Make the gluten free peach crisp topping for this easy summer recipe with or without oats. Perfectly ripe peaches, fresh or even frozen, make the very best crisp.
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What makes this gluten free peach crisp so special?
Whenever stone fruits like peaches, nectarines, plums, and apricots are in season, the first fruits you bring home usually just get eaten the old fashioned way (leaning over the sink). But when you're ready, I hope you'll consider baking this warm, fragrant gluten free peach crisp.
Not every peach is going to be at peak ripeness and flavor when you're ready to eat it. But every ripe fresh peach, with some warm spices and a touch of sugar, will make the most fragrant, fork-tender dessert if you bake it under the perfect crumbly, crispy topping.
What's the difference between gf peach crisp and gf peach crumble?
A peach crisp is a crustless fruit-based dessert with a smaller crumbly topping, one that “crisps” more in the oven. A peach crumble has a thicker crumble topping, like if a gluten free coffee cake had cooked peaches below it, rather than cake.
These distinctions aren't that meaningful. But, still, if you're going to use a name (speaking to myself here), it would help to know what it means.
Now for some honesty: I have misused this term before. I'm not going to highlight where, but it was a recipe that I had adapted from my childhood, borrowed originally from a neighbor. That's neither here nor there.
Other than a slight difference in ingredients, the topping for this peach crisp is not refrigerated—unless it's so warm that it doesn't hold together. And if you see any large clumps of topping when it's raw, you know what to do (break them up).
For the record, I stand by our recipe for gluten free peach cobbler. The fruit is similar, but the vibe is very different here, since this is super crispy on top.
How to prepare the peaches for this gluten free peach crisp
First, it's useful to know if your fresh peaches are cling or freestone. According to The Fruit Guys, cling peaches refer to a stone fruit where the flesh is incorporated into the surface of the pit.
Freestone peaches are the kind where the flesh of the fruit is completely separate from the pit. You can cut them through to the outside of the pit, and, if the fruit isn't overripe, twist the halves in opposite directions to separate them around the pit.
The peaches that I used here are early season yellow cling peaches. They're really fragrant and make a perfect gf peach crisp.
But you do have to be mindful of the pit when you're preparing them for the filling. After you cut the flesh away from the pit, run your thumb or forefinger on the fruit where the stone was.
If you feel any hard pieces, be sure to cut away any remaining shards of the pit. It won't soften in the oven and if you've ever bitten into a pit like that without knowing it, you'll do anything to avoid doing it again!
Can you make this peach crisp with canned or frozen peaches?
I wouldn't make this recipe with canned peaches, since they're already fork-tender. Baking them would ruin their texture.
You can, however, make this recipe with frozen peaches. Don't defrost them, or they'll turn mushy. Just follow the recipe as written as if you were using fresh peach pieces.
Try to find frozen peach chunks, so they mimic the freshly prepared peaches in this recipe. If you can't find chunks, break any larger pieces in half, if possible.
How to make this gluten free peach crisp topping without oats
When properly sourced, oats are in fact gluten free. But if you need or want to avoid them, you can replace the ½ cup (50 g) of certified gluten free old-fashioned rolled oats with one of the following:
- an equal amount, by weight, of quinoa flakes (buckwheat flakes would also work, but they're not easily available in the U.S.); or
- ¼ cup (36 g) additional all purpose gluten free flour. Just use more of the gf flour blend you're already using.
For more guidance on how to replace oats in gluten free baking, please see our discussion about oat substitutions in baking. It answers every question.
Gluten free peach crisp: Ingredients and substitutions
Gluten free dairy free peach crisp
The dairy in this recipe is the butter used in the topping. My first suggestion is always vegan butter, like Miyoko's Kitchen or Melt brand.
Since we're not looking for larger chunks, I think that Earth Balance buttery sticks would even work here. You may have to reduce the second baking time, so just watch it carefully for browning.
Gluten free peach crisp without oats
For a full discussion of eliminating oats, please see that heading above. In brief, try replacing them with 50 grams of quinoa flakes, or an additional ¼ cup (36 g) of your all purpose gluten free flour blend.
Gluten free cornstarch-free peach crisp
The starch in the filling helps keep it from being too runny with peach juices. You can replace it easily with another starch, like arrowroot, or even with an equal amount, by weight, of superfine white rice flour.
Gluten Free Peach Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
For the crisp topping
- 1 ½ cups (210 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend (I used Better Batter)
- ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your blend already contains it
- ½ cup (50 g) certified gluten free old-fashioned rolled oats See Recipe Notes for substitute
- ⅓ cup (67 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup (109 g) packed light brown sugar
- 12 tablespoons (168 g) unsalted butter melted and cooled
For the peach filling
- 2 pounds fresh peaches (about 8 peaches) pitted and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons (18 g) cornstarch
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg optional
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish and set it aside.
Prepare the crumble topping.
- In a medium-sized bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, oats, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, and mix to combine. Add the brown sugar, and mix again, working out any lumps.
- Add the melted butter, and mix to combine well. The mixture will be thick. Chill only briefly if at all loose or warm. Set the topping aside.
Prepare the peach filling.
- In a large bowl, place the peaches, sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, optional nutmeg and vanilla extract, and mix to coat the peaches completely in the dry ingredients.
