This is the best Healthier Apple Crisp ever. It's sweet from the apples and pure maple syrup and has a perfect crunch from the delicious crumble topping. It is also refined sugar free, dairy free, vegan and can also be made gluten free!
Just like my Chocolate Baked Oatmeal recipe, you can enjoy this healthier apple crisp for breakfast or even dessert! It's also perfect to bring for pot lucks or even other get togethers such as a Thanksgiving dinner.
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📝Ingredient Notes
Apples- Honey crisp or gala apples work nicely. They're very sweet with the right amount of tartness. I also recommend leaving the skin of the apples on because they're very nutritious! I do not recommend, however, using tart apples such as Granny Smith for this recipe.
Pure maple syrup- Make sure to use 100% pure. Other maple syrups have added ingredients and refined sugars in them.
🍯Substitutions
Pure maple syrup- Honey will also work in place of the maple syrup if you are not vegan.
Whole wheat flour- Make this apple crisp gluten free by swapping the whole wheat flour for oat flour. Make sure your oats are certified gluten free to avoid cross contamination. You could also use almond flour instead.
Oats- If you don't like oats, you can simply leave them out. This will actually make the topping into a crumble rather than a crisp.
Sliced almonds- Or your choice of chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts.
Nut-free option- Use sunflower seeds for a crunchy nut-free option.
Coconut oil- Coconut oil is more nutritious than vegan butter, but it can be used in its place.
🔪Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wash and thinly slice your apples. Slice along the four sides of the apple, as shown in the photo below, leaving the core in tact in the center with the seeds. Slice each of the four apple pieces in thin slices, about ¼ inch thick.
Place apples in a large mixing bowl and add the remaining ingredients to the apples and mix together until well combined.
Begin to prepare the crumble topping by placing all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix together, then add the coconut oil and maple syrup. Mix until well combined. The mixture should stick together when you press it with your fingers.
Spray a 9x9 baking dish with oil and pour in the apple mixture.
With your hands, crumble the topping over the apples until all of the surface is covered.
Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes until the crust is nice and golden.
Some apples could look slightly dry on the top layer. Do not worry. The syrup from the natural sugars and starch collect at the bottom. Once it is scooped out, it will not be noticeable!
Serve with vegan vanilla ice cream if desired and enjoy!
🧊Storing
Store this apple crisp in an airtight container at room temperature for a couple of days or in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and let it warm up for a few minutes.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can prep the apple crisp a few hours in advance. Just store it covered in the refrigerator and bake as directed.
Healthy is a relative term. I personally don't think healthy is only relative to calories. While this dish is pretty high in calories from the flour, oats, coconut oil, almonds, maple syrup and apples, I think they still provide good nutritional value. I think it's important to look at the quality of the ingredients while still being mindful of what to consume in moderation.
Yes. Apple crisp freezes well both baked and unbaked.
A cobbler uses a biscuit-like batter on top of the fruit. When a cobbler is baked, the topping can resemble a cobblestone street, which is actually where the dish gets its name.
A crumble is a topping over the spiced fruit that typically includes a combination of butter, flour, sugar and sometimes nuts.
A crisp is very similar to a crumble. The only difference is that a crisp includes oats and nuts in the topping to give it a crunchier texture.
Gala or honey crisp!
Before you go! If you tried this Healthier Apple Crisp recipe and enjoyed it, please leave me a comment and review down below. I love to hear from you!
📖 Recipe
Healthier Apple Crisp
Ingredients
Apple Mixture
- 6 medium sized apples thinly sliced gala or honey crisp
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup optional
- 2 tablespoons tapioca starch or corn starch
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Crumble Topping
- ¾ cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup sliced almonds can use chopped
- ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup melted coconut oil
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wash and thinly slice your apples. Slice along the four sides of the apple, leaving the core in tact in the center with the seeds. Slice each of the four apple pieces in thin slices, about ¼ inch thick.
- Place apples in a bowl and add the remaining ingredients to the apples and mix together until well combined.
- Begin to prepare the crumble topping by placing all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix together, then add the coconut oil and maple syrup. Mix until well combined. The mixture should stick together when you press it with your fingers.
- Spray a 9x9 baking dish with oil and pour in the apple mixture.
- With your hands crumble the topping over the apples until all of the surface is covered.
- Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes until the crust is nice and golden.
- Some apples could look slightly dry on the top layer. Do not worry. The syrup from the natural sugars and starch collect at the bottom. Once it is scooped out, it will not be noticeable!
- Serve with vegan vanilla ice cream if desired and enjoy!
Nutrition
Note: Nutrition label is just an estimate. Amounts may vary.
Summer Bourbon says
Delicious. Definitely eat with ice cream it makes it so good🤤
Kayla says
Thanks, Summer!
And yes! Ice cream is a must!!
Meredith says
I had this recipe for my birthday and it easily replaced a traditional loaded down with sugar birthday cake for a guilt free dessert that stole the show! I could eat the crumble topping by itself it’s so delicious!
Kayla says
Thank you! This one has to be one of my all time favorite desserts 🙂