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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Recipes

    Published: Feb 25, 2022 · Modified: Apr 13, 2022 by Petranka · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Healthy Apple Crisp (Vegan + Gluten-free)

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    A photo of apple crisp with text overlay "Healthy vegan apple crisp". A photo of apple crisp with text overlay "Healthy vegan apple crisp". A collage of photos of apple crisp with text overlay "Healthy vegan apple crisp".

    This Healthy Apple Crisp has a layer of juicy apples topped with a crunchy oat-walnut topping! It's vegan, gluten-free, and can be enjoyed as breakfast or dessert!

    Apple crisp in a baking dish, topped with 3 scoops of yogurt and crushed walnuts.

    This recipe was updated on 25/02/22 to include better content.

    This healthier version of the beloved apple crisp is lower in sugar and higher in fiber, yet it's still comforting and indulgent!

    It's one of my favorite desserts to prepare over the holidays, no one can guess it's made without flour and butter!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients and substitutions
    • How to make healthy apple crisp
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQ
    • Reheating
    • More Fruit Desserts
    • 📖 Recipe

    Ingredients and substitutions

    Gathered ingredients for making healthy apple crisp.
    • Oat flour: You can make your own oat flour by grinding oats in a blender until a fine powder has formed.
    • Oats: Make sure to use rolled oats, not steel-cut oats or quick-cooking oats.
    • Walnuts: If you want to make this recipe nut-free, you can use sunflower seeds instead. Or feel free to use any nuts you like such as pecans or almonds.
    • Pepitas: If you're not a fan, you can use another nut/seed of choice instead.
    • Cinnamon: Brings warmth and flavors the crisp. If you want to level it up, use pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice instead!

    How to make healthy apple crisp

    Step 1

    Prepare the apples. Core, peel, and cut them into small pieces. Add to a baking dish and toss with cinnamon, sugar, and lemon juice.

    Step 2

    To make the oat topping, add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix well. It's best to use your hands or a fork.

    Step 3

    To assemble them together, cover the apples with the oat topping and bake for 35 minutes, or until the top is golden and the apples are bubbly.

    Apple crisp in a white ceramic dish.

    Expert Tips

    • Peel the apples for a smoother consistency. If you don't mind apple skin, you can leave it in, but I personally prefer to remove it.
    • Allow time to cool. The crisp will continue to set as it cools and it will be easier to scoop and serve.
    • Cut the apples into small pieces. This ensures that your apples will cook through and be soft by the time the topping has browned.
    • Use gluten-free certified oats to ensure that your crisp is gluten-free.
    • Use solid, but scoopable coconut oil. It makes for a better texture of the oat topping and ensures that it will be light and crumbly.

    FAQ

    What's the difference between apple crisp and apple crumble?

    Apple crisp is almost always made with an oat-nut topping, while apple crumble is made with just plain flour. There are different variations though and in some countries, they mean the same thing.

    Why is my topping not crispy?

    Not enough fat and/or sugar can cause that. If your topping appears dry and way too crumbly, add a bit more coconut oil, one tablespoon at a time. And for the sugar, we suggest not going below ¼ cup.

    Which are the best apples to use?

    It's best to use a combination of honey crisp and granny smith. However, if you want a sweeter apple crisp, use all honey crisp apples. If you want more of a tangier taste, use all granny smith.

    Can you make it ahead of time?

    Yes, you can assemble the crisp the night before, wrap it in foil, and bake the next day.

    Can you freeze it?

    Yes. Let the crisp cool completely then cover it with a double layer of foil (either plastic or aluminum), and freeze for 3 months. Let it thaw overnight before reheating.

    Healthy apple crisp in a ceramic dish with two spoons in it.

    Reheating

    Apple crisp can lose its crispiness as it cools, so we always suggest reheating it in the oven for best results, although the microwave can work as well.

    • Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Place leftovers in a baking tray and optionally spray coconut oil over the topping. Cover with aluminum foil and cook for 10 to 15 minutes. To crisp the topping, remove the foil for the last 3 to 5 minutes of cooking.
    • Microwave: Add crisp to a microwave-safe plate and cook for 1-2 minutes or until warmed through.

    More Fruit Desserts

    Baked Apples with Cinnamon

    Healthy Blueberry Crisp

    Blueberry Pancake Cake

    Lemon Turmeric Tea Cake

    📖 Recipe

    Apple crisp in a baking dish, topped with 3 scoops of yogurt and crushed walnuts.

    Healthy Apple Crisp (Vegan and Gluten-free)

    This Healthy Apple Crisp has a layer of juicy apples topped with a crunchy oat-walnut topping! It's vegan, gluten-free, and can be enjoyed as breakfast or dessert!
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    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, Dessert
    Cuisine: American, Gluten-free, Vegan
    Keyword: fall, oat topping, Thanksgiving, warming spices
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Resting time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Author: Petranka
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    Equipment

    • Oven

    Ingredients

    For the filling

    • 3-4 medium-large apples, optional to be peeled (*see notes for type guide)
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice)
    • 2 tablespoon brown sugar (or any other sugar you like)
    • A squeeze of lemon juice

    For the topping

    • 1 cup oat flour** (use gluten-free if needed)
    • 1 cup rolled oats (use gluten-free if needed)
    • ¼ cup brown sugar, packed (or any other sugar you like)
    • ⅓ cup coconut oil, solid but scoopable
    • ⅓ cup walnuts or pecans***, roughly chopped
    • ⅓ cup pepitas
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice)
    • A pinch of salt

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 180C (350F). Start by cutting apples in quarters, then remove the cores. if you don't like the texture of the skin, feel free to peel them as well.
    • Add the apples to the baking dish and toss with sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
    • To prepare the topping, add all of the ingredients to a bow- oat flour, rolled oats, sugar, coconut oil, pepitas, walnuts, pumpkin spice, and salt. Use a fork or your hands to mix everything well.
    • Transfer the topping over the apples in an even layer and bake for 35-40 minutes. Let it rest at least 15 minutes before serving.
    • Top with ice cream, yogurt, or plant milk (all optional) and serve right away!

    Notes

    *If you want a sweeter base, you can use all honey crisp or golden delicious apples. If you want your crisp to be tangier, use all granny smith apples. However, if suggest using half honey crisp and half granny smith.
     
    **To make oat flour place rolled oats in a blender or a food processor and blend for 1 minute or until a fine flour is formed.
     
    ***To make this nut-free, you can replace the walnuts with sunflower seeds, more pepitas, or apricot seeds.
     
    *****Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without optional ingredients.
     
    Storage:
    Fridge: Let it cool to room temperature, then transfer to an air-tight container and cover with a lid. Save in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Keep in mind that as the days pass by, the crisp topping becomes a bit soggy.
    Freezer: For the best result, freeze the crisp before baking. No need to thaw. However, if you want to freeze it when it's already cooked, it will last for 3 months in the freezer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 411kcal

    Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with third-party calculations without including the optional ingredients.

    Tried this recipe?Leave me a rating and a comment telling me how it went. Or tag me at @sunglowkichen and hashtag #sunglowkitchen on Instagram!

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    Sunglow Kitchen is a food blog about delicious vegan and vegetarian recipes. We share easy-to-make and budget-friendly meal ideas that anyone can make at home! Cooking is a BIG passion of mine and I am excited to show you how simple it can be! More about me...

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