No Added Sugar, Low Carb and Gluten Free

As I’m obsessed with sugar and carbs, I’ve been playing around with certain health foods for a while now. I guess I’m trying to make them tastes naughty, because naughty is far more appealing. Don’t get me wrong – I love salads and veggies, but I also love desserts. Too much in fact and while the weather is slowly turning cooler, I’m turning to more comforting foods for warmth and sweetness. Anything with sugar for an energy kick and carbs for comfort.

If you’re like me (and the reason why you’re looking for this recipe), you’re probably wanting to cut back on the sugar or carbs, or both. Although apples do contain natural sugars, they are not completely sugar or carb free, however I haven’t added any extra.

So if you’re doing a strict low carbohydrate diet, you’d probably want to swap the apples for a fruit that contains lower amounts of sugar (berries are good). But if you want something free of gluten or just a pudding to cook for the family with a little less guilt attached then this is perfect.

How it Started

My husband, Darrel came home from a weekend in the West Country and presented me with a carrier bag full of cooking apples. He’d been staying with a family and these apples were from their tree.

I considered a few ideas for them, one being an alternative to our usual crumble and custard.

I have a lot of almond flour in my pantry which I buy in bulk from Amazon and I’ve tried and tested a lot of recipes. The majority I have to say are pretty grim. Mainly because it’s a hard substitute for regular flour – because it tastes nothing like flour. Being made of almonds, it’s going to taste like almonds. So I felt to get the best from it I’d bring out the almond flavour. The flaked ones on the top give it a lovely crunch.

I also decided at the last minute to add orange to it. I just felt as though it would work. This was literally tried and tested last night for dessert, and I’m eating it for lunch today. It’s scrummy.

 Here it is, no added sugar or carbs

Oh, and I warn you I make things up as I go along, so feel free to tweak it to suit your taste. Especially with certain sweeteners as some are sweeter than others!

(Serves 4)   Ingredients:

• Approx 5 large cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 50 g granulated sweetener of choice (I used erythritol)
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• Juice and zest of half an orange

• 250 g Almond Flour
• 100 g Butter (unsalted)
• 75 g granulated sweetener of choice
• Handful of flaked almonds

Pre-heat the oven to 180°c

In a large saucepan, add the sliced apples and put on a low heat on the hob. Add the sweetener and mixed spice and cook over a low heat. Stir occasionally so the apples do not stick to the bottom of the pan.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl add the almond flour and butter. With clean hands, rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. If it becomes too sticky, add another spoon of almond flour. Add the sweetener and rub this in as well. Set aside.

Once the apples have broken down and softened slightly (push a fork into them to test), add the juice of half an orange and stir in well. Mix in the zest then turn off the heat.

In an ovenproof dish, pour in the stewed apple mixture and even out. Next sprinkle on the crumble mix so it evenly covers the top of the apples. Then add a handful of flaked almonds, spreading evenly over the top.

Put the crumble in the oven and bake for 30 – 40 minutes, until the topping has browned.

Serve with sugar free custard or cream. I personally like it with plain Greek yogurt.