzle with dairy-free caramel sauce for an extra touch of sweetness. This pie is perfect served warm with a scoop of dairy-free vanilla ice cream or a dollop of coconut whipped cream.
Conclusion
Paleo Dutch Apple Pie is a delightful and healthy twist on a classic dessert. With its fresh apple filling, nutty crust, and crunchy streusel topping, this pie offers a delicious treat that’s perfect for any occasion. Enjoy this wholesome dessert with family and friends, knowing it’s made with clean, natural ingredients.
Paleo Dutch Apple Pie
Apple pie is about as classic as it gets, and this rustic twist is just right for a casual holiday meal with loved ones. Sweet apples, a sticky caramel sauce, and a crunchy streusel topping. Perfection.
Ingredients
FILLING
- 5 Baking Apples, like Honeycrisp
- ½ cup Ghee or Grass-Fed Butter
- 1½ Tbsp Arrowroot Starch
- ½ cup Maple Syrup
- ½ cup Coconut Sugar
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract, I use Tahitian
- 1 Tbsp Water
CRUST
- 2 cups Almond Flour
- ¼ tsp Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp Palm Shortening
- 1 Large Egg
STREUSEL TOPPING
- 1 cup Almonds, finely chopped
- ½ cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
- 1 Tbsp Maple Sugar, or Coconut Sugar
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Nutmeg
- 1 pinch Sea Salt
- 2 Tbsp Honey
Instructions
Crust
- Combine almond flour, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
- Add egg and shortening and cut in with a pastry blender until evenly combined and mixture can be pressed together between your fingers.
- Dump crust mixture into a 9" pie plate (not deep dish) and press evenly across the bottom and up the sides. Set aside.
Filling
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Peel apples and cut into wedges using an apple slicer. This will also core the apple. Discard the core. Cut each apple wedge into 3 chunks.
- Combine all filling ingredients into a medium saucepan.
- Heat over medium-high until mixture boils, stirring occasionally. Continue to boil about 5 minutes, or until mixture thickens and coats a wooden spoon.
- Remove from heat and pour into the prepared pie crust. Adjust the filling so it fills the pie crust evenly, all the way to the edges.
- Bake at 375°F for 10 minutes.
- While the pie is baking, prepare the streusel topping.
- After 10 minutes, remove the pie from the oven and top with the streusel, completely covering the apples.
- Reduce the oven temp to 350°F and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes.
- Remove pie from oven and cool on a wire rack.
- Serve warm for best flavor. Drizzle with dairy-free caramel sauce.
Streusel Topping
- Combine all streusel ingredients except honey in a large bowl. Mix with your clean hands or a fork until well combined.
- Add honey. The best way to mix it in evenly is to just get in there with your hands, evenly coating everything until the mixture is crumbly.
- Use your hands to evenly crumble the streusel on top of the pie.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 661Total Fat 45gSaturated Fat 16gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 26gCholesterol 60mgSodium 203mgCarbohydrates 62gFiber 10gSugar 47gProtein 11g
Serenity
Thursday 23rd of November 2017
For the filling step 3 - are the apples supposed to be added to the pot? Thanks!
Kendra Benson
Thursday 23rd of November 2017
Yes, the apples and all other 'filling' ingredients should be added together.
Jo
Friday 17th of February 2017
Just a little concerned about "palm " shortening. Is that made from palm oil? I haven't come across it here in Australia but palm oil is an absolute NO NO for me as clearing of the land to produce it is destroying the habitat of the Orangutans. Could you not promote an alternative shortening? Incidentally the pie looks delicious!
Miriam
Thursday 24th of November 2016
Love your site!!!! Is palm shortening the same kind of palm that is being grown by cutting down large parts of the rain forest? What's a good alternative?
Kendra Benson
Wednesday 14th of September 2016
@Lisa, I used this caramel from Elena's Pantry: http://www.elanaspantry.com/vegan-caramel-sauce/
Lisa
Wednesday 14th of September 2016
Where is the sticky caramel sauce?