Craving an apple pie but don’t want to go through all the effort? These easy baked stuffed apples are just what you need!
They’re simple to throw together and perfectly portioned for parties and entertaining! Just serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a sweet treat.
Some people like to hollow out a whole apple and stuff with streusel, but I like to slice my apples in half instead. The gluten-free streusel to apple ratio is higher, which is obviously always a good idea in my book!
You’ll love this recipe because:
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Apples – Choose crisp varieties like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for the best texture and flavor. Make sure to core them properly, leaving a well for the stuffing.
- Brown Sugar – Use vegan brown sugar if following a vegan diet. Check the source of your brown sugar to ensure it’s vegan, as some refined sugars may be processed with bone char.
- Gluten-Free Flour Blend – Opt for a high-quality gluten-free flour blend that is designed to be a one-to-one substitute for all-purpose flour. Brands like Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1, King Arthur Flour Gluten-Free Blend, or Namaste Gluten-Free Flour Blend work well.
- Gluten-Free Certified Oats – Ensure that your oats are certified gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination with wheat. Purity protocol oats, which are grown in fields free of gluten for a specified period, are the best choice.
- Ground Cinnamon and Ground Nutmeg – These spices provide the classic warm, fall flavor. You can adjust the quantities to suit your personal taste, or experiment with other spices like cardamom or cloves for a unique twist.
- Salt – A pinch of salt enhances the overall flavor of the streusel topping. You can use regular table salt or sea salt based on your preference.
- Unsalted Butter or Vegan Butter Substitute – Use cold, cubed butter for the streusel. If you’re following a dairy-free or vegan diet, choose a suitable vegan butter alternative like Earth Balance. Keep in mind that different vegan butters may have varying flavors, so select one with a taste you enjoy.
- Water – Adding water to the baking dish helps keep the apples moist during baking and prevents them from drying out. You can leave it out if you prefer firmer apples, but it’s recommended for a tender texture.
For the gluten-free flour blend and oats, it’s crucial to check the labels for gluten-free certification or the “purity protocol” label. This ensures that these ingredients are free from cross-contamination with gluten during production. Using certified gluten-free oats and flour is key to keeping the recipe truly gluten-free, making it safe for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities.
Step-by-Step instructions
This recipe is so easy to make and perfect for when you have some extra apples laying around. In fact, you can easily cut this recipe in half or double it, depending on how many apples you have! Baked apples are a great Fall dessert that is reminiscent of apple pie, without all the fuss of rolling out the pie dough!
The below photos with matching steps are not the full recipe, but are meant to help you see the recipe made at various stages so you can make these baked apples perfectly every time.
For the ingredient list with measurements, full instructions, printable recipe, and additional notes, please scroll down to the recipe card.
What makes this recipe gluten-free?
This recipe is made gluten-free by using a gluten-free flour blend and gluten-free certified oats.
These easy swaps make this recipe gluten-free! Of course, if you aren’t gluten-free, feel free to make this recipe with regular oats and all-purpose flour using the same measurements!
Are oats gluten-free?
Oats are a hot topic in the gluten-free community. Oats are often cross-contaminated in the fields with wheat, so ensure your oats are gluten-free certified or even better yet, purity protocol oats.
Purity protocol oats are the best options since they require the strictest form of testing to eliminate cross-contamination as much as possible.
Purity protocol oats are typically grown in fields that have not grown gluten for a specified amount of years. Each manufacturer’s protocol is different – so be sure to check with suppliers and manufacturers to see what their rules and policies are.
Also, keep in mind that some people who have celiac disease are not able to tolerate oats even if they are certified gluten-free. You can always omit the oats in this recipe and use more gluten-free flour or even use chopped nuts in place of the oats!
Vegan and Dairy-Free Options
- Butter – To make this recipe dairy-free and vegan, use a vegan butter substitute in this recipe. I have used Earth Balance buttery spread in this recipe with great success. You can use coconut oil or shortening as well, but it won’t have the butter flavor in the crisp topping so I don’t recommend it as much.
- Brown sugar – Brown sugar is typically made from refined sugar with the addition of molasses. Refined sugar is sometimes not vegan because it can be processed with bone char. Be sure to check your brown sugar sources to confirm it is vegan if necessary!
