Paleo Apple Pie (with Vegan Option)

This Paleo Apple Pie has a flaky gluten-free lattice crust with a delicious spiced apple filling! This healthier apple pie recipe is the perfect paleo Thanksgiving dessert. This recipe has a vegan option.

this recipe

I’m sitting here trying to think of what to say…while my mind is really on the election, nervously watching electoral votes roll in. I can’t even go there. This is a baking blog, not a political one, so I’m going to take a break from my worrying to talk about one of my favorite foods – apple pie!

There’s nothing polarizing about apple pie, is there?! Except maybe whether you prefer a lattice crust or a crumble crust – but that’s easily solved…just make two pies! ;)

If you’re in the lattice apple pie camp, I’ve got you covered today. Lattice top pies are always one of my favorites to look at, because the woven crust looks so mesmerizing and seems so much harder to do than it actually is.

I’ve been wanting to paleo-ify apple pie for a while now, and I had to get it done before Thanksgiving. Thankfully, it came together beautifully after a couple of recipe tests, and we’ve got ourselves a sweet, tender apple pie with a gorgeously golden brown, super flaky crust just in time for the holidays!

How do you make a paleo pie crust?

The crust for this paleo apple pie, made with almond flour and tapioca flour, is pretty easy to work with as far as grain-free or gluten-free crust goes. However, it’s definitely a little tricker than regular pie crust. You see, gluten is what holds together traditional pie crust. Without gluten, the crust wants to crack and break.

Luckily, gluten being overworked is what makes a crust get tough, so without the gluten, there’s no need to worry about overworking the dough. If the dough breaks while rolling it, or moving it, or folding it, you can press it back together with your fingers – no harm, no foul. Also, to make dealing with the dough easier, keep it nice and chilled and you’ll have less breakage.

Tell me about the apple pie filling!

Now for the star of the show – the apples! A lot of apple pie recipes call for Granny Smiths. However, I’ve found that the best apple pies use a variety of different apple types for the best flavor and texture in the pie.

I used a mix of Granny Smiths, which are firm and tart, Honeycrisps, which are firm and sweet, and Red Delicious, which are soft and sweet. After you bake the pie, the Granny Smiths and the Honeycrisps stay firm with a bit more bite. The Red Delicious break down and become more saucey. The variety of flavors and textures is key for a fantastic filling! I like to stop by the farmer’s market and go for the mix-n-match apple bag, grabbing a few of whatever the farmers have that day.

You’ll sweeten the apples with coconut sugar. You’ll spice them up with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger. Lemon juice and vanilla extract add extra flavor. The apples soften as they bake, soaking in the all the sugar and warm spices. This makes for a paleo apple pie that is super flavorful. I love it with a scoop of ice cream or whipped coconut cream on top of a warm slice!

I think this paleo apple pie is best on the first day or two after it’s made. However, it’ll keep in your fridge for about 5 days (if it lasts that long!!!). If you have leftovers, it’s also great for breakfast with some Greek yogurt. ;) Pie for breakfast is a thing, right?! If not, it should be. Happy pie baking – enjoy!

Need more dessert inspiration? Try these:

• Paleo Vegan Pumpkin Pie
• Vegan Chocolate Cream Pie
• Apple Crumble Pie

Paleo Apple Pie

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★★★★★

4.8 from 5 reviews

• Author: Rachel Conners
• Total Time: 150 minutes
• Yield: 1 9" pie 1x

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cups (288g) blanched almond flour
• 1 cup (113g) tapioca flour
• 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 12 tablespoons cold grass-fed butter cubed, or use chilled coconut oil for vegan option
• 1 large egg or flax egg for vegan option

For the filling

• 2.5 pounds apples, I used a mix of Honeycrisp, Granny Smith and Red Delicious, peeled, cored and sliced into 1/4” slices
• 2 tablespoons (14g) tapioca flour
• ½ cup coconut sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons grass-fed butter or chilled coconut oil for vegan option

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Instructions

1. Combine the almond flour, tapioca flour, coconut sugar, salt and butter in a food processor, or use a pastry blender in a bowl. Pulse or blend until the texture of coarse meal.
2. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and then add to the dry ingredients. Pulse/mix again until dough comes together. If you’re mixing in a bowl, you may want to use your hands to bring the dough together at the end.
3. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into flat, round discs. Wrap each dough disc in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
4. When you’re ready to bake, preheat oven to 425°F.
5. Roll out one round of dough in between two sheets of parchment or on a silicone baking mat into a 12-inch circle. Carefully lay dough into a 9-inch pie dish (not deep dish). If the dough breaks, that’s okay! Just press it back into place and repair any holes/cracks that may have formed. Place in the freezer while preparing the filling.
6. Place the sliced apples in a large bowl. Add the tapioca flour, coconut sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Toss to combine, until all the apple slices are evenly coated.
7. Fill the bottom crust with apple slices, leaving any extra liquid/juice in the bottom of the bowl. Dot the small pats of butter on top of the apples.
8. Roll out the second round of dough in between two sheets of parchment or on a silicone baking mat into a 12-inch circle. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut into even 1/2” strips (you can also make them wider, depending on what sort of look you want). At this point, I recommend putting the cut strips back into the refrigerator about 10 minutes to firm back up – it will make them easier to work with and reduce breakage. Use your chilled dough strips to cover the pie with a lattice work crust – I used the method depicted here. Be extra careful when folding the strips – the lack of gluten in the crust makes the dough much more susceptible to breaking, but if it does, just press the strips back into place. Mine broke a fair bit but you can’t tell once it’s baked!
9. Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake 15 minutes at 425°F. Reduce the temperature to 350°F, and continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes or until the apples are tender and the pie is golden brown on top. Tent with foil if the pie starts to brown too quickly!
10. Let cool for at least 1 hour before serving. Serve warm or chilled. Keep any leftovers stored in the refrigerator.

• Prep Time: 90 minutes
• Cook Time: 60 minutes
• Category: Dessert