Classics are classic for a reason. Sweet and crumbly, our cleaner Apple Crisp is a fall dessert mainstay you can feel so good about coming back to again and again. Spiced apples bake until tender in a buttery, maple glaze under a canopy of crunchy nuts and whole-grain oats. Naturally gluten-free, it’s a dish best served warm. With vanilla ice cream. In a very large bowl.
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I’ve extolled the virtues of the galette (a.k.a. lazy lady pie) many a time, but in all honesty, there’s an even lazier “pie” out there, and that, my friends, is “the crisp.”
Spiced, soft apples topped with crisp streusel – seriously, what’s NOT to love?
Well, if you’re gluten free, there’s the flour. And if you’re trying to curb your kids’ sugar intake (ahem) there’s that too.
For a condensed post, click to view the web story for this recipe.
A Healthier Twist on a Classic
Yes, there’s a different – arguably better?!? – way to do it.
Healthy. Apple. Crisp.
Less butter, if that’s your thing. Fewer refined sugars. And completely gluten free.
While traditional crumb topping usually consists of butter, sugar and flour, this cleaner apple crisp uses oats and nuts to create a sweet, hearty celebration of cozy, fall goodness that you can feel pretty darn good about.
As if you needed another excuse to go apple picking…
How to Make Healthy Apple Crisp
Apple crisp is one the easiest dessert recipes, and I promise anyone can master it!
Pulse oats, nuts, and brown sugar until crumbled. 
Sautee apples until soft. Whisk maple syrup, cornstarch, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour over apples. 
Top spiced apples with oat mixture. 
Bake 25 minutes at 350°F.
- Make the topping. Combine oats, pecans, walnuts, and brown sugar (or coconut sugar) in a food processor, and pulse until coarse. Add cold butter, and pulse until just incorporate. Place the topping in the fridge while you make the filling.
- Sauté the apples. Sauté diced apples in butter until they release their juices and soften slightly.
- Add the sweetener and thickener. Whisk maple syrup, cornstarch, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg, then pour into the apples. Simmer until the sauce thickens (it only takes a minute or two).
- Prepare the crisp. Scrape the apples into a casserole dish, then sprinkle evenly over the filling.
- Bake the crisp. Bake in a 350°F oven until the topping is golden brown and the apples are bubbling around the edges.
- Serve. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Tips for Making This Recipe Perfectly
- Double-check your oats and make sure they’re gluten free.
- Oat selection matters – use old-fashioned oats, not quick cooking or steel cut.
- Mind your nuts too! Don’t use salted nuts (i.e. for snacking) and there’s no need to pre-toast.
- Dice the apples small (about 1″). Leave the peel intact if you prefer.
What Kind of Apples Should I Use?
An apple is an apple is an apple? Not so fast. There is such a thing as baking apples.
Select apples that are more tart than sweet (they’ll still taste apple-y after being sweetened with brown sugar) and are firm so they hold up well to baking. We used Honeycrisp in this recipe. Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Jonagold, and Braeburn are also all great baking apples.
More Apple Recipes
Did you make this healthy, gluten free Apple Crisp? I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.
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Recipe
Healthy Apple Crisp (Gluten Free)
Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin RecipeRecommended Equipment
- 9×13 Casserole Dish
- Food Processor
Ingredients
Topping
- 1 c old-fashioned oats, gluten free
- 2 oz pecans, heaping ½ cup
- 2 oz walnuts, heaping ½ cups
- ½ c packed light brown sugar, or coconut sugar
- ¼ c butter, diced into small pieces
Filling
- 6 medium baking apples, about 3 lb, peeled, cored, and diced to ½”
- 2 tbsp butter
- ⅓ c maple syrup
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Vanilla ice cream, to top
- Caramel sauce, to top
Instructions
- Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350°F. Spray a 9×13” casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Make the topping. Combine the oats, walnuts, pecans, and brown sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until a coarsely chopped. Add the butter and pulse briefly, just until the butter is incorporated. Place the topping in the fridge to chill while the filling cooks.
- Heat a 12” skillet over medium high heat. Add the butter and heat until it melts. Add the apples, toss to coat in the fat, and simmer until the fruit releases its juice and the apples soften, 8-10 minutes.
- Combine the maple syrup, cornstarch, vanilla extract, vanilla and nutmeg in a 1-cup measuring cup or small bowl; whisk until smooth. Pour into the apples, then toss to evenly coat. Simmer 1-2 minutes more, or until the sauce thickens.
- Scrape the apples into the prepared casserole dish, then sprinkle the topping evenly over the filling.
- Transfer to the oven and bake 20-25 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown. Serve warm, topped with vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Double-check your oats to ensure they’re labeled “gluten free”
- Use old-fashioned oats, not steel cut or quick-cooking
- Storage: cover leftovers with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat in the microwave.
- Make-ahead: apple crisp can be made up to 1 day in advance; to reheat, cover with foil and heat in a 350°F oven until warmed through.
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