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This warm mock low carb apple pie filling will have you fooled. Although made from zucchini, this sweet cinnamon mix tastes like it’s made from apples.
I’ve baked a mock apple pie and crisp using zucchini. But, I’ve never tried to use it in a skillet recipe like cinnamon apples.
This is a modification of a recipe from the Low Carb Friends forum. I used a really large zucchini that we pulled out of our garden.
I’d say the zucchini was equal to 2 or 3 medium size zucchini. Have you ever gone out to the garden and found a humungous zucchini squash out there? Or, do your friends have zucchini coming out their ears and giving you those huge ones they just can’t eat?
We all know these really large squash are great for baking breads, cakes, and brownies. Now, you can treat yourself to something a little different that doesn’t require any low carb flour!
To make this mock low carb apple pie filling, you start out by melting a half stick of butter in a large pot or skillet. Then you’ll toss in the sliced zucchini and cook just until tender.
The rest of the ingredients are then mixed in and the mock low carb apple pie filling is cooked a few minutes more. It’s best to use a thickener like xanthan or guar gum. Otherwise, the liquid tends to be rather thin.
When I originally made these warm zucchini cinnamon apples, I used vanilla extract. I later discovered apple extract which gives this a much better flavor.
We served this mock apple pie filling made with zucchini warm with a little whipped cream on top. But, I bet it would be even better with vanilla ice cream.
These taste just like apple pie without the crust! If you liked this recipe, you may want to try the zucchini apple crisp or the mock apple pie made with chayote squash!
Mock Low Carb Apple Pie Filling with Zucchini Recipe
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Low Carb Zucchini Cinnamon Apples
Ingredients
- 2-3 medium zucchini , peeled and seeded
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup low carb sugar substitute (I used Sukrin)
- 1/2 teaspoon Sukrin Fiber Syrup Gold
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons apple extract or vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Slice zucchini into apple-like slices.
- Heat butter in skillet. Add zucchini slices and cook until tender.
- Mix remaining ingredients and add to zucchini. Sprinkle in xanthan or guar gum as needed to thicken. Cook and stir about 5 more minutes.
- Serve warm. Great with ice cream or whipped cream on top.
Notes
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
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Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
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Lisa MarcAurele has been creating keto friendly recipes since 2010. She enjoys experimenting in the kitchen to create low sugar foods that taste like high carb favorites!
JenP says
Instead of using all that sweetener and apple flavoring to try to make a zucchini taste like an apple, I’ll just eat an apple. They aren’t THAT high in carbs; I eat a couple a week. You can even slice it, saute in butter, and add nuts and cinnamon – no sweetener needed!
The zucchini, I’ll eat with butter, salt, pepper, and hot sauce, maybe some cheese. Like the vegetable that it is.
Lisa MarcAurele says
Unfortunately, one apple has 20g carbs or more so it’s NOT keto-friendly.
JenP says
Yes, but half a small apple has far fewer carbs 🙂
I’m just saying, if I can’t eat an apple, I simply won’t eat an apple….making fake apples by using fake sweeteners and fake flavor just sounds like trying to hard to force something to be a “keto version” of a real food. I prefer to simply not eat the things I cannot eat. I can’t eat grains, so I don’t eat grains; I don’t try to fake them. I can’t eat legumes, so I don’t eat legumes; I don’t try to fake them. Apples are on the border, so I have a little bit of apple now and again, and enjoy the heck out of it when I do; and I don’t try to fake them.
I think non-nutritive sweeteners are profoundly disgusting, so I don’t use them. I can’t eat sweetened foods or beverages, so I don’t consume sweetened foods or beverages (no sugar, no honey, no agave,no dried fruits, no brown rice syrup, no stevia, no sugar alcohols, no splenda, etc etc)
My comment was just intended to say, I prefer to see real food recipes, not recipes trying to “fake” something that I shouldn’t eat. So I’m just explaining my point of view, not trying to be argumentative. Clearly lots of people loved the recipe. But surely there’s room in a comments section for a different point of view, someone respectfully saying, “more of the other kinds of recipes, please.”
MaryKathryn says
Wow! These look great. My dad used to make fried apples and I have been missing them. This recipe looks like it will fill that void. Thank you!
Marcella Smith says
For those trying to get a straight answer to how much zucchini, it works out to 4 to 7 1/2 cups, per what is said in the recipe and the author’s answers to the questions. Rather a large range. I guess you just have to wing it and make sure the rest of your ingredients are adequate for the amount of zucchini. Sounds like it would really taste good.
lynne says
This was fun! Found some apple flavoring at Michaels ( a craft store in the usa)for 3.99 two small bottles (lorann)) I couldnt wait for extract, have to order it online. Turned out great. I think I will make some turn overs with fat head dough later today. i can totally see this with Keto Vanilla ice cream or a sprinkle of keto toasted almond flour butter cobbler topping as the zucchini get pretty soft . Yum!
loretta says
Looks good going to try..Thanks.
