Leaving room for dessert isn’t an easy thing to accomplish when there’s a delicious Thanksgiving feast before you. Don’t worry, though. With this healthier version of classic apple pie, you can feel better about squeezing a little in!
You shouldn’t have to feel guilty about treating yourself to a delicious piece of pie at the end of your Thanksgiving dinner. Fortunately you won’t have to thanks to this healthier alternative to the traditional apple pie! It uses heart-healthy oat flour and protein- and monounsaturated fat-rich almond flour instead of white flour. And rather than the butter or lard commonly used in traditional pies, this one relies on coconut oil, which DoctorOz.com reports might help lower cholesterol and improve the body’s resistance to viruses and bacteria. In addition, omega-3-rich chia seeds are used instead of flour to soak up the apple juices. And to add sweetness in a lighter way, just a 1/4 cup of maple syrup and 1 teaspoon of Truvia are used. Truvia is a calorie-free sweetener made from the stevia plant, while maple syrup is a source of manganese and zinc. So this holiday treat isn’t just delicious — it’s nutritious too!
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Healthier apple pie
Serving size 6 to 8
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1-1/2 cups rolled oats, ground into a flour consistency
- 1 teaspoon Truvia calorie-free sweetener (or other stevia-based sweetener)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup coconut oil (in its solid form)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 7 medium-sized apples (McIntosh apples or others similar in flavour work great)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1-1/2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Directions:
Mix the dry ingredients
In a medium bowl, combine the almond flour, oat flour, Truvia and salt.
Cut in the oil
Cut hard coconut oil into the flour mixture.
Finish the dough
- Add in the vanilla extract.
- Combine the cold water and apple cider vinegar in a small glass. One tablespoon at a time, pour the liquid into the bowl, mixing the dough with your hands as you go. You want to add just enough liquid to bring it together but not so much that it becomes sticky. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, and place it in the fridge to chill.
Prepare the apples
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Wash, peel, core and slice the apples into small pieces. Place them in a medium bowl, and add the maple syrup, chia seeds, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir to combine.
Prep the crust
Unwrap the dough, and place it in a pie dish. Press the dough into the pie dish in an even layer along the bottom and up the sides. Poke holes in the dough with a fork.
Prep the pie
Pour the apple mixture into the pie dish. Place the dish on a tray, and bake the pie in the oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until the crust begins to lightly brown and the apples are tender.
Finish and enjoy
Remove the pie from heat, and let it cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
More healthy dessert recipes
Healthy fruit cobbler
Baked stuffed apples: A healthy fall dessert
Guilt-free chocolate brownies
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