- Transfer the filling to the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Place the baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet and place the baking sheet in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes to begin to soften the peaches.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and place on a heatproof surface. Scatter the crumble topping evenly on top and spread gently into an even layer on top. Break up any larger clumps of topping.
- Return the dish to the oven and bake until the topping is golden brown (about 25 minutes). Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving warm.
Notes
Nutrition
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Hi, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that really work and taste as good as you remember. No more making separate meals when someone is GF, or buying packaged foods that aren’t good enough to justify the price. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, “good, for gluten free” just isn’t good enough! Come visit my bio!
Pauline says
Can this be frozen prior to baking?
Nicole Hunn says
I guess you could do that, Pauline, but instead I would make the crisp topping and store that separately, then mix the peach mixture, add the crumble topping, and bake.
Terry says
Super good & easy recipe! I am one that can mess up any recipe. This one came out great! I’ve made it twice. Highly recommend.
Nicole Hunn says
That’s so great to hear, Terry. So glad you loved it—twice!
Maureen Edmond says
I made this recipe with peaches from the tree in our back yard. I have Celiac Disease, so I only bake gluten free. This looks and tastes like the real deal! (I was diagnosed at age 60
– I ate lots of gluten until diagnosis). I love these recipes! I send all my GF friends to this site for answers.
Nicole Hunn says
That sounds amazing, Maureen. I can’t even always get great peaches at the store, so I’m really jealous of your peach tree! Thank you so much for sharing how much you loved this recipe, and for your support of the site.
Betty says
Hello Nicole, When using frozen peaches do you prebake them as well as the fresh one?
Nicole Hunn says
Yes, you treat the frozen peaches just as you do fresh ones, and bake them separate from the topping first. Nothing else changes, although depending how thick the slices are you may have to bake them for a bit longer to get them baked through, but you shouldn’t have an issue.
Nancy S. says
I can’t print recipes anymore. Do i need the grow me function? It doesn’t pop up for me when I try to print?
I don’t like to bake using my device near the flour etc.
Nicole Hunn says
Grow is a service that allows you to save your favorites on my blog and on any other blog that runs the same service, and it allows my advertising management company to serve you more relevant advertisements. You won’t receive any more emails, as you’re already on my email list.
I’m afraid there’s no way for me to customize the window that asks you to sign up for Grow to print, so I can’t explain up front that you won’t receive any additional emails from me or anyone else if you sign up.
If you don’t want to add your email to Grow, you are welcome to browse the website, but you won’t be able to print my recipes which I provide to you free of charge. Thanks for your understanding.
Topping sidnt crisp up says
Very flavorful, but the topping didn’t crisp up. The consistency was more like a crumble, but tasted underdone to me
Nicole Hunn says
If you made any ingredient substitutions, particularly with respect to the flour blend, I’d always look there first. Other than that, perhaps it just wasn’t baked enough?
Jen says
Hello,
If my gluten free flour contains guar gum do I still need to add xanthan gum? I’m new to gluten free baking and still learning…
Thanks in advance!
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Jen, I don’t know of any all purpose gluten free flour blends that have guar gum, not xanthan gum, so I know that’s not one of my recommended blends. Guar gum is not as effective as xanthan gum in heated applications like this recipe (it’s better for thickening cold items), in general. I’m afraid I can’t really provide much more info than that since I don’t know the blend you’re using, but I’d encourage you to read through the all purpose gluten free flour blends page on the blog to learn more about blends, which I recommend, and why. Hope that helps!
Erin says
This was a hit! Wonderful flavor balance, just the right amount of sweetness (which shows off instead of overshadows the peaches), and my favorite part: plenty of crisp topping. Yum!
Nicole Hunn says
Yes yes yes, Erin! You must have plenty of crisp topping. So glad you enjoyed the peach crisp. ‘Tis the season!
Jen Paling says
Do you have an apple version of this or a berry version? I would be very interested in using a different fruit, but would not know how to adjust baking times
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Jen, I have super similar recipes. They’re for “crumbles,” not crisps, but they’ll help you with the fruit portion. Then you can use the same topping as we have here. They’re the master berry crumble recipe and the apple crumble recipe.
Carol says
Okay, thanks! I knew it was something you grate and that it wasn’t ground, I have ground, but the availability of it was what I was curious about. A couple workers @ Walmart Said it was a seasonal item, I found that hard to believe. Sprouts said they didn’t carry it, I didn’t see any @ Sprouts & they have a lot of things! So, it’s a seed that comes in a jar ? Wouldn’t it be right next to the ground nutmeg? Thanks, Carol
Nicole Hunn says
Usually, yes, Carol. It would be right next to the ground nutmeg. It’s more common in the fall/winter holidays, I guess, but it’s not an only-in-season item. At least not in my experience!
Carol Forquer says
Hi Nicole, Is fresh nutmeg a seasonal item? I checked at our Walmart and Sprouts grocery and neither one carried it! I thought it would be in produce, like fresh ginger. I live in Stillwater, Okla. I was wondering if it depends on where you live for availability? Thank you!
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Carol, it’s freshly grated nutmeg, not fresh nutmeg, which makes a big difference. It’s a seed, and you’ll find it in a jar in the spice aisle. You’ll find it ground, and whole. “Freshly grated” just refers to grating it on a microplane yourself, instead of using the already ground stuff since it’s a whole lot less fragrant when it’s pre-ground. It’s like the difference between freshly ground black peppercorns and pre-ground pepper. You can always leave it out, though!