Black Pepper Free Cherry Crumble with Coconut & Cassava Topping
Bubbling fruit filling, a golden crumble crown, and zero worry about sneaky spice blends — this dessert is pure comfort from start to finish. The cherry base gets its depth from Ceylon cinnamon and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, while maple syrup brings a gentle, rounded sweetness that lets the fruit shine. What makes the topping so satisfying is the combination of cassava flour, tapioca starch, and shredded coconut, which bakes up into something genuinely crisp and golden rather than the soggy, dense crumbles you sometimes get from grain-free baking. Solid coconut oil is worked in until the mixture looks like coarse, clumpy sand — that texture is exactly what creates those irresistible, irregular crumbles on top. Many store-bought desserts and spice blends sneak in black pepper or mixed seasoning blends, so making this from scratch with individually sourced ingredients keeps everything clean and controlled. After about 35 to 40 minutes in the oven, the filling bubbles up through the gaps and the topping turns a deep, toasty gold. Let it rest for ten minutes before you dig in — the filling thickens beautifully, and that first warm spoonful is absolutely worth the wait.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the cherry filling
- 5 cups fresh or frozen pitted cherries (about 2 lb), thawed if frozen
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp arrowroot starch
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
For the crumble topping
- ¾ cup cassava flour
- ¼ cup tapioca starch
- ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- ¼ cup coconut oil, solid
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch baking dish with a small amount of coconut oil.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cherries, 3 tbsp maple syrup, arrowroot starch, lemon juice, and Ceylon cinnamon. Toss until the cherries are evenly coated and the starch is fully dissolved with no dry pockets visible. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
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