Allergy-Friendly Spiced Pear Cobbler

Even though it’s gluten-free, the “cobbled” biscuit topping of our Spiced Pear Cobbler has a delicious scone-like flavor and texture. I prefer to make it with flaxseeds instead of xanthan gum, for a tender cake-like crumb. But if you prefer a firmer biscuit topping, use the xanthan. If you don’t follow a gluten-free diet, see the wheat flour alternative in our Recipe Tips.

Makes: 7-9 servings
Free of: gluten and all top allergens

Ingredients

Fruit Filling

2 1/2 lbs Anjou or Bosc pears peeled, cored, and cut into 1/8 to 1/4-inch slices (about 6 cups of pear slices)
1/3 cup (80 mL) packed brown sugar
1 tbsp tapioca or potato starch
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp powdered ginger

Biscuit Topping

1/2 cup (120 mL) brown rice flour (superfine if possible). If not GF, see variation next page.
1/4 cup (60 mL) tapioca starch
1/4 cup (60 mL) potato starch
1/4 cup (60 mL) + 1 tbsp sugar, divided
2 tsp lightly packed ground flaxseed or 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup (60 mL) solid or softened coconut oil* or palm shortening
1/2 cup (120 mL) plain or vanilla non-dairy milk alternative (such as rice, flax or coconut milk beverage)

Recipe Tips

*A Note on Coconut Coconut is technically a fruit. While most allergists do not consider it a tree nut, if you are nut allergic, ask your doctor if coconut is safe for you.

Recipe Variation If you and your family do not need to follow a gluten-free diet, omit both the flaxseed and xanthan gum, and simply use 1 cup of all-purpose or whole wheat pastry flour in place of the brown rice flour, tapioca starch and potato starch.

Instructions

For Fruit Filling

Preheat oven to 375° F.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, starch, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger to evenly distribute the starch and spices. Add the sliced pears and toss to coat.
Pour the pear mixture into an 8×8-inch baking dish, and shake the pan gently to spread the pears evenly.

For Biscuit Topping

In a large bowl, whisk together the brown rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, ¼ cup of sugar, ground flaxseed or xanthan gum, baking powder, cinnamon and salt – until well combined.
Add the coconut oil or palm shortening and mix it in with a fork or pastry blender. Do this until it looks like coarse crumbs, with no large chunks remaining.
Gently stir in the milk alternative, just until combined; the batter will still be a bit lumpy.
In a large bowl, whisk together the brown rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, ¼ cup of sugar, ground flaxseed or xanthan gum, baking powder, cinnamon and salt – until well combined.
Add the coconut oil or palm shortening and mix it in with a fork or pastry blender. Do this until it looks like coarse crumbs, with no large chunks remaining.
Gently stir in the milk alternative, just until combined; the batter will still be a bit lumpy.
Drop the batter by the tablespoonful onto the fruit filling, creating 3 rows of 7 to 9 biscuit toppers. (They will spread during baking.)
Sprinkle the cobbler with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Bake the cobbler for 35 to 40 minutes. With the gluten-free flours, the biscuits won’t brown, but they will develop a delicious crust, and the filling will start to caramelize around the biscuits.
Let the cobbler cool for at least 30 minutes before serving with hot tea or topped with a scoop of dairy-free vanilla ice cream.

Alisa Fleming is a contributing editor to Allergic Living magazine and the author of Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance and Casein Free Living, and founder of http://www.godairyfree.com