A healthy apple crisp recipe that uses lower sugar compared to the traditional recipe, making this fall classic a new favorite. This recipe can be made gluten-free, and vegan-friendly using plant-based butter.
Fall is in the air and we are celebrating the change of seasons with one of the most basic (and easiest!) fall recipes: Homemade apple crisp! This version keeps everything you love about the classic (warm cinnamon apples, a buttery crumble topping) while using less sugar than a traditional recipe. AND it’s easy to use gluten-free oats, gluten-free flour and vegan butter to make this apple crisp dietary friendly.
Apple crisp is one of those healthy fall recipes you have to make at least once a year. Apple crisp > pie. Yes, I said what I said. Why you ask? Well, no pie crust to make and no dough chilling. All you need are fresh apples, a crumble topping, and one baking dish.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: fruit dessert recipes have a way of surprising me. And I say that because I am a chocolate gal through and through. If I am at a restaurant and I have the choice between fruit and chocolate (or peanut butter) I am almost always going for the latter. But I also love a good apple dessert. Nothing beats warm apples paired with cinnamon. And in this case, a crispy crumble topping made complete with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Why You’ll Love This:
- Easy to make – just make the apple filling and oat crumble topping then bake!
- Lightened up but lots of flavor – we’re making a healthier version by using way less sugar (only 3 tablespoons in the filling, and 1/3 cup in the topping!) than traditional apple crisp. You truthfully don’t need a lot anyway, as long as you use sweeter apples.
- Dietary friendly – this recipe is easy to make gluten-free using certified gluten-free oats, and vegan friendly using plant based butter. It’s nut-free too!
- The perfect fall dessert that doubles as breakfast leftovers – I love enjoying this apple crisp with some yogurt the next morning.
The Best Apples for Baked Apple Crisp
I like to use different types of apples for baking this crisp recipe. Here I opted for some Granny Smith apples, which will add some tartness to the recipe, along with Honeycrisp apples, which as we all know are deliciously sweet and crunchy. Both varieties hold up well when baking apple recipes.
Other varieties to consider would be Cosmic Crisp, SugarBee, or Jonagold.
Ingredients for Healthy Apple Crisp
Apple Mixture:
- fresh apples – Here I used a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp. Or you could try Jonagold, Cosmic Crisp or SugarBee apples.
- 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.
- tapioca flour – thickens the juices released as the apples bake; cornstarch works too.
- ground cinnamon – because what would an apple crisp be without the addition of cinnamon?!
- vanilla extract – for a hint of floral sweetness.
Topping Ingredients:
- rolled oats – using old-fashioned oats will give the oat topping the best texture (compared to quick oats). Note: this recipe does not work with steel cut oats.
- flour – this oat topping is fairly forgiving, meaning you can use a variety of whole grain flours to suit your needs. I used gluten-free 1:1 all-purpose baking flour, but you can also use whole wheat pastry flour, whole wheat white flour, or a mix of all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour. Spelt flour also works.
- brown sugar – to add sweetness to the topping.
- cinnamon and salt – adds warm and big burst of flavor. You can’t do apple crisp without it. If you really like spice, feel free to add in a pinch of ginger and all spice for a little special flavor.
- butter – feel free to use a plant based / vegan butter or conventional. Coconut oil can be used in its place, but the topping won’t brown as much and also have a more distinct coconut flavor. Butter or a butter alternative would be my top recommendation.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s go over the steps to make this easy apple crisp. The most time consuming part of this recipe is cutting the apples, but hopefully you have an extra set of hands to help! If not, enjoy the process and relish in the baked deliciousness once it’s done.
Step 1: Prepare the filling: Cut the apples. Cut into 3/4″ slices (or chunks!) and mix in a large 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. Toss in filling ingredients. Add sliced apples to a large bowl with sugar, vanilla, some cinnamon and tapioca flour (or corn starch), which will help act as a thickener. Add to baking dish. 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 rolled oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon (+ spices, if using), salt and melted butter. Mix all the crumble ingredients together in a medium bowl until fully combined. Now layer on the oat crumble onto the apples in your baking dish.
Step 3: Bake it! Now all that’s left to do is bake until you get tender apples and a nice crispy topping – about 40 minutes at 350ºF.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overcrowd the topping. A thin, even layer crisps up better than a thick, packed one.
- Know when it’s done. Look for a golden topping and bubbling filling around the edges.
- Make ahead. You can assemble the filling and topping separately up to a day ahead, then combine and bake when ready.
- Freezer instructions. Assemble the crisp in a freezer-safe dish but don’t bake it. Cover tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen at 350°F for about an hour, until golden and bubbly.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving homemade apple crisp with ice cream. Vanilla bean or salted caramel is my favorite. Of course, feel free to use your favorite ice cream (dairy-free alternatives are great too!), or a whipped topping.
If enjoying the next morning, I love serving with a whole milk greek yogurt or skyr.
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Healthy Apple Crisp
Ingredients
Filling
- 4 ½ cups sliced apples, Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, about 5 medium apples
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons tapioca flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Topping
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, gluten free as needed
- ⅔ cup flour, I used 1:1 gluten-free baking flour; see notes
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp ginger & all spice, optional
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375ºF and grease a 9×9 baking dish (or similar size such as a 2 quart baking dish); set aside.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information
Recipe FAQs
Can I make apple crisp ahead of time?
Yes. Prep the apple filling and the crumble topping separately, then store covered in the fridge for up to a day. Combine and bake when you’re ready to serve.
Can you freeze apple crisp?
Yes, both before and after baking. To freeze unbaked, assemble the crisp in a freezer-safe dish, cover tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen at 350°F for about an hour. To freeze after baking, cool completely, then wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven until warmed through.
How do I make crisp gluten-free?
A 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend works well and keeps the topping close to the original texture. Spelt flour is another alternative if you don’t need this recipe to be completely gluten-free.
How do I make this apple crisp vegan?
Swap the butter for a plant-based or vegan butter and use organic brown sugar.
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