Healthy Apple Crisp

This is the best classic but healthy apple crisp recipe! Juicy, cinnamon-spiced apples are topped with a crisp oat streusel. This dessert recipe is incredibly cozy and comforting, and so simple to make! No eggs, including the option to make it vegan and gluten-free!

An apple crisp is a baked dessert with a fruit filling made of diced or chopped apples that are tossed with cinnamon and sugar, and then covered with a streusel topping made of oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and butter.

This homemade apple crisp is perfect for fall, but it’s also lovely any other time of year you’re craving something sweet, cozy, and comforting.

Apple crisp is one of the coziest dessert recipes ever. It’s a classic fall dessert and a basic dessert recipe that’s fast and easy to make. With no crust, it’s so much faster and easier to make than pie, but has the same iconic cinnamon-apple flavor.

Another big win is the fact that the recipe is basically for everyone, since it’s naturally egg-free, can be dairy-free, vegan, and even gluten-free. Also, it requires just a few basic ingredients.

Ingredients to Make a Healthy Apple Crisp

Let’s go over what you’ll need to make this healthy apple crisp!

Other than the apples, you’ll need oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and butter to make the recipe.

I prefer rolled oats here, but instant oats work equally well. Use certified gluten-free oats to make your crisp gluten-free.

As for the type of flour, you can use all-purpose flour. Whole-wheat flour also works and is great if you want to make a healthier choice. Gluten-free oat flour is a great option if you need a gluten-free flour substitute.

When it comes to sweeten your topping and filling, you have quite a few options. Because of the desired texture of the streusel, it’s best to use a dry sweetener. Raw cane sugar may be substituted with granulated sugar, coconut sugar, or any unrefined sugar. For the filling, feel free to substitute the same dry sweetener options as for the topping, or use a liquid sweetener, such as agave, maple syrup, or honey. You can also omit the sweetener in the filling. Especially if you’re apples are sweet anyway, you can happily do this.

Be sure to use a high-quality ground cinnamon, preferably organic.

If you want to make your healthy apple crisp vegan or dairy-free, then substitute vegan butter.

As for the type of apples, be sure to use firm apples for baking. These won’t become mealy or mushy when baked. Use just sweet apple varieties or go for a mix of sweet and tart apples. Sweet varieties include Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady. Granny Smith or Braeburn are examples for tart apple varieties. For example, Granny Smith and Gala pair very well. Or use local varieties that are comparable.

How to Make the Best Healthy Apple Crisp

Let’s quickly cover how to make the best healthy apple crisp!

You’ll start with the streusel part, which makes the topping. First, you’ll combine the oats, flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Then you’ll work in the butter until the mixture is crumbly.

Next, to make the filling, you’ll toss the apples with the sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl until completely coated, before spreading evenly in an 8-inch square pan. In order to have even less effort, you can skip the bowl and toss the ingredients for the filling directly in the pan, which is what I usually do.

Sprinkle the topping evenly over the filling.

Then it’s time to bake. Bake for 50 minutes or until the rhubarb is tender and the topping is golden brown.

Be sure to let your crisp cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

The Best Healthy Apple Crisp Recipe

This apple crisp recipe is truly healthy. For both the filling and the topping, we’re using just a small amount of sweetener. The filling doesn’t even require it. For the topping, I also used a pretty small amount of fat, the minimum amount of butter that I sucessfully tested for this recipe, which is less than many traditional recipes call for. And you can even make healthier choices by using healthier options as mentioned above, like unrefined sugar, whole wheat flour, and by serving it without ice cream or with just a teeny-tiny bit of it.

How to Serve Healthy Apple Crisp

The best way to enjoy it is with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. The combination of hot apple crisp and cold ice cream just can’t be beat. But actually, it’s delicious with or without ice cream on top. And regardless of whether served warm or cold, it’s a real treat.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to know how it turned out! Please let me know by giving it a star rating and leaving a comment below. Or snap a photo and tag @teatimeontheporch on Instagram so I can see it! I’d love to see your healthy apple crisp!

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Print Recipe

Healthy Apple Crisp

By Christina

Yields: 4 – 9 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

This is the best classic but healthy apple crisp recipe! Soft, sweet, and spiced apples are topped with a crisp oat streusel. This dessert recipe is incredibly cozy and comforting, and so simple to make! No eggs, including the option to make it vegan and gluten-free!

Ingredients

For the Streusel

• 1 1/4 cups (100 g) rolled oats
• 1/3 cup (42 g) all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, or (gluten-free) oat flour
• 2 tablespoons (25 g) raw cane sugar or coconut sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup (57 g) unsalted butter or vegan butter, slightly softened (see Notes!)

For the Filling

• 3 large or 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, sliced, and halved
• 1 tablespoon (12.5 g) raw cane sugar, coconut sugar, or sweetener of choice
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

• Set an oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
• To prepare the topping, add the oats, flour, sugar, and cinnamon to a small bowl. Use your hands or two forks to work in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Set aside.
• To prepare the filling, toss the apples with the sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl until completely coated. Spread evenly in an 8-in square pan.
• Sprinkle the topping evenly over the filling.
• Bake for 50 minutes or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.
• Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Storage Instructions: Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for at least 4 days. Store either in the pan and covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container.

Pan Size Notes: An 8-inch square pan and a 9-inch round pan have very similar surface areas, so feel free to use either pan.

Dairy-Free + Vegan Option: To make the crisp dairy-free and vegan, use vegan butter.

Butter Notes: If you prefer your streusel to be slightly more buttery, you can increase the amount of butter in the recipe and use 5 tablespoons (71 g) or even 6 tablespoons (85 g) of unsalted butter. Either amount works, but be sure that the less butter you use, the crispier (and healthier!) your streusel topping will be.

Sweetener Alternatives: When it comes to sweeten your topping and filling, you have quite a few options. Because of the desired texture of the streusel, it’s best to use a dry sweetener. Raw cane sugar may be substituted with granulated sugar, coconut sugar, or any unrefined sugar. For the filling, feel free to substitute the same dry sweetener options as for the topping, or use a liquid sweetener, such as agave, maple syrup, or honey. You can also omit the sweetener in the filling. Especially if you’re apples are sweet anyway, you can happily do this.

 

Did You Make This Recipe?

I’d love to know how it turned out! Please leave a comment below. Or snap a photo and tag @teatimeontheporch on Instagram so I can see it!