Pie Alternatives: Apple

Entertaining a large group of people can be challenging there are many with special dietary needs, no sugar, low carb, paleo, gluten free, dairy free, food dye sensitive. Therefore here are alternatives to traditional pie recipes to keep everyone’s happy and still have a delicious dish to share. We’ll start with Apple. Granny Smith, the green apple, Golden Delicious, the yellow one, Gala a multi colored reddish yellow apple and even Fuji work well. This list goes from tartness to more sugary therefore depending on preference one can choose which they would prefer².

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Using an Apple Peeler and Corer is easiest as it not only cores the apple but peels it as well. It makes the apple slices thin and decorative, they lay flat and more apples may be needed (6-8).

Another easy way to prep apples, is to leave the skin on and quarter them, but make sure they are clean. Washing fruit is important as it can help remove any residuals or pesticides that may still be on the apple skin, but a good cleaning agent may also be needed. Many options are available online or in a grocer. An article recently published offered baking soda as a possible alternative as well¹. Make sure the cleaning agent is organic and clean water is used when washing your food.

Once the apples are cleaned and dried (be careful when cutting) slice the apples into halves, quarters, eighths and if large enough sixteenths. These larger chunks versus the flat curled apple slices offer a fun alternative to shapes and are easy to spear with a fork. Approximately 3-4 apples work as more space is being taken up and the apples don’t lay flat as when peeled and cored.

Next take 3 tbsp of cinnamon, 2 tsp of nutmeg and mix together. If one is not avoiding sugar then 3 tbsp of organic sugar, coconut is quite tasty can be mixed together here as well. There are also health benefits to cinnamon^6,7. After these are coarsely mixed set aside.

Place the cut or peeled and cored apples in a large bowl and drizzle them with two tbsps of coconut oil or melted butter. Coconut oil gives more of a sweeter taste and if sugar isn't being used in the recipe this can be a nice alternative. Coconut oil is also a nice butter alternative if one is vegan or dairy sensitive and has some possible health benefits as well³. If using butter make sure it is organic and grass fed as this means the cows the butter comes from were given real food^4,5.

Once the apples are fully coated add the spices next. The best way to do this is to slowly add in about a tablespoon of the spice mixture and then mix this in to the apples by hand preferably with a wooden spoon. Sprinkle in another tablespoon and mix continue this until all has been mixed in.

Using a pie tin- ceramic is preferable or pan pour the apple mixture into it. These are ready to be placed into the oven. If there is more apple mixture that doesn’t fit it can be cooked at a later date and placed in the fridge covered with a bit of lemon juice spritzed on it so the apples don’t oxidize and begin turning brown.

Place the apple pie into the oven and cook for twenty minutes. There should be mild bubbling, but nothing overflowing. Remove carefully from oven and let cool before serving up.