Baked Apple Recipe (Gluten-Free, Whole30, Paleo) (2024)

If you’re looking for a recipe free from added sugar and made with all-natural ingredients, this Whole30 Baked Apple recipe is one you will turn to time and time again. It’s grain-free, gluten-free, and paleo-friendly. This recipe post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosures.

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I miss desserts as I’m in the midst of doing a Whole30 Challenge this month. For the entire month of August, desserts are off-limits.

That said, while Whole 30 guidelines dictate no desserts, I was in desperate need of a dessert recipe because I was going to a potluck dinner party and was asked to bring a gluten-free dessert. I’m often asked to bring dessert because my friends are scared to make a safe dessert for me.

Instead of pushing back on the idea of bringing a dessert, I decided to step up to the challenge and make a Whole30-compliant dessert using only Whole30-compliant ingredients.

I live in Colorado and I can already feel the cool, crisp fall in the air. The mornings are getting darker and cooler. This can only mean one thing … apple season is around the corner.

Getting a jumpstart on everything-apples, I decided to make a warm baked apple recipe.

I’ve made a dish like this before, but I’ve added sugar and an oat streusel crumble on top, calling it an apple crisp instead.

In order for this baked apple recipe to be Whole30 compliant, it could contain no sugar and no streusel topping.

Related Reading: 10 Satisfying Whole30 Snacks

Ready for the challenge of baking a no-sugar baked apple dessert? Let’s get started.

How to Make Baked Apples

This is an extremely easy recipe to make in three simple steps:

Step #1: Prep

You’ll want to prep your ingredients, specifically coring, seeding and cutting the apples into thin wedges.

I like to use this cool apple corer and slicing tool, although after slicing the apple with the slicer, you’ll still need to slice each wedge in half again (lengthwise) to make them thin enough for baking.

You may peel the apples or leave the peel intact. It’s a matter of personal preference and won’t impact the recipe either way.

I recommend using a sweeter apple variety – like pink lady apples or honeycrisp. Too tart of an apple will net a sour dessert, which is not what you’re going for.

Step #2: Combine Ingredients

Combine the following ingredients inside a large bowl:

• Sliced apple wedges from 4-6apples or about 3 lbs of apples. Core the apples. Peeling optional. You’ll get about 16 wedges per apple.
• 1/2cupraisins
• 1tbspmelted ghee
• 1cupwater
• 2tbsptapioca starch
• 2tspcinnamon
• Zest of one large orange
• Juice of one large orange

Now, if this recipe is Whole30 compliant, you can’t use any sugar or sugar substitute. But if you’re not doing the Whole30 challenge, I highly suggest adding 2 tbsp Zenfruit monk fruit sweetener, which is a sugar-free sweetener, or other sweetener of choice to the mix. It will elevate the warm baked apples quite a bit, however, the sweetener is optional.

Also, if you’re not doing the Whole30 challenge, you can use cornstarch in lieu of tapioca starch and butter in lieu of ghee.

Mix all the ingredients together and then add everything to your prepared baking dish.

Step #3: Bake

Bake the apple dessert for 40-50 minutes in a 350º F preheated oven until the apples are softened. Cook time may vary if your apples are thicker or larger in size.

I suggest checking the apples after 20-25 minutes to assess the water content and ensure they’re not drying out.

Once the dish cools, the water will blend with the tapioca starch to create a gooey filling that you’ll love. See below for troubleshooting this recipe.

How Does It Taste?

Overall, this warm baked apple recipe is a huge hit. The dinner party guests loved it, commenting how it tasted a little like apple pie filling.

Related Reading: 10 Lessons from a Celiac on Whole30

One of the lessons I’ve learned from the Whole30 challenge is that I can survive without added sugar in my life. My coffee tastes fine without sugar, this baked apple recipe tastes fine without the added sugar, and I don’t need to have something sweet after every meal to make it through the day.

I hope you enjoy this warm baked apple recipe too. Let me know if you make it and how it turned out.

FAQs & Troubleshooting

Here is some additional information to make this recipe work best:

Mixture Is Too Dry: Be sure to check the mixture after 20-25 minutes of baking. Make sure it’s not too dry. I recently updated this recipe to add 1 cup of water vs. 1/2 cup of water, and added another tablespoon of tapioca starch. I found it was less likely to dry out this way.

Mixture Is Too Watery: Add another tablespoon of tapioca starch to the mixture (mix well) and bake, covered, for another 10-20 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool for 30 minutes and you’ll notice it thickens and becomes more like apple pie filling.

Want It Sweeter? If you’re not doing the Whole30 Challenge, I highly recommend adding 2 tbsp of ZenSweet Monk Fruit Sweetener to your recipe. Add it when you mix together all the ingredients before baking. It really elevates the dish.

Don’t Have Tapioca Starch? Tapioca starch is Whole30 compliant, but if you’re not worried about Whole30, you can use cornstarch instead.

Don’t Have Ghee? Ghee or clarified butter is Whole30 compliant, but if you’re not worried about Whole30, you can use good old butter instead.

To Peel or Not to Peel? I have made this recipe both ways – with peeled apples and unpeeled apples. The recipe comes out the same in the end. If you don’t mind the peels, leave them intact for added nutrition and simplified preparations.

Type of Apple: I prefer to use a sweeter apple – like a pink lady or honeycrisp apple. Tart apples will be tart and without any added sugar, it will be too sour to call dessert.

Other Recipes

Monk Fruit Sweetened Chocolate Chip Cookies: These delicious cookies are made with almond flour and monk fruit. They’re moist and chewy.

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Apple Bread: A warm and tasty bread to enjoy for breakfast or snacking.