FAQs
Oats do not contain gluten, however, they are frequently cross-contamination with gluten in the growing, milling, sorting and packaging processes. Therefore, you should always purchase gluten-free certified oats. Purity protocol oats are the best option as they are typically grown in fields that have not grown gluten for a specified amount of years.
Yes, if you can’t tolerate oats you can substitute them with additional gluten-free flour or even some nuts or oat-free granola.
I’ve successfully used Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour, King Arthur Flour Gluten-Free Flour Blend, and Namaste Gluten-Free Flour Blend. Use any gluten-free flour that is meant to be substituted cup-for-cup with all-purpose flour.
You sure can! Just double the ingredients and use a 9×13″ baking dish to store all of your apples for baking. Similarly, you can cut this recipe in half if you want less servings.
The water helps so that the apples stay really moist and don’t dry out. They also help the apple soften. You can leave the water out if you’d like, just know your apples will be a little firmer.
expert tips
Storage instructions
- Storage: Store any leftover baked stuffed apples in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They can be kept for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat: To reheat, place refrigerated baked apples on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes until warmed through. You can also reheat individual servings in the microwave on a microwave-safe plate for about 1-2 minutes, depending on your microwave’s power.
More Gluten-Free Apple Recipes
- Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Scones
- Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Cider Donuts
- Apple Turkey Breakfast Sausage Patties
- Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Apples
- Apple Kale Green Smoothie
More gluten-free Fall recipes to try
Did you make this recipe?
I’d love to know! Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also share your pictures and tag @adashofmegnut on Instagram.
Gluten-Free Baked Stuffed Apples
Ingredients
- 3 large apples - honey crisp or granny smith work well
- 1/2 cup brown sugar - use vegan if necessary
- 1/4 cup gluten-free flour blend
- 1/4 cup gluten-free certified oats - use purity protocol oats if possible
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter - cold, cubed into tiny pieces (use vegan butter if necessary)
- 1/2 cup water
**Use the toggle button above to turn the instruction photos on and off!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Core the apples and slice in half. Place in an oven safe baking dish, cut side up, and set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl, combine brown sugar, gluten-free flour, gluten-free certified oats, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt. Whisk together.
- Using your hands, work the butter into the mixture. You'll want some pieces of butter to remain in tact, about the size of peas.
- With a spoon, fill the apples with the brown sugar mixture.
- Add 1/2 cup of water to the bottom of the baking dish.
- Bake in the oven at 350F for 45-50 minutes, or until the apples are soft and the brown sugar mixture is golden.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving. Serve with ice cream if desired.
Notes
- To make this recipe dairy-free, use a non-dairy butter alternative.
- To make this recipe vegan, use a non-dairy butter alternative and ensure that your brown sugar is vegan.
- As always, if you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance double check your ingredients to make sure they are gluten-free! Manufacturing practices can change from time to time.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted on September 28, 2011 and updated on October 24, 2020 with new photos, tips and tricks to help you make these baked stuffed apples perfectly every time!
Stop torturing me, please. This looks amazing. Megan, I feel out of touch with you. Let’s plan our Panera adventure soon!
I tried their new turkey salad the other day (mostly because I wanted the dried cherries). They left off the dried cherries. FML.
hahaha this made me laugh. that always happens to me! i’ve been meaning to try their new turkey sandwich and that turkey salad. i need some panera in my life. and as im typing this i’m thinking i should go there because its thursday which means theres cream of chicken and wild rice soup. it’s sad i know that. hahaha. panera adventure needs to happen. if you think of something that we should do first let me know!!! hope school is good and has stopped being so busy!
I’m making this right now… I’ll let you know how it goes!
Looks delicious! Any chance, since you are from the midwest, that you have a good gluten free recipe for Norwegian lefse? My cousin and I have tried a few and none have been the right consistency. Thanks!
Hi Penny! My husband’s family is Norwegian and we have been talking about how we need to create a GF lefse recipe this year! I don’t have one yet but plan on getting it done within the next few weeks!
Bless you dear! I’m always looking. For Gluten Free Recipes.Perhaps a news letter you have I may sign up for