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Home Recipes Course Desserts Pies, Tarts & Crisps Easy & Healthy Apple Crisp
GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian NF Nut-Free

Easy & Healthy Apple Crisp

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Posted:9/20/19
Updated:11/10/21
healthy apple crisp photos with text "healthy apple crisp" text in center

An easy apple crisp recipe that uses lower sugar compared to the traditional recipe, making this fall classic a new healthy favorite. Use gluten free oats as needed! Nut-free and vegan-friendly.

Fall is in the air and FMK is celebrating the change of seasons with one of the most basic fall recipes ever…

Homemade easy apple crisp!

Because who can really say no to such deliciousness?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: fruit desserts always surprise me.

(I’m a chocolate gal through and through.)

But when I open my heart to the goodness that is warm baked fruit and a crunchy oat topping – served with ice cream *obviously* – my taste buds are always like, “Can you please give us more of this?”

Plus, it’s apple season which means it’s time to hit up all of the orchards and grocery store sales and put your apples to good use in a dessert everyone will love.

Easy Apple Crisp Recipe

spoon in pan of baked apple crisp

And I promise, this recipe is easy. Crisps in general are a great recipe for beginner bakers – there isn’t a lot to mess up except for maybe over-baking.

The most time consuming part of preparing this recipe is cutting the apples – and you don’t need many, just about 4-5 medium apples.

Best Apples for Baked Apple Crisp

I like to use a mix of apples for baking this crisp recipe. Here I opted for Granny Smith, which will add some tartness to the recipe, along with Honeycrisp, which as we all know are deliciously sweet and crunchy.

Both varieties hold up well when baking recipes such as this easy apple crisp.

apples peeled on cutting board

Ingredients for a Healthy & Gluten Free Apple Crisp

  • fresh apples – I recommend using a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp or Jonagold.
  • lemon juice – helps keep the apples from turning brown while you cut them and also cuts the sweetness a bit.
  • brown sugar – or coconut sugar if looking for a refined sugar free option.
  • rolled oats – using rolled oats versus quick oats will give the oat topping the best texture.
  • flour – I used 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free baking flour but you can also use whole wheat pastry, whole wheat white, or a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat.
  • tapioca flour – or cornstarch, which will help thicken the juices that release as the apples bake. You can probably get away without it if needed.
  • salt – flavor enhancer and cuts sweetness.
  • butter – dairy-free/vegan or traditional.
  • ground cinnamon – because what would an apple crisp be without the addition of cinnamon?!
  • an optional/additional bit of spices like ginger, cloves and all spice can also be added. I add just a smidge!

How to Make This Apple Crisp Recipe

Step 1 – Prepare the apples

Cut the apples into slices (or chunks!) and mix in a bowl with lemon juice. Just make sure whichever way you prefer your apples cut, they’re as even as possible so they all bake the same.

Then toss the bowl of apples with sugar, a hint of vanilla, some cinnamon and tapioca flour (or corn starch) which will help act as a thickener.

Lay the apple slices into a greased baking dish and set aside.

Step 2 – Make the oat topping

Next you’ll make the apple crisp topping which is just oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon + spices, salt and butter.

Oh, and remember when I said this crisp recipe was easy? I wasn’t kidding because guess what? You get to melt the butter!

Are you excited? I’m excited.

Hardest part = cutting apples.

Easiest part = melting butter.

Well, I suppose that’s debatable but I digress.

So you’ll add the melted butter to the oat-flour mixture and then you’ll add that over top of the apple slices.

Step 3 – Bake it!

Now all that’s left to do is bake until the top is nice and golden – about 40 minutes!

closeup of spoon in apple crisp pan

And then of course you get to serve with your favorite ice cream of choice.

Or whipped cream?

^^ Do people actually do this?

Let’s take a poll: Do you prefer fruit crisp with ice cream or whipped cream?

I think we all know where I stand…

apple crisp in white bowl with ice cream

If you make this recipe, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment below! It helps others learn about the recipe too! Xx Ashley

apple crisp in white bowl with ice cream

★★★★★

5 from 4 reviews

How to Make…

Healthy Apple Crisp {gluten free}

An easy apple crisp recipe that uses lower sugar and gluten free oats for the best healthy fall dessert. Gluten free and vegan friendly – just use a dairy-free butter and your favorite ice cream as you wish.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 8
  • Scale:
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Ingredients

Filling

  • 2 lbs apples, about 5 medium apples or 4.5 cups, sliced – Granny Smith and Honeycrisp
  • 1 TBSP lemon juice
  • 3 TBSP brown sugar or coconut sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 TBSP tapioca flour (or cornstarch; arrowroot would also work)
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Topping

