A Delicious Apple Pie Recipe for PCOS (now PMOS) and Endometriosis
This blog post about an apple pie recipe for PCOS and endometriosis uses PMOS terminology, which stands for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome – PCOS).
This post covers a delicious apple pie recipe for PCOS (now PMOS) and endometriosis, how to make it, and why it is a perfect choice for cold autumn days.
This homemade apple pie recipe for PCOS/PMOS and endometriosis is easy and quick to make. It’s perfect for foggy mornings or gloomy evenings when you want something warm and sweet with your cup of tea. It doesn’t require many ingredients and takes about 90 minutes to prepare and bake.
Table of contents
Okay, imagine this – the windows are slightly foggy from the oven. Maybe it’s cloudy outside, maybe it’s raining, maybe it’s a crisp morning. Leaves are starting to change color. You wear your favourite sweater, cozy socks, and the radio is playing some jazz or your favorite music. There is a candle burning somewhere in the background, and the entire kitchen smells like warm apples, cinnamon, butter, and freshly baked pastry.
How is this apple pie recipe for PCOS and endometriosis different from the classic one?
When it comes to dessert, I want to make it as similar to the classic recipe as possible. So, an apple pie recipe, which is, in my opinion, a must in autumn, wasn’t an exception. If you don’t want another “healthy” apple pie recipe that tastes suspiciously like a protein bar, or a dessert made from twenty ingredients you have never heard of, or a recipe that tells you that if you eat one slice, you’ve somehow failed at taking care of your body, this recipe is for you.
Because if you have PCOS or endometriosis, food can sometimes become complicated enough without dessert joining the conversation. You’ve probably seen the lists. Foods to eat, foods to avoid, foods that are supposedly »hormone-balancing«, foods that are »inflammatory«, and foods that are »PCOS-friendly.«
Can you have an apple pie? Yes, you can. And I’d like to show you how to make one that is homemade, cozy, satisfying and made with ingredients you probably have at home. This apple pie recipe for PCOS and endometriosis uses whole-grain flour, butter, egg, unrefined sugar, apples, lemon, and cinnamon. It is a dessert that can fit into a varied, nourishing way of eating — while still tasting like something you genuinely want to eat.
Why make this apple pie if you have PCOS or endometriosis?
Let’s start with the most important part. You don’t have to earn dessert. Having PCOS or endometriosis doesn’t mean you need to spend the rest of your life being afraid of sugar, flour or anything that isn’t green. At the same time, if you’re looking for desserts that feel a little more nourishing and satisfying, it makes sense to think about the ingredients you’re using.
That’s where this recipe comes in. Instead of a pastry made entirely with refined flour and a very sweet apple filling, this version uses:
- Wholegrain flour for a more fibre-rich pastry.
- Apples as the main source of sweetness in the filling.
- A moderate amount of unrefined sugar.
- Cinnamon and lemon for lots of flavour without needing loads of extra sugar.
- Butter and egg to make the pastry actually taste like pastry.
And because the pie contains more than just sugar and pastry, it can feel much more satisfying than those tiny, overly sweet desserts that leave you looking for another snack fifteen minutes later. For me, that’s the real appeal. Not perfection, but satisfaction.
Apple pie recipe for PCOS and endometriosis
Pies have always been one of my favourite sweet treats, especially in autumn. I just love warm apple (or any other pie) and a cup of tea, reading and listening to the rain. After my diagnosis, I tried to modify our family’s classic recipe for apple pie to make it more PCOS/PMOS- and endometriosis-conscious. This recipe won’t magically cure your symptoms, but it could bring some warmth when you’re struggling. So, this apple pie recipe for PCOS/PMOS and endometriosis contains:
- Whole-grain flour: Whole-grain flour contains more of the grain and generally provides more fibre than refined flour. And fibre is one of those nutrients that is useful for making meals and snacks more satisfying. It also gives the pastry a lovely nutty, rustic flavour. Basically, it makes the pie taste as it came out of someone’s grandmother’s kitchen.
- Apples: Apples naturally bring sweetness, moisture, flavour and fibre to the filling, so you don’t need to turn the apple layer into a sugar syrup. Plus, apples and cinnamon are basically autumn’s second name.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon is doing a lot of work here. It gives the apples that warm, comforting flavour we associate with autumn, which means we don’t need to rely on huge amounts of sugar to make the filling taste exciting. And if I’m completely honest – I put cinnamon basically everywhere in autumn.
