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Tart and sweet, McIntosh apples are the star in this delicious gluten free apple tart. Baked in a brown paper bag, the simple flour and sugar crumb topping and thick homemade bottom crust makes for a filling Thanksgiving treat.

This warm gluten free apple tart is best served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and hot caramel sauce. 

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Also known as brown bag apple pie

This simple baked apple tart was a staple in my family growing up.

Every Thanksgiving, this pie was made by my mom. This is a recipe I only know to be hers, but it may have also been passed down to her from previous generations. While she calls it the Brown Bag Apple Pie, I now call it a Gluten Free Apple Tart. 

Why the rename? I make mine using an almond flour tart crust for gluten sensitivity purposes. I also call it a tart, simply because there is no top crust. It is baked open, with just a simple flour and sugar crumb topping. 

What is the Difference Between a Gluten Free Apple Tart and an Apple Pie? 

The main difference between an apple tart and an apple pie is that tarts only have a bottom crust, and the crust is usually much thicker than a pie crust. Pie crusts are very light and flaky, whereas tart crusts tend to be firm and crumbly. 

For this gluten free apple tart recipe, I use my moms homemade crust recipe but I swap the regular flour for King Arthur almond flour.

I tend to do this for many bake good recipes where it calls for a lot of flour for some gluten sensitivity purposes.

I do feel like it slightly changes the texture of the crust– becoming a little bit more grainy. So feel free to stick with regular unbleached flour if you don’t have a gluten sensitivity! 

What ingredients are in a tart crust?

A basic tart crust consists of flour, sugar, a beaten egg, and salt. It is then chilled before shaping and baking. But this crust recipe tends to lean more toward a pie crust consistency. 

The main ingredients in this homemade gluten free tart crust is almond flour, shortening, sugar, and water. It is then chilled for at least an hour before rolling and baking. 

It is light and flaky when rolled out thin. However, I roll mine a bit thicker which creates a denser bottom crust.

This makes a stronger foundation, similar to a firm tart crust, which better supports all the chunky apples on top. 

You will notice that if you roll it too thin, some of the juices from the apples will weaken the bottom. This makes it easier to break.

So I like to double the thickness of the base to let the first layer soak in the sweet apple juices, and still have a solid bottom to support when cutting and serving. 

Are McIntosh Apples Good For Baking?

Yay, for McIntosh apple season!

Sadly, McIntosh apples are not a fan favorite when it comes to raw apple snacking. Many people look for that crisp crunch.

Mac apples tend to be a bit on the mushier side, but still a happy medium in terms of tartness. 

However, I do find that McIntosh apples are really good for baking! They are such a juicy apple, that they also make for good applesauce and apple juicing. McIntosh apples are sweet, yet still tart enough to balance out a sweet dessert such as this gluten free apple tart recipe. 

McIntosh apples are usually ripe in late fall and prefer the cool climates.

So, depending on where they are grown, they could be harvested as early as the end of July or as late as November.

Here in Michigan, October is McIntosh apple season! So if you’re local, head to the orchards to doing some apple picking! 

What Can I Make With McIntosh Apples?

Well for starters, you can make this gluten free apple tart! But there are certainly many other recipes you can make to use up some fresh picked McIntosh apples. So here are 5 ideas on what to do with all your apples this McIntosh apple season. 

1. Homemade applesauce. McIntosh apples are softer inside than some other apples which have more of a snap. For this reason, these make for an easy applesauce making apple. 
2. Apple Juice/Cider. McIntosh apples are excellent for juicing. If you don’t have a juicer, here is a great suggestion. 
3. Apple Pie. Another obvious option is homemade apple pie. Similar to this recipe, you could add a top crust and turn it into a pie! You can try my famous Pear Pie recipe and simply swap the pears for an equal amount of apples!
4. Salad topping. I love dicing up some apples for a salad topping. Try McIntosh apples in your next spinach and arugula salad. They also pair nicely with some pecans or walnuts! 
5. Apple crisp. Another delicious dessert option, warm apple crisp is always a favorite! 

How to Make Gluten Free Apple Tart

Gluten Free Apple Tart Ingredients

Filling

How to Make A Gluten Free Apple Tart

Step 1. Start by making the crust. Mix all dry ingredients together with the shortening, then add vinegar, 1 egg, and water. Stir with a pastry fork or a pastry cutter and refrigerate for 1 hour before rolling. 

Step 2. While your dough is chilling, start peeling 6-7 McIntosh apples, and slice into spoon size pieces. 

Step 3. Combine all filling ingredients with the peeled and sliced apples and mix well. 

Step 4. Once your dough is done chilling, clean your workspace and sprinkle down some flour for rolling. Roll out your dough slightly thicker than you would a pie crust. Lift carefully and mold into your tart pan. 

Step 5. Pour your apple filling mixture into the pie dish and spread out evenly. 

Step 6. Combine ½ cup of brown sugar and ½ cup of flour together and sprinkle on top of your apple filling. Evenly distribute the sliced butter on top. 

Step 7. Place your unbaked tart inside a large brown paper bag, and staple shut. Place directly in the middle of the oven and bake at 400°F for 1 hour. 

Step 8. Remove your bagged tart from the oven and let cool still inside the bag for about 20 minutes before serving. 

You’ll Also Enjoy…

I love to serve this gluten free apple tart with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, and some hot caramel sauce! This is such a delicious fall dessert recipe, that is very popular to make around Thanksgiving. 

I really hope you enjoy this recipe! What is your favorite fall time pie or tart? I’d love to know if you gave this a try!

And if you’re looking for more fall inspired recipes, make sure to check these out next.

• Cinnamon Apple Pork Chops with Bourbon Glaze
• Pumpkin Pecan Pancakes with Anise Extract
• Crumb Topping Pear Pie Recipe

You can also visit my recipe archives here.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! Make sure to subscribe to get my Grace Notes directly to your inbox and to access all my insider perks. Follow along daily on Instagram and weekly on YouTube!

~Sarah