I’ve been making a variation of this healthy gluten-free apple crisp for the last 6+ years! But it wasn’t until this year that I finally decided to sit down, perfect it, and write out each ingredient.

It’s just one of those staple recipes I come back to every fall/holiday season. It’s that perfect end-of-day treat, best enjoyed warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream… and maybe even a healthy homemade pumpkin spice latte on the side?? Yup, now we’re talkin’! So head to your local orchard, pick alllll the apples, then run home and bake up this cozy apple crisp.

overhead image of healthy gluten free apple crisp in a baking dish

What Makes This the BEST Gluten-Free Apple Crisp?

Quick and Easy: No complicated steps, just mix, sprinkle, and bake!
Wholesome Ingredients: Made with healthier alternatives like coconut sugar and almond flour.
Perfect Texture: Gooey apples with a crisp, buttery oat topping. YUM!
Adaptable for Dietary Needs: Can easily be made vegan and nut-free without sacrificing flavor.
Delicious Fall Flavor: The combination of tart apples, cinnamon, and a touch of lemon gives this dessert a warm and comforting taste.

What You’ll Need to Make This Recipe

Apples: Granny Smith apples are recommended because they hold their shape well and provide a nice tartness that balances the sweetness of the topping. Other firm apples like Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Fuji are also great options.

Coconut Sugar or Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness without overpowering the dish. Coconut sugar is less refined and has a subtle caramel flavor.

Corn Starch: Helps thicken the apple juices as they bake, preventing the filling from becoming watery.

Lemon Juice (Optional): Brightens the apple filling and enhances the flavors. It also prevents the apples from browning too much before baking.

Cinnamon: Essential for that classic fall flavor. It adds warmth and depth to both the filling and the topping!

Rolled Oats: Provides a crisp, crumbly texture to the topping. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if necessary.

Almond Flour: A great gluten-free alternative to regular flour, adding a subtle nutty flavor and additional texture to the topping.

Butter (Non-Dairy Optional): Adds richness and helps create a crispy topping. Non-dairy butter works perfectly if making this vegan. I used Miyoko’s non-dairy butter and it works great in this recipe!

Top 5 Apples For Baking

Granny Smith: Tart and firm, making them perfect for baking as they hold their shape.
Honeycrisp: Sweet, juicy, and crisp, adding great flavor and texture.
Pink Lady: Sweet with a nice tartness, they retain their shape well when baked.
Braeburn: Well-balanced between sweet and tart, perfect for crisps and pies.
Fuji: Sweet and firm, they add a great depth of flavor to any baked dessert.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Nut-Free: Replace almond flour with oat flour or a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to make the recipe nut-free.
Vegan Option: Use non-dairy butter to keep it fully vegan.

gluten free apple crisp on a plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Can I Make Other Gluten-Free Fruit Crisps?

Absolutely! This versatile crisp recipe can be adapted with various fruits:

Cherry Crisp: Use fresh or frozen cherries in place of apples. Reduce the coconut sugar slightly to account for the cherries’ sweetness.

Pear and Cranberry Crisp: Replace apples with sliced pears and add 1 cup of fresh cranberries for a tart twist.

Peach Blueberry Crisp: Substitute peaches and blueberries, but reduce the sweetener slightly as these fruits can be naturally sweeter.

Why This Recipe is Perfect for Any Occasion This gluten-free apple crisp is not just another dessert; it’s a comforting, warm, and healthier treat that everyone can enjoy. Whether you’re accommodating dietary restrictions or just looking for a delicious fall dessert, this crisp checks all the boxes. Plus, it’s easy to adjust, making it the ideal recipe for any gathering.

Gluten-Free Apple Crisp

5 from 2 votes

Recipe by Samantha Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Total time

minutes

This healthy gluten-free apple crisp is the easiest and best fruit crisp you’ll ever make. It’s perfectly sweet with a crumbly oat topping, and ready in no time! This recipe is not only gluten-free but can be adapted to be dairy-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free.

Ingredients

For the apples:
5-6 apples, peeled and thinly sliced (about 1/8-inch thin)
1/4 cup coconut sugar, or brown sugar
1 tablespoon corn starch
2 tablespoons lemon juice (optional)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
For the crisp:
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup almond flour
1/2 cup coconut sugar, or brown sugar
6 ounces butter, cut into 1-inch cubes (I used non-dairy butter)
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
Add all apple ingredients to a 9-inch baking dish and toss together until evenly coated, then spread apples into an even layer around the dish.
Add all crisp ingredients to a large bowl. Use a fork to mix together, until a crumbly mixture forms. Sprinkle crisp topping evenly over the apples.
Bake for 40-45 minutes or until apples are soft, then let cool slightly before serving.

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This delicious Apple Crisp Without Oats recipe is a vegan and gluten-free take on a timeless classic. With a crumb topping that’s easy and quick to prepare and full of flavors from brown sugar and cinnamon, this makes for an irresistible fall dessert!

One of the best things about fall is that it’s apple season! The key to this recipe is that there are no oats in the topping, just flour, brown sugar and pecans. Oats are great, but sometimes a simple streusel-like crumb texture is nice to have. Not only is this delicious recipe easy to prepare, but it’s also made with simple ingredients. Most of which are pantry staples!

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE APPLE CRISP WITHOUT OATS

Apples – Get apples that are best for baking. I used gala apples this time, but honeycrisp or good ol’ granny smith apples will work perfectly too!

Brown Sugar / Cinnamon – Brown sugar and cinnamon adds incredible flavor and aroma to this recipe. Wouldn’t be the same without it!

Pecans/Walnuts – Chopped nuts like walnuts and pecans adds a perfect crispness to the topping. You can also add raisins or dried cranberries.

Gluten-Free Flour – I use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1:1 Baking Flour, though if you’re not gluten-free, you can easily sub all purpose flour for the gluten-free flour in this recipe.

ADJUST THIS APPLE CRISP WITHOUT OATS RECIPE TO YOUR DIET

Add Gluten: Use all purpose flour instead of gluten-free flour in this recipe.

Add Dairy: Use regular butter in this recipe if not vegan or dairy-free.

TIPS FOR MAKING APPLE CRISP

Slice the apples fairly thin. Anywhere around 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thin will work perfectly in this recipe. Don’t overdo it though – you don’t want them falling apart during the baking process because they’re too thin.

Substitute pears for apples. If you want to try something different, or if you just aren’t a fan of apples, pears are a great substitute.

While this dessert is pretty sweet in and of itself, I love adding a scoop of ice cream on top. It makes an amazing addition to the cinnamon/brown sugar flavor.

Apple Crisp Recipe Without Oats (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

5 from 1 vote

Recipe by Samantha Course: DessertsCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

hour