This post is sponsored by California Grapes.
This California Grape Pie with Oat Crumb topping makes a delicious blood sugar friendly dessert!
You’ll love the flavor of my grape pie recipe! You can use any color of California grapes for this recipe.
What is grape pie?
Grape pie is a deliciously tart and sweet pie that can be made year round, but is especially delicious when California grapes are in season in late summer and into fall. It’s similar in texture to other fruit pies, but with a classic grape flavor!
Where did grape pie originate?
Grape pie was first made in the 1950s in New York as a double crust pie. It has steadily grown in popularity over the last 80 years and people enjoy it nationwide during the holiday season and beyond.
How to make a grape pie more blood sugar friendly
Traditional grape pie recipes will end up have >60g carbohydrate per slice and not a whole lot of fiber and protein. Our recipe below has about half the amount of carbohydrate and a decent amount of protein and fiber.
We utilized the following strategies to make this grape pie more blood sugar friendly:
- Almond flour and oat crust
- Less added sugar
- Crumb topping instead of top crust
What’s in this California grape pie recipe?
I’m so excited for you to try this grape pie recipe. It’s got some of the classic features you see in many of my recipes.
Almond flour and oat crust
This crust recipe is based on a recipe in my second cookbook The Easy Diabetes Desserts Cookbook. By using a flour base of almond flour and oats, we reduce the overall carbohydrate count and increase protein and fiber.
California grape filling
Our delicious grape filling is made with California grapes! I chose black seedless grapes for the photos you see here, but you can use any form of grapes you like. The instructions are written as if you’re using seedless, but seeded will work also once the seeds have been removed.
California grapes are a versatile signature ingredient in both simple and upscale recipes … And, grapes may help support a healthy immune system. Studies have shown that adding heart-healthy grapes to your diet every day also helps support brain, colon, and skin health; maintaining healthy bodily systems is essential to defend against illness both this time of year and year round.
Oat crumb topping
Instead of doing a double crust pie that has a crust on the bottom and on the top, we switch out the top crust for a delicious oat crumb topping. This adds a fun crunchy texture, reduces the overall carbohydrate count, and increases the fiber content slightly.
California Grape Pie filling tips
For our filling, we’re going to use the same strategy that we do in my Homemade Uncrustables recipe and my Grape Jelly BBQ Meatballs recipe. We’re essentially heating our grapes on the stove until they start to release their juices and then reducing that down until we get a thick almost-jam-like consistency.
Make sure to keep a close eye on your pot during this step, if the grapes aren’t stirred often enough and/or your stove gets too hot, the grapes can burn.
California Grape pie recipe with crumb topping
To make our crumb topping, we’re using the same base as we do for our crust: almond flour and oats. We’re adding some butter and a small amount of brown sugar for the perfect grape pie topping.
How to make a crumb topping
Oat crumb topping is not only delicious but it’s pretty simple to make! We start with mixing softened butter, almond flour, oats, and spices by hand. Using your fingers to smoosh the pieces of better helps it to soften even more and after a couple minutes we end up with something that resembles wet sand. Then, we sprinkle this on top of our prepped pie crust and filling and it’s ready to be baked.
California Grape Pie with Oat Crumb Topping
Ingredients
Crust Ingredients
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 cup rolled oats use gluten free if needed
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Filling ingredients
- 4 cups California grapes pitted
- 1/4 cup unpacked light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup oats ground, use gluten free if needed
Crumb topping ingredients
- 2 Tbsp light brown sugar unpacked
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup rolled oats use gluten free if needed
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 2 Tbsp softened unsalted butter cut into small squares
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Add your grapes to a medium sized sauce pan and heat over medium heat with he lid on, for ~10 minutes until the grapes start to soften. Once you can hear them start to sizzle slightly pop, remove the lid. Leave the pot over the heat and carefully start to mash. The grapes with the back of a spoon. Continue to heat the grapes for another 10 minutes with the lid off, stirring occasionally.
- Now, add in the brown sugar, salt, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and lemon juice and stir to combine. Continue to simmer this mixture for another 15-20 minutes until it has reduced down and only a small amount of liquid remains.
- Remove the mixture from the stove top and stir in the ground up oats.
- While working on the filling (which will take ~40-45minutes), we will make our crust and oat crumb topping.
- Gather your crust ingredients (almond flour, oats, sugar, melted butter, egg, salt and vanilla extract) and add them to the bowl of a food processor or your blender. Process them all together until the mixture resembles wet sand (about 15-20 seconds). Then, carefully transfer the mixture to a greased 8 or 9 inch pie plate and press it down and up the sides. Place the pie plate in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Once done, set it aside to add your filling to.
- Add all of the crumb ingredients (brown sugar, cinnamon, oats, almond flour, butter, and salt) to a bowl. Using your hands, mix the topping together, squishing the butter into the mixture as you go. It should start to resemble wet sand.
- Pour your filling into your prepared and baked crust. Then, sprinkle the oat crumb mixture on top of the grape filling.
- Place your pan in the oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the crumb topping and edges of the crust start to turn golden brown.
- Let the pie cool for 20-30 minutes before serving. Enjoy it as is or serve with your favorite low sugar ice cream!
Notes
Nutrition
Want more delicious recipes with California grapes?
Check out these other great grape recipes!
The Best Roasted Grapes with Goat Cheese Crostini
Between football watching parties, dinner parties, and other fun fall gatherings, we’re all looking for easy blood sugar friendly appetizer options this time of year. Roasted California grapes are the perfect addition to any menu and these goat cheese crostini are sure to be a hit!
Dark Chocolate Covered Grapes with Nuts
This may be one of the simplest nutritious recipes I’ve ever done. With only 3 ingredients and no cooking required, chocolate covered grapes will be your new go-to favorite!
Fall Harvest Salad
Fall is the perfect time to enjoy a good harvest salad. They’re so perfect for lunch or dinner, and once you see how easy it is to throw together, you’ll want to make it all the time!