Donna says
How many cups of zucchini did you use? This would be more accurate than 2-3 medium size zucchini as ‘medium’ is a relative term. Your advice would be appreciated.
Lisa MarcAurele says
I get roughly 2 to 2 1/2 cups per zucchini.
Rhonda says
Can it be canned once made ? I’m trying to use up zucchini.
Lisa MarcAurele says
It should be fine to can it, but I have no experience with it so I can’t be completely sure.
Carol says
Could you tell me approximately how many cups of zucchini you used? I have no idea how to convert medium zukes to this recipe. Thank you.
Lisa MarcAurele says
Each zucchini is about 2 cups or so.
Jackie Burrell says
I just made this and it is DELICIOUS! I used a whole half tsp. of xantham gum (way too much) and the sauce got very thick. Instead of adding more zuchinni I made a batch of fathead dough and rolled out circles to make little fruit pies. Crimp the edges and nothing comes out. So now I have delicious cinnamon apple fruit pies! Yum, so good.
Lisa says
The little fruit pies sound amazing! I actually did a braided fathead dough with this filling inside but never posted the recipe.
Bj says
I just seen q recipe for apple pie stuffed tenderloin(but with real pie filling) I want to make for my wife..this sounds perfect. Thank you?
Lisa says
It should work for that. Sounds tasty.
Nell says
I must admit that I was a little skeptical about this recipe but I tried it anyway since I love cinnamon apples and zucchini. I am so glad I tried it!! DELICIOUS!! Now I can have “Mock” cinnamon apples again. Thanks for the recipe.
Mila says
i just started making this. my kids playing in the next room ran in and said what are you making? it smells like apple pie! Hope it taste as good as it smells. 🙂
Lisa says
Awesome!
D. Barber says
This looks delicious. My garden is currently overflowing with zucchini. Can this “apple” pie filling be made ahead and frozen for future use?
Thanks!
Lisa says
I’ve never frozen it before, but I don’t see why it couldn’t be done with success.
D. Barber says
Thank you. I’m going to give it a try. Just harvested a 3 1/2 lb. zucchini. Must have missed that one the other day.
Lisa says
We’ve got a ton of zucchini right now too. Hope you like this recipe.
Jennifer says
Hello,
You say to use xanthan or guar gum but it’s not in the actual recipe. How much should I use?
Lisa says
I usually just sprinkle it on. I’d say start with 1/2 teaspoon and adjust as needed.
Alli says
This recipe is amazing! My husband and son thought it was made with real apples, and did not believe me when I said it was zucchini! Definitely another winning recipe! Thanks Lisa!
Sarah says
If I were to leave out the molasses, how much would that affect the recipe?
Lisa says
It should be fine. It’s just a touch to give brown sugar flavor.
kAthleen says
Thank You. I have oral allergy syndrome, allergic to all seed, pit fruits , unless cooked , great tip on flavoring , extract.
Lisa says
The extracts are derived from the fruit, but I believe they are prepared at high temperature so it should be okay. May want to test first though.
Kim Y says
Your question about anyone else having huge zucchini made me laugh. One year, late in the season, I was wandering around my now perversely overgrown garden looking for a dog toy that had gone missing. I tripped over something huge and fell down. I thought that a tree limb had fallen into the overgrowth. I dug down and found a 3 ft long, 8 inch diam. zucchini. I kid you not.
Lisa says
That sounds like the cucumber we found hiding out a few weeks ago. LOL
Carol says
This does look like something I want, but I am hesitant. I hate zucchini. Does it really taste like apples?
Lisa says
I served these at a family get together last weekend and even those not doing low carb were amazed. Zucchini really has little flavor so it will take on the flavoring added.
Tyler says
I have made your the apple part of your ‘apple crisp’ recipe many times. I live in Mexico and due to a shortage of ingredients (sometimes even lemon juice is hard to find) …my tweak? On the stovetop, I do zucchini with about 1/4 cup water, splenda, cinnamon, and…a pkg of sugar free lemon jello. It’s awesome!
Lisa says
Thanks for that tip! I guess I take for granted some of the products available here in US.
Lisa says
Does that still taste like apple pie filling also is that all the ingredients you use . Or do you still follow the recipe with all the other stuff
Lisa says
It tastes very close to apple pie filling. To get a better apple flavor, you can add apple extract, but it’s not needed.