  • 1 cup rolled oats (gluten free as needed)
  • 2/3 cup flour (I used 1:1 gluten-free baking flour; see notes)
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp ground ginger* 
  • 1/8 tsp all spice*
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 6 TBSP unsalted butter, melted 

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375ºF and grease a 9×9 baking dish (or similar size such as a 2 quart baking dish); set aside.
  2. Prepare the apple filling: Add lemon juice to large bowl. Peel and core the apples, then slice the apples into about 1/4″ slices (or about 1/2″ dices) and place in bowl with lemon juice, tossing as you continue to add apples. Then toss apples with sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon and tapioca flour until combined. Transfer apples into greased baking dish, set aside.
  3. Prepare the oat topping: In a medium bowl combine oats, flour, sugar, spices and salt. Slowly pour in melted butter while stirring together until fully combined – use hands as necessary to make sure the dry ingredients are fully incorporated. Add the oat topping onto the apple slices in the baking dish (no need to press down).
  4. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until oat topping is slightly golden and mixture along edges is bubbling. Allow pan to rest and cool for 15 minutes before serving with your favorite ice cream or topping. 

Recipes Notes:

Flour: The oat topping is fairly forgiving, so you can use an all-purpose gluten free flour blend, whole wheat pastry flour, whole wheat white flour, or a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat. If looking for an alternative combination of flours, try my Strawberry Crisp topping.

To make vegan: use dairy-free or vegan butter. Coconut oil may offer similar results thought the oat topping won’t be as flavorful or crisp in texture.

*If not adding the additional spices in the oat topping, I would add an additional 1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon.

Nutrition Information:

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 274
  • Sugar: 26
  • Sodium: 94
  • Fat: 10
  • Saturated Fat: 6
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 47
  • Fiber: 4
  • Protein: 3
  • Cholesterol: 23
Category: Dessert Method: Oven Cuisine: American
Keywords: easy apple crisp, how to make gluten free apple crisp, fall baking with apples
Author: Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen

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About Ashley

"Ashley Walterhouse is the founder of Fit Mitten Kitchen, based in the Greater Lansing Area of Michigan, AKA “the Mitten.” Ashley grew up as a picky eater but later discovered that eating healthy was actually easy and fun. She started FMK in 2015 as a way to share her newfound love of developing healthier recipes for all to enjoy."

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Reader Interactions

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Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Idy says

    9/20/2019 at 9:45 am

    You have the BEST recipes! I am gluten free and i love tour recipes. Thank you so much?

    Reply
  2. Rebecca S. says

    9/20/2019 at 10:14 am

    This is outstanding

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      10/19/2021 at 12:15 pm

      So glad you like it! Thanks for your comment!

      Reply
  3. Carolyn says

    10/13/2019 at 11:59 pm

    Super yummy and easy recipe, thank you! I made it for our Canadian Thanksgiving and everyone loved it. I substituted fresh nutmeg for the allspice because that’s what I had in my cupboard 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      10/19/2021 at 12:16 pm

      Amazing! Thanks for sharing here!

      Reply
  4. Cassie Thuvan Tran says

    10/30/2019 at 2:05 pm

    Gorgeous apple crisp! I would love to recreate this at home when we have a lovely Christmas dinner. Our family ADORES apple crisps–this one still looks divine but is healthier, so it’d be perfect!

    Reply
  5. Karen says

    10/19/2021 at 11:57 am

    This was SO good!!! My husband asked me to make my apple pie. I’m trying to nudge him to eat more healthy, and that pie recipe is definitely not in the right direction, so I searched and found this recipe. Primarily I made it because it was so easy and uses coconut sugar. I am SO glad I did! He and my daughter loved it! I didn’t have nutmeg or allspice or cloves (not a fan of fall spices) so I used more cinnamon. Went very light on the ginger as I was concerned about how strong it might be without the other spices to balance it out. Not sure I tasted any ginger, but it was delicious! My only question is whether there is a way to lighten up on/substitute for the butter. Perhaps not, and that’s ok, because this recipe is a keeper. Thanks!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      10/19/2021 at 12:15 pm

      Hi Karen, thanks so much for leaving your review! I am so loved everyone loved it 🙂 For the butter, I tried to reduce it compared to a traditional crisp recipe while still giving a nice flavorful topping, so I personally wouldn’t reduce it much more. Especially because then you’d end up with a drier crisp topping. If anything you could maybe reduce the butter maybe by a tablespoon, but I wouldn’t do less than that without lessening some of the flour as well. Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Karen says

        10/20/2021 at 7:27 am

        Thanks Ashley for the response. I may try to reduce it, but on the other hand, why mess with a good thing?! 🙂 Looking forward to trying more of your recipes.

        Reply
  6. Jessica Moreau says

    1/23/2022 at 11:07 am

    So so good and simple! Used coconut sugar and was so good with side of ice cream.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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