Healthy Apple Crisp
This Gluten Free Healthy Apple Crisp is a delicious combination of warm baked apples coated in cinnamon, topped with a crumbly oatmeal topping. Lighter than a traditional apple pie, but 100% satisfying!
Gluten Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free option
Ahhhh the smells of fall! While I love the warmth of summer, the smells of fall are by far my favorite of any season! Cinnamon, pumpkin, apple, cranberries… is it Thanksgiving yet?
Peak apple season is here, which means it’s time to revel in fall’s best — crisp APPLES freshly picked from the orchards — baked, broiled, sautéed, sweet and savory.
If you’re looking for a straightforward, easy as pie crisp recipe then you’re in luck!
This healthy apple crisp is fall wafting through the house.
I happen to think warm apples are one of the coziest seasonal treats (have you heard me rave about my mom’s applesauce?!)
Quick and Nutritious Dessert Idea
When I don’t have time to bake a delicious apple crisp I’ll microwave sliced apples with cinnamon and a little bit of water. The result is a quick apple-pie-like filling that’s so cozy!
For a healthier dessert…
I love a real deal dessert, but sometimes I want something a bit lighter.
When I “healthify” a recipe and cut down on the added sugar, I want to make sure it tastes just as good. Satisfaction is key!
In this healthy apple crisp I amped up the cinnamon, which also packs a dose of nutrients and has some health benefits…
Cinnamon:
- Helps control blood sugar levels by aiding your body’s response to insulin
- Provides anti-inflammatory benefits, which helps reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and arthritis
- Relieve indigestion
- May prevent unwanted blood clots
With the fiber and nutrients in apples, plus heart-healthy goodness of oats, this dessert even packs in some nutrition too!
How to Make a FOOLPROOF easy fruit crisp…
I’m a no fuss kinda home cook. Most of my recipes take less than 30 minutes and minimal ingredients. (Have you checked out my ebook with 50 5-ingredient, 20-minute recipes?!) That’s probably why I can’t be bothered to make a pie… it takes too long to roll out even store-bought pie dough.
But this recipe takes just a few steps…
First mix together the sliced apples with cinnamon, lemon juice, and a hint of brown sugar. You could even minimize clean up and do this (carefully) directly in your pie dish.
Next, mix together oats, oat flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. This will be your crisp topping.
Then “cut” your butter into the mixture until you get pea-sized pieces. The brown sugar, butter and cinnamon flavor combination with the heartiness of the oats is out of this world (and perhaps slightly addicting!).
Last you bake! When the apples begin to bubble and your topping is golden brown, you know it’s done.
Ingredients in Healthy Apple Crisp
This is not one of those super sweet crisps. It just has a hint of sweetness, a dose of earthiness from the cinnamon, and tons of fall flavors from the warm apples.
All you’ll need is:
- Apples
- Oats
- Oat flour (which can also be made from your oats)
- Brown sugar – you can swap in coconut sugar, if you wish
- Butter or a dairy-free butter substitute
- Lemon juice
This Gluten Free Healthy Apple Crisp is…
- Easy to make in less than 45 minutes start to finish
- Simpler than pie!
- Made with real ingredients
- Lower in sugar than traditional pie
- Delicious!
Gluten Free Healthy Apple Crisp
This Gluten Free Healthy Apple Crisp is a delicious combination of warm baked apples coated in cinnamon topped with a crumbly oatmeal topping. Lighter than a traditional apple pie, but 100% satisfying!
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American, Fall, Vegan
Ingredients
- 5–6 cups apple slices (suggested varieties: Macintosh, Granny Smith)
- 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon, divided
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon + ½ cup brown sugar, divided
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup oat flour
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter or Earth Balance buttery spread, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a large bowl, mix together sliced apples with 1 teaspoon cinnamon, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon brown sugar. Mix together and pour into a shallow pie dish. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl mix together rolled oats, oat flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Using a fork and knife, gently cut in butter or buttery substitute to form pea-sized pieces of topping. Distribute evenly over the apples in the pie dish.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes. You should be able to see the apple mixture begin to bubble. Let cool and serve…perhaps with some vanilla ice cream! Enjoy!
As the apples start rolling in, from the orchard or your store, try this recipe!!!
Don’t Forget to PIN IT…
It’s simpler than a pie, but oh-so-delicious! If you try this recipe, tag me – @chelseyamernutrition on Instagram!
XO