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Home » Recipes » Tart Recipes

Gluten Free Apple Tart with Vanilla Caramel Custard

Published: Oct 13, 2022 by Sandi Gaertner · 26 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

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Get ready to drool because this creamy gluten free apple tart with caramel and vanilla custard is that good. Tart fresh apples collide with creamy custard and a gluten free almond tart crust to make an awesome gluten free dessert.

drizzling caramel over a slice of apple tart
Jump To:
  • Why Try This Tart Recipe:
  • Ingredient Notes:
  • Crust Options:
  • Tips For Success:
  • Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
  • Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:
  • More Gluten Free Apple Recipes:
  • Recipe
  • Comments

When it comes to caramel and apples, this gluten free apple custard tart dessert recipe is pretty awesome! It is full of fresh granny smith apples, which nicely match the creamy vanilla custard flavors.

I am a self-proclaimed food geek, I guess. This week,  I bought apples, and so did Mr. Fearless Dining. Our teens are big fruit eaters, but two giant bags of apples?

This tart is perfect for anyone who loves apples and caramel. If you love sweet and savory apple recipes. Check out my best gluten free apple recipes on the blog.

Why Try This Tart Recipe:

  1. Creamy vanilla custard, sweet-tart apples, and a gooey caramel sauce make this dessert so hard to resist.
  2. It is really easy to make, with simple, easy-to-find ingredients.
  3. The vanilla custard is creamy and adds delicious flavor. It is light in flavor but holds up well to the moistness of this tart really well.
  4. This tart makes a beautiful dessert to bring for any family or friends get-together. It is also very decorative for Thanksgiving and fall harvest parties.

Ingredient Notes:

apple tart ingredients
  • Almond Flour - I highly suggest using almond flour and not an almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your tart crust grainy.
  • Tart Apples - I love the sweet tartness of Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Fuji apple varieties with the vanilla custard.
  • Shredded Coconut - Use unsweetened, or the tart will turn out too sweet.
  • Tapioca Starch - You can also use arrowroot starch.
  • Eggs - Use size large
  • Coconut Oil - You can also use butter or dairy-free butter for the crust.

Crust Options:

If you do not want nuts or coconut in the crust, I have some tasty gluten free crust options you can use instead.

  1. This gluten free graham cracker crust would add a fun flavor to the caramel and apples.
  2. You can even use this flaky gluten free pie crust recipe for this tart!

Tips For Success:

  • Be sure to store almond flour or almond meal in the refrigerator so it doesn't get rancid. If your almond flour has been in the pantry, it is probably best to use a new bag if it has been in the pantry for a while. Rancid almonds can ruin a tart.
  • Use your fingers or a spoon to really compress the tart crust into the tart mold. It will help hold together a lot better if the tart crust mixture is really pressed down firmly.
  • You can use this tart crust with other fruits like pears or berries too.

Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:

Tart crust ingredients being whisked in a bowl

Step 1: To make the gluten free almond flour crust, add the crust ingredients to a large mixing bowl and mix well. I like to use a whisk to blend the dry ingredients.

Step 2: Melt the coconut oil in a microwave-safe dish for 20-25 seconds (depending on whether the coconut oil is hard or soft in the jar.) Add the coconut oil to the crust mixture. Mix well.

Crust pressed into a tart pan

Step 3: Spray the tart pan with coconut oil and press the tart crust down into the pan. Note you can use a rectangular or circular tart pan. It is completely up to you. I highly recommend using a tart pan with a removable bottom. A removable bottom makes it so much easier to serve this tart.

Apple custard wet ingredients being whisked in a bowl

Step 4: Place a pot on the stove and add the wet custard ingredients. Cook over low heat until it thickens, using a wire whisk to stir the mixture frequently.

Use a spoon to remove about three tablespoons of the hot liquid. Put it into a small dish. Use a whisk to mix the tapioca starch into the hot liquid, then pour it back into the pot and whisk to blend. This will help prevent lumps.

Now it is time to assemble and bake the tart! On a cutting board, wash and thinly slice your apple. Many ask if you remove the peel of the apple first. That is a personal preference so peel the apples if you want. I left the peels on my apples.

gluten free tart crust in a tart pan

Step 5: Press the crust mixture into a tart pan. Pour the custard into the crust and lay thinly sliced apples on top of the custard.

Place the tart pan in a larger pan like a cookie sheet. This is just in case there are any leaks from the bottom of the tart pan.

