Question for bakers

[rainarana]

We don't really do much for the holidays but I wanted to make a dessert, as we do like to eat, and I've decided on a crumble.  Strawberry/cranberry to be exact.  Most recipes call for a starch/thickener to be added to the fruit mix, but most starches don't agree with me at all.  I'm good with almond meal and coconut flour is okay in small amounts

Comments

[volare]

My vote is almond meal. You'll have a bit of a different texture and you may need more of it to thicken the fruit under the crumble than the amount of starch the recipe calls for.

My typical fallback here is tapioca starch or arrowroot, dunno if you react poorly to those.

[rainarana]

The topping that I was planning on using is with almond meal, so that may be the best bet. I've never used arrowroot and it's been a long time since I've had tapioca anything. I've been okay with potatoes and white rice in their whole form lately, as long as I don't go crazy, but I'm just really nervous about such a concentrated starch. An idea occurred to me that I'm researching, adding a couple of egg yolks so it's a bit custard-like. Need to look into that a bit more.

[becala]

If starches bug you, just add a solid-at-room-temperature fat like coconut oil, that'll make it stick together. For other ideas, google for "Paleo", "GAPS" or "SCD" recipes- both of those diets that forbid grains and starches, so they will use things like coconut or nut flours and alternative thickeners to starches.

[rainarana]

Duh. I eat (mostly) paleo and didn't think to google that plus fruit crumble. I did just now and came across this recipe: http://guiltykitchen.com/2012/08/20/paleo-fruit-crisp/ I'll use a different topping, as that would be too much coconut flour (and I know me and how much I'll want to eat) but the filing is perfect. That plus fresh made whipped cream, I want some now!

[br0ken_dolly]

Coconut flour isn't bad. It soaks up liquid like WHOA. Almond won't thicken anything. For the fruit part, I'd use coconut flour, ground chia seeds, or nothing at all. (don't add extra liquid and it won't be too soupy.) for the crumble topping, use whatever you love-- almond is delicious, or hazelnut, or sorghum are my favorites.

[cordelia_sue]

Another vote for chia seeds.