Is there anything more American than Apple Pie? That’s the saying right? I’d say it’s pretty stereotypical. So why not only flip it on it’s head while giving people with gluten issues a chance at indulging? That’s what I’ve done with this Gluten Free Chai Dutch Apple Pie.
Making a Tradition A Little Less Traditional
A typical apple pie is a combination of apple and cinnamon flavors. For this recipe, I utilized my favorite chai blend to change things up a bit. This blend has a significant amount of bright cardamom, coupled with warm cinnamon and ginger flavors that bring a wonderful flurry of flavors to the tongue.
Additionally, apple pie traditionally utilizes a double crust; an upper and a lower crust. This apple pie is topped with a streusel that is also a vessel to shuttle in more flavor and texture; which is what makes it “Dutch”.
How to chop all those apples
When you make apple pie, you need A LOT of apples. If you peel and chop all of those apples by hand, it can be painstaking and time consuming. I recommend an apple peeler/corer. Especially if you make an apple pie during the fall or holiday seasons, or even applesauce or apple butter. This is what they look like, and the one that I use:
The most awesome part of this device is that with a simple cranking action, an apple is pushed through multiple blades that not only peel, but uniformly slice, while removing the core. It’s easy enough for a child to use, with supervision from an adult, because make no mistake, it is very sharp!
Do I have to make this gluten free?
In short, no. Use a premade or homemade pie crust recipe! I recommend Sister Pie’s pie crust recipe that can be found here if you’re going for a scratch made pie crust.
For the Dutch/Streusel topping, just use AP flour.
Two really simple swaps to make if you aren’t avoiding gluten.
Ensuring This Pie is Gluten Free
To make this pie gluten free, make sure you’re using gluten free ingredients.
Use gluten free pie crust, get my recipe here, or take a short cut and but a premade version. Trader Joe’s makes a good one that they stock around the holidays.
Use a great gluten free flour blend. I prefer Bob’s Red Mill 1-1 Baking Flour.
Make this Chai Dutch Apple Pie? Let me know in the comments! And if you love chai flavors are much as I do, be sure to check out this recipe for Almond Chai White Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Chai Dutch Apple Pie
Equipment
- 9 inch Pie Plate
Ingredients
- 1 Pie Crust See Above for Link
Pie Filling
- 9-10 Apples Peeled, Cored, and Sliced
- ½ Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Chai Spice See Above for Link
- ½ Lemon Juiced
- 3 Tbsp Cornstarch
Crumble Topping
- ½ Cup Gluten Free Flour Blend or AP Flour
- ½ Cup Brown Sugar Packed
- 1 Tsp Chai Spice
- ¼ Tsp Salt
- ¼ Cup Cold Butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F
- In a large bowl add the apples, sugars, chai spice, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Toss to evenly coat.
- To a food processor, add all the of ingredients for the crumble topping.
- Pulse to combine, and the mixture forms pea sized granules.
- Line a 9 inch pie pan with a pie crust.
- Add the apple mixture to the unbaked pie crust.
- Top the apple mixture with the crumble topping, taking care to cover all the way to the edge of the pie.
- Crimp the edges of the pie.
- Bake at 425°F for 45 minutes.
- If the pie top or crust begins to darken too quickly, place a piece of aluminum foil across the top of the pie and continue to bake.
- Cool until warm, and serve.
