Oatmeal Apple Crisp (gluten Free)

This apple crisp is so easy and delicious that you will want to make it all the time!  It also makes your house smell amazing for the entire day.   I love this recipe because it is so simple to put together, and can easily be doubled for a dinner party or larger crowd.   Serve this with a really good vanilla ice cream.  Pour the extra juice from the bottom of the pan over the ice cream and it will melt just slightly and taste like caramel apples!!

I used Gala apples (because that is what Wholefoods happened to have this week), but you can use any kind and combination that you prefer or have on hand.   This recipe would also work very well with peaches and a handful of blueberries thrown in!


Ingredients:   (we got 5 servings from this amount)

7 apples (average sized, we used Gala)
1.5 cups certified gluten free rolled oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon sea salt


Instructions:

1.   Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  Wash, peel and chop your apples into small chunks, about 1 inch in size.  Put them in a large bowl and sprinkle the lemon juice and 2 Tablespoons of white sugar over them.  Stir well, and then put them into a 8x8 inch glass baking dish (no need to grease it). 

3.  In the same (dirty) bowl you just used for your apples, pour in the rolled oats, salt, and brown sugar.  Stir to combine.  Microwave the butter and coconut oil in a glass measuring cup for 30 seconds (until just melted).  Stir in the vanilla.  Pour the mixture over the oats in your big bowl.   Stir everything until well combined.   

4.  Gently cover the apples with the oat mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 60 minutes.  Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.   Serve with really good vanilla ice cream.



Notes:
I like apple pie....but not enough to want to take the time to roll out pie crust.   This is so much faster, and so much better for you.  Instead of using refined flours for a pie crust, you are eating whole grain oats!    The combination of the warm apples with the crunchy caramelized oats and melted vanilla ice cream is somewhat addictive.    I warned you in advance.   Expect your family or guests to ask for seconds!!

Apples are most often paired with cinnamon, which can easily overwhelm a dish.  When you use other flavor combinations (like butter + brown sugar + vanilla = caramel) you get a really interesting result.   I use a combination of fats (butter & coconut oil) because I like the taste.

If you don't need to eat gluten free, you can make this with any kind of rolled oats you happen to have at home and it will taste identical! 

Serve warm and store the leftovers in the fridge...reheat in the microwave before you eat it for breakfast the next day :)