Gluten and Milk Free Apple Crisp made in the crock pot. Oh so yummy!!

Fall Season, Apple Crisp in the Crockpot

By: Laura D. Field of Gluten and Milk Free Liftestyle/Reflective Tapestry of Life

This morning, having a good start to my day, with hubby sleeping in due to his not feeling well and apples sitting on the table to be used for the usual quick snack of a crunchy deliciousness, I decided to make my guy one of his fall favorite sweet treats: Apple Crisp 🙂

Nothing better than on a gorgeous fall day, than to prepare a fall and winter favorite. The smell of apples and cinnamon permeating throughout the house, always seems to enhance my favorite New England weather.

Please know, that if you have diabetes or other sugar restrictions, that you might have to control your serving size, as this is one yummy, sugar craving treat. The bonus is that it cooks for 3 hours, on low, in your crockpot/slow cooker. After the peeling and mixing things together, you are left with 3 luxurious hours of enjoy tea with a good book, sewing, knitting, crochet, painting…whatever your fancy. You won’t even need an alarm to check on things, as your olfactory senses will do the work of bringing you back to the kitchen to turn the crockpot off and let cool. That is if you have the patience in waiting.

Before I post any recipe, I always test it out on my husband as well as my own taste buds. And I am quite sure you will enjoy this treat.

So, since I already teased my Facebook friends about my making this earlier morning, I should allow their imaginary senses to actually create and enjoy this treasured treat themselves.

Gluten and Milk Free Apple Crisp made in the crock pot. Oh so yummy!!

Crockpot Apple Crisp – Gluten & Milk Free

By Laura D. Field of Gluten and Milk Free Lifestyle

Serves 6-8 (1/2 c servings) ~ Cooking Time: 3 hours. ~ Prep. time: 30 min.

INGREDIENTS:

For the apple mixture:

• 10 large Macintosh apples (best if fresh from the farm), peeled, cored, and cut into bite size pieces. You could use slices if that is your preferences.
• ½ c. packed light brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar (I used Stevia: 1:1 ratio = 1 cup sugar = 1 cup Stevia)
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. nutmeg
• “If” you use salt, I would not use more than 1/4 tsp. I tend not to use salt in  most of my cooking.

For the crisp topping:

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats (I am not celiac, just have sensitivities to gluten, so I am fine with regular old fashioned oats. Otherwise be sure to purchase Gluten Free old-fashioned oats. It will turn out just as delightful)
• ¾ c. all purpose gluten free flour. I use Bob Red Mills.
• ¼ c. packed light brown sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• ½ c softened Earth Balance soy free, milk free butter substitute. If you do not have issues with casein/dairy, please use a good quality butter.
• again, if you must use salt, no more than 1/4 tsp.

Optional topping:

• Ice cream!!!
• Whip Cream!!!

Although we chose to not add either topping, it still tasted quite well. But toppings can certainly add to the experience of enjoying this dish.

DIRECTIONS:

Make the apple mixture:

1. Place your bite sized apples in the crockpot/slow cooker.
2. Mix together the dry ingredients listed in the apple  mixture until evenly mixed.
3. Add this mixture to the apples and stir evenly throughout, making sure the apples are well coated.
4. Let this mixture sit while preparing the crisp topping mixture.

Make the crisp topping:

1. Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, (optional salt) in a large bowl.
2. Mix these dry ingredients until well combined.
3. I use a pastry cutter to cut my butter into this mixture. If you do not have this kitchen tool, use your fingertips to work the butter into the mixture. NOTE: I do find that mixing the dry ingredients well, allows the butter option to mix in easier.
4. Mix this crisp topping mixture until well uniformed. It will be crumbly.
5. Before adding this topping, mix the apple mixture one more time and spread out evenly into your crockpot.
6. Sprinkle the crisp topping over your apple mixture.

Cook the apple crisp:

1. Cook on low for 3 hours, until apples are soft. 3 hours worked out quite well for me. If you are in a hurry, there is the option to cook on high for two hours.
2. Turn the heat off the crockpot/slow cooker.
3. Let stand for 30 min. to 1 hour, with the lid on, before serving. (Unless of course, you simply can’t wait that long, but be forewarned…it is hot and can burn the inside of your mouth, so try not to be tempted.)
4. If you desire, serve with frozen dessert (ice cream, coconut ice cream, etc.) of choice, or with whipped cream.

I do not pretreat my crockpot/slow cooker for this recipe. Some things I do, but for this, due to the amount of butter/milk free substitute, I did not find that it was essential.

I hope that you are able to enjoy this delightful dessert. And if not now, be sure to save to your Pinterest, in order to enjoy making at a later date.

Be well, be healthy and enjoy the foods you eat.

Laura – Gluten & Milk-free Lifestyle – Blogger, paid Freelance writer

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