Top 8 Allergen Free, Gluten Free Crostata with Healthy Crunch Chia Jams 

This post is sponsored by Healthy Crunch 

Chia seeds are a wonder for allergy friendly cooking – chia pudding, chia egg replacer, and now, chia jams. Healthy Crunch Chia Jams are all natural, have less sugar than most store-bought jams, and contain tons of little chia seeds in every jar. The jams are produced in a peanut free, nut free, and gluten free facility too!  

Personally, I have made chia jams before (without much success), but I had never seen them in the grocery store. Thankfully, Healthy Crunch filled the void! You’ll notice a key difference between chia jam compared to regular jam. Chia jam is more viscous and has more grab, meaning it holds together more firmly; it is less slippery. It also has more texture than a regular jam because the seeds add a subtle crunch. The texture of chia jam makes it perfect for a one ingredient pie filling, or in this case, a crostata filling. 

Did I mention that the company is Canadian and woman-owned too? 

Top 8 Allergen Free, Gluten Free Crostata Recipe

A crostata is an Italian dessert that is a cross between a pie and a tart. The crust is fluffier and less finnicky than a pie crust, but it is more pie-like in flavor than a tart. It is always filled with jam. My favorite flavor of crostata is strawberry, so that is what I have used to demonstrate the recipe in the pictures below.  

I wanted to make this recipe gluten free and top 8 allergy friendly to keep in line with the Healthy Crunch mission of creating inclusive, healthy snack products. I know you may be scared off by the thought of working with gluten free pie crust, but not to worry, this recipe is incredibly forgiving and it doesn’t matter if your dough cracks before you even get it in the pan. Traditional crostata’s have a cross-hatched pattern on top, which you are welcome to attempt. However, I like to make mine with some crumbled dough on top because it saves a lot of time and still looks really pretty.  

You can purchase Healthy Crunch Chia Jams online, or find your nearest store. They are also available at all Sprouts locations across the USA.

Important notes on ingredient selection for the crostata: 

Use a rice-based gluten free flour mix that already contains xanthan gum.  

Use a refined, solid coconut oil as opposed to a virgin coconut oil, if possible. You want something that will solidify in the fridge just like butter or margarine would. A refined coconut oil will carry less coconut flavor and will not overpower the flavors of the flours and the jam. 

For the oat flour, you can buy it pre-made or you can learn how to make your own oat flour.

Looking for more delicious sweet, free-from recipes? Check out my Allergy Friendly Nice Cream and No Bake Desserts page and feast your eyes on all of the tasty recipe options!

Ingredients for Top 8 Allergen Free, Gluten Free Crostata made with Healthy Crunch Chia Jam 

• 1 cup purity protocol gluten free oat flour 

• 2 cups 1 to 1 gluten free flour mix 

• 1/2 tsp sea salt 

• 1/2 tsp baking soda 

• 3 tbsp. brown sugar 

• 3/4 cup coconut oil 

• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce 

• up to 2 tbsp. cup cold water 

• 1 jar of Healthy Crunch Chia Jam in the flavor of your choosing 

How to make Top 8 Allergen Free, Gluten Free Crostata 

1. Mix the flours, sea salt, baking soda, and brown sugar together in a large mixing bowl.  

2. Add the coconut oil, cutting it in with a fork until it forms pea-sized bits. 

3. Fold in the applesauce until the ingredients start to clump together, then switch to kneading with your hands until it forms a ball of dough.  

4. Divide the dough into thirds. Set one third aside. Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness, then transfer it to an 8 inch round pie dish. Press the dough into the pan and about a half inch up the sides. Trim it with a knife.  

5. Preheat the oven to 350F. Let the crust rest in the fridge for 20 minutes to a half hour. This will allow the fat to set which will result in a flakier crust. 

6. After the crust has set, add one jar of Healthy Crunch Chia Jam in the flavor of your choice. Spread it out evenly using a knife or a spoon. If you want your crostata to be extra-jammy, feel free to use 1.5 jars. You can also mix flavors together if you can’t decide on just one. 

7. With the remainder of the dough, you can crumble it on top (see the pictures for an example) or you can cut it out into shapes to create whatever pattern you would like. You can even do a classic cross-hatched pattern if you prefer! There is more than enough dough to get creative with. If you have extra dough, wrap it or place it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for a second crostata up to 3 days later. 

8. Bake the crostata for 20 minutes, then turn the oven up to 400F and bake for another 5 minutes to brown. 

9. Allow to cool fully before slicing. 

Makes 1 crostata which serves 6 people.  

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