- Lemon: A little lemon juice makes the apple filling brighter and balances the sweetness. And lemon zest in the pastry gives the crust a subtle citrus fragrance. It’s a small thing, but it makes the whole pie taste fresher.
Ingredients: apple pie recipe for PCOS and endometriosis
This recipe is designed for a 30x30x5 cm / 11,8×11,8×2 inch circular ceramic baking pan. If you’re using a larger pan, simply double the ingredient quantities.
For the pastry
- 300 g whole-grain flour (If you don’t tolerate gluten, then use gluten-free flour)
- 200 g room-temperature butter (I use a lactose-free option)
- 1 egg
- 100 g unrefined sugar (You can also use brown or coconut sugar)
- Zest of one lemon
- A pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
For the apple filling
- 7–8 apples of your choosing
- Fresh lemon juice
- Cinnamon (How much you use depends on your taste–I use it a lot, like 3 tablespoons)
- Optional: a little extra unrefined sugar, depending on your apples
How to make apple pie for PCOS and endometriosis
1. Make the dough
I make my pie pastry a little bit differently. Honestly, I don’t think there’s a difference in taste and texture. Put your butter into a large bowl. Add an egg and mix until the mixture is combined. Then add sugar and lemon zest and mix for about 2 minutes. Then add the flour, salt, and baking powder, and gently bring everything together. I use a KitchenAid robot, but you can also use a standard mixer. Once you have the dough, shape it into a ball or dish, wrap it (I usually leave the dough in a bowl), and refrigerate for about 45 minutes.
2. Prepare the filling
I peel and grate apples because, in my head, it’s easier. Add them to a large bowl, add lemon juice and cinnamon, and mix everything. For this step, I don’t use a mixer, just a tablespoon. Taste the filling. If your apples are naturally sweet, maybe you won’t need much extra sugar. If they’re tart, add a little. This is one of the things I love about making homemade apple pie from scratch. You can taste and adjust the ingredients to your liking.
3. Prepare the baking pan
Preheat your oven to 180°C (360°F). Take the dough out of the fridge and divide it into two pieces. Keep one slightly larger for the base. One important thing is to always butter your baking pan (so you don’t burn the pastry). Press the dough directly into the baking dish, covering the bottom and sides evenly, without rolling it out. But you can do it the traditional way if you prefer. That’s why I love the recipes where you can modify them to your preference.
4. Add the filling
Fill the pastry generously with your cinnamon apples, spreading them evenly on top of your pastry. Don’t worry if they look like too many. They will soften and settle while baking.
Topping and baking time
You can roll out the remaining pastry and place it over the apples and cut a few small vents into the top so steam can escape. I grate the remaining dough over the apples. It’s easier and quicker. When you cover your pie with the remaining dough, put it in the oven.
5. Bake
Bake for approximately 40–50 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and the apples are tender. Your kitchen should now smell ridiculously good, with a mix of butter, sugar, and cinnamon. The best possible way to feel cozy this autumn.
How this apple pie recipe for PCOS and endometriosis solves some dessert problems
You want something sweet, but don’t want (or like) an incredibly sugary dessert. Use naturally sweet apples and don’t automatically add sugar to the filling. Taste first. You can also choose sweeter apple varieties if that’s what you enjoy.
You want a dessert with more fibre. The whole-grain flour and apples make this a different choice from a traditional pie made entirely with refined flour. It doesn’t make the pie a healthy food. It simply makes the ingredient profile a little different.
You have PCOS/PMOS and want dessert that actually tastes good. This is perhaps the most important one. You shouldn’t have to choose between enjoying your food and caring about your nutrition. The butter can stay. The cinnamon stays if you like it.
You have endometriosis and don’t know which foods work for you. This recipe gives you a relatively simple starting point. There aren’t twenty ingredients hiding in the filling. If you know that a particular ingredient doesn’t agree with you, you can adjust it. And if you’re dealing with significant digestive symptoms or specific dietary restrictions, it’s worth discussing those with your doctor or a registered dietitian rather than relying on generic “endo-friendly” food lists online.
Add your touch
I just love recipes that have room for improvement! When I’m cooking something, I want to add my touch. So, naturally, when it comes to this recipe for apple pie for PCOS/PMOS and endometriosis, I left room for you to make it more to your taste. Because, in my opinion, the best recipes aren’t necessarily the ones you follow perfectly. They’re the ones you eventually stop measuring.
- Add walnuts: Chopped walnuts would be beautiful with the apples and cinnamon. You can add a handful to the filling for some crunch.
