Keto Mock Apple Pie with Flaky Almond Crust

• 2 cups almond flour
• 6 tbsp coconut flour
• 2 tsp xanthan gum, for the crust
• 1 tsp salt, for the crust
• 1 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed, for the crust
• 2 oz cream cheese, softened
• 2 eggs, for the crust
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar), for the crust
• 1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water, for the egg wash (about half is used)
• 2 tbsp butter, for the filling
• 2 lb (900 g) zucchini or chayote, peeled and diced
• ¾ cup granulated sugar-free sweetener
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground allspice
• ¼ tsp salt, for the filling
• ½ tsp xanthan gum, for the filling
• 1 tsp arrowroot powder
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, for the filling
• 1 tsp apple extract (or 2 dropperfuls apple flavouring drops)

Method

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1. Pulse the almond flour, coconut flour, 2 tsp xanthan gum and 1 tsp salt in a food processor. Add the very cold butter cubes and the cream cheese and pulse just to coarse crumbs. 0:56
2. Add the 2 eggs and the vinegar and pulse until a dough forms with flecks of butter still visible. Press into a disc between baking paper and chill 15 minutes. 2:06
3. Take a third of the dough for the lattice. Roll the rest between two sheets of baking paper to 3–6 mm thick, then roll out the smaller piece; keep both cold in the fridge or freezer. 3:37
4. Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat and cook the peeled, diced zucchini or chayote a few minutes. Add the allspice, cinnamon, salt and sweetener, lower the heat and cook until soft, 10–15 minutes. 4:51
5. Sprinkle in ½ tsp xanthan gum and the arrowroot and cook 2–3 minutes more. Off the heat, stir in the apple cider vinegar and apple extract; let it cool. 5:33
6. Line the pie plate with the larger crust and flute the edge. Spoon in the filling, lay strips of the smaller crust across in a lattice and brush with egg wash. 6:14
7. Bake at 175°C (350°F) for 30–35 minutes, until golden brown on top and around the edge. Let it set before slicing. 7:17

Tip. Chayote stays crisper and more apple-like than zucchini. Keep the butter frozen until it goes in for the flakiest crust. Serve warm or at room temperature.

The method is a summary in our words — the video shows every step.