Apple season is under way here in North Carolina and I am already looking forward to many, many months of apple-y desserts. Apple crisp is certainly one of the easiest desserts that you can make. It also works really well as a gluten-free dessert because there isn’t much flour in the recipe to begin with. I have been adding ground flaxseed to just about everything lately so I decided to give my simple apple crisp recipe a little boost with some flaxseed. Why not?
Flaxseed is just plain good for you and when it is ground up, you don’t even notice you are eating it. I happen to like the nutty taste of it so I will put it on yogurt or oatmeal, but incorporated into a recipe, your family will never know it is there.
A nutritionist from the Mayo Clinic, Katherine Zeratsky, gave a brief summary of the nutritional benefits of flaxseed and I am quoting it below… (Click here to read more from her article.) Just one tablespoon of ground flaxseed would provide the recommended daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids for an adult! Flaxseed is a little powerhouse! I found mine already ground at our local Earth Fare grocery store.
“Flaxseed is high in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and phytochemicals called lignans. Flaxseed is commonly used as a laxative (to improve digestive health or relieve constipation). Both flaxseed and flaxseed oil have been used to help reduce total blood cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol levels and, as a result, may help reduce the risk of heart disease.” Katherine Zeratsky, Mayo Clinic
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| North Carolina Gala Apples |
The details …
Start by chopping up a bunch of apples – enough to fill the bottom of a pie dish or 8 x 8 pan.
Combine the following ingredients in a large bowl:
1/2 cup of light brown sugar
1/4 cup of your favorite gluten-free flour
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
3/4 cup oats
6 tablespoons butter, softened
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| Brown sugar, oats, flour, flaxseed |
Crumble the butter into the other ingredients. I like to use a pastry blender. (A pastry blender is one of those VERY handy and very inexpensive kitchen tools!) If you don’t have a pastry blender you can use two forks or two knives to cut the butter into the ingredients to create a crumbly effect.
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| The handy pastry blender |
To finish …
Sprinkle the crumbly mixture evenly over the apples. Put in a 375 degree oven and cook for about 30 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream for dessert or eat it for breakfast with a nice cup of coffee. Yum!
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| Apple Crisp: Cook at 375 degrees for 30 minutes |
Ate beef stew for dinner, and then this a la mode made with some of those lovely NC apples. Oh Heaven!
Dana – Delicious! A perfect Sunday evening combo!