For more delicious apple treats, also try our apple banana bread, apple cinnamon muffins, and crispy baked apple chips.
This healthy apple crisp recipe is really simple to make with basic ingredients. Since a lot of the cooking time is hands-off, we actually like to pop this healthy apple crisp in the oven while we’re eating dinner. The timing works out perfectly so you can enjoy it warm for dessert while it fills your home with the most incredible fall aromas.
Make it on weekends, for casual dinner parties, or as a healthier option on holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas. There’s no refined sugar or flour so it’s perfect for all the eaters around the table. And, of course, kids love it, too.
Apples – any kind of apple variety works, but the flavor will change depending on how sweet or tart your apples are. We keep the apple skins on for a rustic feel, but you can peel them if you’d like. Maple syrup – this natural sweetener won’t spike your blood sugar like regular sugar, and adds wonderful rich caramel flavor. Corn starch or tapioca starch – to thicken up the juices. Salt, vanilla, cinnamon – we use cinnamon, but feel free to add other warm spices like nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, or ginger. Pumpkin pie spice works wonderfully! Butter – we use regular butter. But for a dairy-free version, use either dairy-free butter or coconut oil.
Oats – old-fashioned rolled oats are what we use but you can use quick oats if that’s all you’ve got. Don’t use steel-cut oats for this recipe. For a completely gluten-free apple crisp be sure to use certified gluten-free oats. Pecans – for that perfect nutty crunch. Other nuts like walnuts and almonds both taste great, too. Maple syrup – only the real thing will do! Butter – regular salted butter is what we use, or opt for vegan butter if needed. Cinnamon and salt
To make a healthier apple crisp, we replace brown sugar with maple syrup for sweetness and use a minimal amount of butter. To make it dairy-free, simply swap the butter for melted coconut oil or a dairy-free butter alternative. There’s no flour in this recipe either, so you can easily make it gluten-free by using certified gluten-free oats. It’s also jam-packed with apples which are naturally high in fiber and antioxidants, plus it has rolled oats and pecans, so you’ll benefit from all that goodness, too! Since it’s easy to make gluten, dairy, and refined sugar-free, it’s a great option for anyone following a specific diet, and you can feel good about serving it to kids, too. Our favorite way to serve it is with a generous scoop of our vanilla coconut ice cream.
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