Step 6: Bake the tart at 350º F for 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the gluten free apple tart to cool.

Slice and drench in caramel if you like :-).

drizzling hot caramel sauce over the apple tart

Because we have so many apples, I also plan to make this Gluten Free Caramel Apple Cake, and maybe these Gluten Free Apple Crisp Overnight Oats too.

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:

Can you make this tart nut-free?

You can definitely make the gluten free tart crust nut-free. Use my popular gluten free nut-free tart crust recipe.

What kind of apples are best in this tart recipe?

My favorite apples are tart. Think Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Honey Crisp, and Braeburn, to list a few.

How long will this apple custard tart keep fresh?

This tart will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.

a baked apple tart in the tart pan

This post was updated from an older July 2018 post with more details and directions.

More Gluten Free Apple Recipes:

I absolutely love apples. If you want to try more of my easy gluten free apple recipes, here are some of my favorites:

  • Gluten Free Apple Galette
  • Light and Fluffy Apple Muffins
  • Gluten Free Apple Bundt Cake
  • Gluten Free French Apple Cake

Recipe

drizzling caramel over a slice of apple tart

Gluten Free Vanilla Custard Caramel Apple Tart

Sandi Gaertner
You are going to love how easy this gluten free vanilla custard caramel apple tart recipe is to make. Topped with a creamy caramel.
4.92 from 12 votes
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Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 50 mins
Course Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 8 slices
Calories 247 kcal

Ingredients
  

Crust Mixture

  • 1 cup almond flour * see note
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ⅓ cup shredded coconut unsweetened

Custard

  • 1 ½ cups whole milk
  • 4 egg yolks
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons tapioca starch
  • dash salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted

Topping

  • 2 granny smith apples sliced thinly

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350º F. Ensure your oven rack is set in the middle of the oven.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, add the first 3 ingredients. Mix well.
  • Be sure your coconut oil is melted, and pour it into the crust mixture. Mix well. Note you can also use butter if you prefer.
  • Spray coconut oil in a tart pan. (I highly recommend using a tart pan with a removable bottom! Pour the crust mix in the tart pan and spread it out. Press down the crust mixture to flatten all along the bottom and sides of the tart pan.
  • In a saucepan, add milk, vanilla, and egg yolks. Cook on medium-low heat for 8 minutes, stirring with a whisk frequently. Use a spoon to remove 3-4 tablespoons of the hot liquid and put it in a small bowl. Add tapioca starch and whisk to blend. Pour this back into the custard mixture and whisk to blend.
  • Pour the custard into the tart pan. Add sliced apples onto the top the tart. (See photo above.)
  • Bake the tart for 30 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Drizzle caramel on top.

Notes

  1. I love to use Anthony's or Honeyville Almond Flour brands. I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your tart crust grainy.
  2. I like to use granny smith apples because they are tart and the flavor balances really well with the vanilla custard.
  3. This tart will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 247kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 6gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 34mgPotassium: 133mgFiber: 3gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 228IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 96mgIron: 1mg
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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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More Gluten Free Tart Recipes

  • Gluten Free Chocolate Tart with Caramel
  • Flaky Gluten Free Pop Tarts Recipe
  • Gluten Free Savory Asparagus Goat Cheese Tart
  • Easy No-Bake Greek Yogurt Tart Recipe
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Comments

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Debra C.

    July 14, 2018 at 7:16 am

    5 stars
    Say you made the most of those apples! And that drizzle.....oooh!!! Looks amazing!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      July 15, 2018 at 1:35 pm

      Thank you so much Debra, I love any dessert with apples :-).

      Reply
      • Jewel Winters

        January 23, 2022 at 1:36 pm

        4 stars
        Can you please post pictures and how the crust should look, what the consistency of the custard should be and how to make the Carmel

      • Sandi Gaertner

        January 23, 2022 at 1:38 pm

        Hi Jewel, I made that recipe for the blog back in 2018. I don't have the specific shots you are asking for. The crust can be as thick or thin as you like. Mine is about 1/4 inch thick. The custard is a thick liquid and bakes soft but not runny. I hope that helps.

  2. Maris Callahan

    December 18, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    I think I'm going to have to invest in one of those tart pans!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      December 18, 2016 at 8:57 pm

      They are easy to use and because the bottom pops out, it is easy to get the tart out of the pan 🙂

      Reply
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