This Healthy Apple Crisp recipe features tender, juicy apples under a crunchy, flourless coconut sugar and oat topping. Bursting with sweet apple and cinnamon-scented flavor, it is the perfect fuss-free fall dessert. Learn how to make healthy apple crisp with oats from scratch with this simple recipe.
UPDATE: This post was originally published in October 2018. It has been updated to reflect new information and helpful content.
The Best Healthy Apple Crisp Recipe
Homemade apple crisp is a perfect fall-time dessert that is a traditional favorite. With a soft, slightly saucy baked apple filling covered with a crispy coconut sugar-oat topping, it is the perfect combination of tender and crunchy.
This good-for-you apple dessert contains no flour, so it is perfect for anyone that is gluten-intolerant. Just be sure to use certified gluten-free oats when making the topping, to ensure that the recipe is completely gluten-free.
As this apple crisp recipe is made using organic coconut sugar as the sweetener, it is also refined sugar-free. It also contains a good dose of healthy fats from the grass-fed butter in the oat topping. It makes an easy, flourless and healthy apple dessert recipe that the whole family will love. Keep reading to learn how to make the best apple crisp ever!
How To Make Healthy Apple Crisp
Not only is apple crisp delicious, it is one of the easiest desserts to throw together before dinner. All you do is toss some sliced apples with lemon juice and vanilla and spread them in a baking dish. Then sprinkle the apple mixture with a coconut sugar-oat topping and pop the dish in the oven. The apple crisp will bake in the perfect amount of time to serve fresh out of the oven when you are ready for dessert.
Can You Reheat Apple Crisp?
Absolutely! Warm apple crisp is the BEST. To reheat apple crisp, put a slice on a plate and place it in the microwave. Warm it up in 30-second increments, until it is warmed up to your liking.
Tip: Be careful when reheating it, as the sauce can get quite hot and may cause burns if you heat it up too much.
What Apples To Use For Apple Crisp
Apple crisp is an especially popular dessert in autumn, when apple season is at its peak. This recipe will work with just about any apple variety, so feel free to use whatever you have on hand. Although Granny Smith apples are generally thought of as the go-to baking apple, I personally prefer to use sweeter, less tart varieties such as Gala and Golden Delicious for the best flavor.
However, if you want to learn more about how to choose the best apple for an apple crisp, check out this helpful article from Southern Living.
Tip: Be sure to check the apples for freshness, they should be nice and hard. If the apples are squishy, bruised, or discolored, you should discard them.
More Healthy Apple Recipes
Craving more nourishing apple-infused dishes? Here are some of my favorite ones:
- Apple Pie Granola Bars
- Whole30 Applesauce
- Apple Spinach Salad
- Oatmeal Apple Muffins
- Butternut Squash Apple Soup
If you make this Healthy Apple Crisp recipe, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating ★ below, because I love hearing from you! ♡
The Best Healthy Apple Crisp Recipe with Oats (No Flour!)
Ingredients
- 4 apples, cored and chopped
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (certified gluten-free if necessary)
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup grass-fed butter, softened to room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a medium bowl, combine apples, lemon juice and vanilla. Spread apple mixture evenly in a medium baking dish.
- Combine oats, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut the butter into the mixture with your fingers until it forms a crumbly consistency.
- Sprinkle oat mixture evenly over apples.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition
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I loooove absolutely any dessert recipe using apples. This dessert looks amazing and I like how quick and easy it is to prepare especially for unexpected guests!
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe.
Thanks so much Ashika!! ♡ I love apple desserts too! You’re very welcome! 🙂
This is so yummy for Fall!! I absolutely love apple crisp…perfect with a big dollop of vanilla ice cream!! 🙂
Thank you Katherine! I love apple crisp too – actually I love pretty much anything with baked apples! 🙂
This looks so caramelly and delicious!! Apple crisp is one of my all time favorite desserts!!! YUM!
Hey Maria! ♡ Thanks so much! Same here! 🙂
one of my favorite fall desserts! i also love it with tangy greek ygourt, which makes it breakfast worthy (:
Mmmm I have had it with Greek yogurt before and it definitely adds a wicked creamy tang! And yes, any reason to have dessert for breakfast is fine by me! 🙂
Apple crisp is such a lovely fall dessert! Love this version with oatmeal! This is perfect for breakfast on a chilly morning 🙂
Thanks Deepika! Yes it would be great to have for breakfast on a cool fall morning, especially the way Heather likes to have it – with Greek yogurt! 🙂
I love a good apple crisp, especially with a big ol’ scoop of vanilla ice cream and some of the pan juices drizzled over the top! Your version looks sooooo good!
Hi Tracy! Thanks so much! ♡ I love apple crisp too, which is why I HAD to share my version on the blog. Mmm the way you described it with the pan juices sounds so good, I am craving it now lol. 🙂
This is perfect- we’ll be going apple picking very soon and I always end up bringing home wayyyyyyy too many! I can’t wait to try it!
Hi Jessy! Yay! I used to go apple picking with my family, but I haven’t been in so long! I hope you get to try this recipe with your freshly picked apples! 🙂
I made this and loved it. I think my apples were to much. Can you tell me weight or how many cups? Thanks!
Hi Ruth! I am so glad you liked the recipe! I usually equate 1 apple to about 1 cup of chopped or sliced apples, so maybe next time use 4 cups of cored and chopped apples to get the right amount for the recipe? I hope that helps! 🙂
So simple but so comforting! Your recipe looks so delicious. I’m with you, I prefer the sweeter apples rather than Granny Smith.
Hi Kate! Thanks so much!! ♡ I always like to use sweeter varieties of apples for baking recipes, because they make the dish taste so good without having to add more sugar!
Alia – I love apple crisp! I think Golden Delicious apples are one of the best baking apples for this type of dessert, too! Thanks for the easy and gf recipe!
Thanks Laura, I love apple crisp too! Anything with baked apples actually, lol. 🙂 You’re welcome! I hope you have a great week!!
I have to make this for my husband!!! He will flip!! He loves apple crisp so much!!
Hi Camila! Sorry for the late reply – I didn’t see your message until now! Oh I’m excited for you to make this recipe for your husband! Please let me know what you and him think of it when you make it! 🙂
I added about a cup of chopped pecans to the topping. It was definitely th4 best gluten free crisp I’ve made so far! Love the vanilla and lemon flavors — like an apple pie.
Hi Kate, thanks so much for your kind words! Chopped pecans would definitely taste fabulous in this recipe. 🙂