- Add vanilla: A little vanilla extract can make the apple filling taste warmer and sweeter without needing much additional sugar.
- Add nutmeg: If cinnamon is your best friend, like mine, nutmeg is the slightly mysterious friend who shows up late to dinner and somehow makes everything more interesting. Use just a little.
- Make an oat crumble topping: Don’t want a traditional pastry lid? Skip it. Top the apples with a simple oat crumble instead. Now you’ve got a completely different dessert.
- Make mini apple pies: Use the same filling and pastry to make individual little pies. Perfect for freezing or serving at an autumn dinner.
- Add orange zest: If you don’t have lemon, orange zest can give the pie a warmer, slightly sweeter citrus note.
- Serve with Greek yogurt or Skyr: This is my favourite. Cool, creamy Greek yogurt or Skyr with a little bit of vanilla for more protein.
How to choose apples for apple pie?
You don’t need one specific variety. In fact, mixing apples can make your pie even better. Try combining a naturally sweet apple with a more tart variety. The sweeter apple brings softness and sweetness, while the tart one adds contrast. The important thing is to avoid apples that completely collapse into sauce unless that’s specifically what you want. And if your apples are incredibly juicy, don’t add unnecessary liquid to the filling. Your pie already has everything it needs.
How to avoid a soggy apple pie?
This is probably the biggest technical problem I had with homemade apple pie. Nobody wants a beautifully golden top sitting on a soggy bottom. Here’s what helps:
- Don’t add too much liquid. The apples will release their own juice.
- Don’t slice the apples into paper-thin pieces. You want them to soften without completely disappearing.
- Don’t skip the cooling time. This one is really important (and almost impossible), but the filling thickens as it cools.
- Bake until the bottom crust is properly cooked. Golden doesn’t just mean the top.
And if your pie is browning too quickly, cover the top loosely with foil while the filling continues cooking.
How to serve this apple pie?
There are several correct answers. Warm with Greek yogurt. Warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Cold, straight from the fridge. With coffee or tea. For breakfast the next morning (I am not a nutrition police, so if that’s what you want, have pie for breakfast. Why not?) If you’re looking for a more satisfying dessert, I particularly like serving a slice with plain Greek yogurt and a few chopped walnuts. The combination of warm apples, creamy yogurt and crunchy nuts is lovely.
How to store apple pie?
Allow the pie to cool before storing it. Keep it covered and follow the storage recommendations appropriate for your kitchen and ingredients. To serve it again, gently warm individual slices in the oven or microwave.
And here’s a little secret: Apple pie can be even better the next day, because the cinnamon settles into the apples, the flavours become deeper, and the pastry softens slightly.
FAQ: apple pie recipe for PCOS and endometriosis
Is this apple pie good for PCOS? This recipe can fit into a varied eating pattern for someone with PCOS, but “PCOS-friendly” isn’t a medical classification. Individual nutritional needs differ, particularly around blood glucose and insulin resistance.
Is this apple pie good for endometriosis? There isn’t one universally appropriate endometriosis diet. Individual symptoms and food tolerances vary, so this recipe should be viewed as a homemade dessert rather than an endometriosis treatment.
Can I use white flour instead? Absolutely. Wholegrain flour gives the pastry a more rustic texture, but regular flour will work if that’s what you have.
Can I reduce the sugar? Yes. You can experiment with reducing the sugar in the pastry, although this can affect its texture. I would start by avoiding additional sugar in the apple filling and letting the apples provide the sweetness.
Can I make it gluten-free? You would need to use a suitable gluten-free flour blend designed for pastry rather than simply replacing the whole-grain flour one-for-one with any gluten-free flour.
Can I make this dairy-free? A suitable plant-based butter can be substituted, although the texture and flavour may differ depending on the product.
Final thoughts before you go
If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS or endometriosis, you may already know how easy it is to turn food into another thing you have to get “right.” And there certainly isn’t one magical ingredient that will fix everything. There is simply food. Food that nourishes you. Food that comforts you. Food that you enjoy with people you love. So make the apple pie (or any other dessert to your liking). Don’t wait for a special occasion. Because maybe taking care of yourself isn’t always about doing more. Maybe sometimes it’s about making your kitchen smell like cinnamon on a rainy autumn afternoon and permitting yourself to enjoy something you’ve made with your own hands.
I’d love to hear from you! What’s your favourite cozy dessert to make in autumn? Let me know in the comments below — I’d love to discover your favourites!
