Easy, Healthy Apple Crisp (Gluten Free, Vegan)

This Easy, Healthy Apple Crisp is gluten free, vegan, and low sugar. The soft, freshly baked cinnamon apples topped with a crunchy oat crumble is the perfect combination of textures that will have your mouth watering and begging for more. It’s the perfect dessert, snack, or even a topping for yogurt bowls!

Who doesn’t love a warm, comforting apple crisp? It’s one of those classic desserts that’s perfect for fall—or really, anytime you’re in the mood for something sweet and cozy. But if you’re looking for a healthier twist, I’ve got you covered! This apple crisp is super easy to make and uses simple ingredients that give natural sweetness, fiber, and nutrients. It’s been my obsession for these last few months!

I love a good crisp because there’s something about the soft, juicy fruit filling mixed with the crunchy topping that’s just amazing 🤩 I also love that you can enjoy them all year long and change out the fruit filling for whatever is in season. I try to eat seasonally because the produce is fresh, it has more nutrients, and it’s cheaper. Some of my other favorite crisp recipes I’ve shared are my Quick and Easy Blueberry Crisp, Peach Crisp, Healthy Berry Crisp, and other single-serve versions!

So obviously, I had to create a fall inspired crisp that brings together the same textures along with a fall fruit favorite and cozy, warm spices. I love topping mine with whipped cream, coconut whip, or vanilla ice cream.

Check out how to make this HERE.

Why You’ll Love This

• Ready in less than an hour – To get the crispiness on the top and let everything bake in the juice from the apple filling, we bake this twice. Once without the topping and the second with the topping. But even with both bakes, it’s done within an hour.
• Low sugar – Compared to most traditional apple crisps that are loaded with different types of sugar, this one is naturally sweetened with maple syrup and uses coconut sugar! Coconut sugar is a great sugar alternative that also is lower on the glycemic index which means it’s used better in the body and won’t spike blood sugar as much as regular sugar.
• Balanced – This dessert has a good mix of high fiber carbs and healthy fats, which both help you stay full and satisfied longer so you won’t have those cravings that come with a blood sugar roller coaster! We have fiber and carbs from the apples and oats, healthy fats from the pecans and coconut oil, and more nutrients from the maple syrup, lemon juice, and cinnamon.
• Dietary friendly – This apple crisp is gluten free, vegan, dairy free, refined sugar free, and low sugar.

What You’ll Need:

• Oats – I typically use sprouted oats organic for easier digestion and to avoid glyphosate but any rolled oats will do! My pantry staple is from One Degree Organics.
• Gluten free flour – I like using a 1:1 gluten free flour like the ones from Bob’s Red Mill and King Arthur. Any gluten free flour will work!
• Pecans – Chopped pecans on apple desserts is one of my favorites but you can use any nut or seed that will add crunch.
• Coconut sugar – I love this as a lower sugar option but you can use any type of sugar here. It helps create texture, sweetness, and binds the topping together.
• Coconut oil – I don’t recommend swapping this with another oil because we want it to be a healthy fat that’s solid at room temperature to help hold the topping together. If vegan, you could try using a vegan butter. If you’re not dairy free you could use regular butter or ghee.
• Cinnamon
• Sea salt
• Apples – Make sure these are medium sized since they will cook down and shrink a bit in the oven! I love using a variety of different apples to bring in more flavors but you can use any kind.
• Maple syrup – If you don’t need this to be vegan you could also use honey.
• Lemon juice
• Arrowroot flour – This is my favorite healthier, grain-free option that’s always gluten free. Other options are tapioca starch or regular corn starch.

How To Make

1. Preheat oven to 350F and lightly spray an 8×8 baking dish with oil.
2. Slice the apples, either leaving on the peel or taking it off depending on what your preference is. Then place the apples in the baking dish.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the rest of the filling ingredients and mix well.
4. Pour the mixture on top of the apples and stir to evenly coat them.
5. Bake in the oven for twenty minutes.
6. While the apples are baking, make your topping by adding all of the dry topping ingredients to the mixing bowl and stir. Then stir in the melted coconut oil a little at a time until a crumble forms. (Tip: Do this slowly because you might need more of less coconut oil depending on what flour you use!)
7. When the apples are done, take them out of the oven, stir, and add spoonfuls of topping to cover everything.
8. Place the baking dish back in the oven and bake for another twenty-five to thirty minutes until golden.
9. Serve with some vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

Recommended Tools

• 8×8 baking dish – If you want to double the recipe, you would use a larger baking dish!
• Glass mixing bowls
• Silicone spatula
• Stainless steel measuring cups and spoons

More Must Try Fall Dessert Recipes

Mom’s Famous Pumpkin Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting (Gluten Free)

Paleo Apple Cinnamon Muffins (Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free)

Healthier Pumpkin Donuts (Gluten Free, Diary Free)

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Apple Crisp (easy + healthy)

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Keyword: apple, apple cinnamon, apple crisp, dairy free, dessert, easy, gluten free, healthy, low sugar, oats, plant based, refined sugar free, treat, vegan

Ingredients

For the apple filling

• 5 medium sized apples
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp arrowroot flour (or tapioca starch or cornstarch)
• 1 tsp cinnamon

For the topping

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup gluten-free flour
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar (or any sugar)
• 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• pinch sea salt

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease an 8×8 baking dish.
• Slice apples and place them in the baking dish. Mix filling ingredients in a bowl then pour over apples and stir. Bake for 20 minutes.
• While the apples are baking, mix all of the topping’s dry ingredients and then slowly stir in coconut oil.
• When apples are done, take out of the oven, stir, add spoonfuls of topping, and bake another 25-30 minutes until golden.
• Serve with ice cream and enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest!