Healthy Apple Crisp

This Healthy Apple Crisp is made with tender cinnamon-spiced apples and a wholesome oatmeal pecan topping sweetened naturally with maple syrup. It’s the perfect easy fall dessert that’s lighter than traditional apple crisp but every bit as delicious!

Oh how I love apple season! Nothing says fall more than loads of apples consuming your kitchen. What better way to use those beauties up than with this comforting Healthy Apple Crisp. Not only is this easy apple crisp quick to throw together, but I can promise that your whole kitchen will smell amazing! This is the BEST apple crisp recipe made healthier with whole grain old fashioned oats and using maple syrup as a natural sweetener to keep this apple crisp refined sugar-free.

Why You’ll Love This

• Cozy and comforting – is there anything better than sweet apples, warm spices and crunchy oats all topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream?!
• Wholesome ingredients – we are using real ingredients like maple syrup instead of refined sugar to sweeten this apple crisp along with wholesome oats for the perfect healthier dessert!
• Versatile – this apple crisp makes a great option for dessert, brunch or you could even meal prep this for a cozy snack.
• Crowd-pleasing – always such a hit with a crowd and makes the perfect fall dessert to share with your Thanksgiving table!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• apples – I love using Honeycrisp apples because of their sweet/tart combo. They hold up really well without getting mushy, but feel free to use whatever fresh apples you like best! Braeburn, Granny Smith, Cortland, Fuji, Pink Lady and Golden Delicious all make great options as well.
• rolled oats – wholesome whole grain old fashioned oats (I used gluten-free) make this apple crumble nice and crunchy. You could also use steel cut oats, however they will have a chewier texture and nuttier flavor.
• oat flour – flour helps the crunchy oat topping come together. You can easily make your own oat flour right at home by blending rolled oats in your food processor or blender! Any type of flour will work for this though, including almond flour or whole wheat flour.
• maple syrup – naturally sweetens these apples without any added sugar and tastes incredible with all the cozy fall flavors! You could also use honey, coconut sugar, brown sugar or other sweetener of choice.
• apple cider vinegar – prevents the apples from browning and helps balance out the sweetness. You could also substitute with fresh lemon juice.
• cornstarch – thickens the sauce and prevents it from becoming watery. You could also use arrowroot powder in place of the cornstarch.
• pecans – crunchy pecans or walnuts make the topping even crunchier and add a boost of protein. Feel free to leave them out if nut-free.
• coconut sugar – I like use coconut sugar in place of brown sugar in recipes. This adds sweetness to the oat topping.
• butter (or coconut oil) – I’ve been making this apple crisp for years and both butter and coconut oil work great! Coconut oil has more nutritional value and is a great option if you are vegan or dairy-free, but in my opinion, butter just tastes the best. Feel free to choose whatever works best for you!
• vanilla extract – gives this delicious apple crisp a boost of flavor!
• warm spices – delicious combination of cinnamon, apple pie spice, nutmeg and sea salt.

What Apples Should I Use to Bake With?

I personally prefer Honeycrisp apples when baking because of their sweet/tart combo. I also always happen to have them in our fridge! They hold up really well too without getting mushy. I also like to use a combination of apples to create the best texture and flavor. My favorite combinations include:

• Honeycrisp + Granny Smith Apples
• Honeycrisp + Pink Lady Apples
• Fuji + Granny Smith Apples
• Gala + Honeycrisp Apples

Mixing sweet and tart apples gives you perfectly balanced flavor while helping the apples hold their shape during baking.

How to Make Healthy Apple Crisp

1. Prepare the apples.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and lightly coat an 8×8 baking dish or 9×9 baking dish with nonstick spray. Peel, core and thinly slice the apples. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced apples with maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, vanilla, cornstarch, spices and salt. Toss until every slice is evenly coated. Transfer the apples to the prepared baking dish.
2. Make the crumble topping.  In the bowl you mixed your apples in (we’re trying to save you from cleaning too many dishes here), mix together the rolled oats, oat flour, chopped pecans, coconut sugar, and maple syrup. Add the cold cubed butter (or solid coconut oil). Using a pastry cutter, two forks, or your fingertips, work the butter into the mixture until coarse crumbles form.
3. Assemble and bake.  Evenly sprinkle the oat crumble over top of the apple filling, covering them completely. Bake the apple crisp in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes. The crisp topping will look golden brown and apples should be soft and tender when pierced with a fork. If the topping begins browning too quickly, loosely tent the baking dish with foil during the final 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Cool and serve. Allow the apple crisp to cool for about 10 to 15 minutes before serving. This gives the filling time to thicken. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, frozen yogurt, or a dollop of Greek yogurt.

Tips for the Best Apple Crisp

• Choose the right apples – firm baking apples hold their shape much better than softer varieties. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, Gala, Braeburn, and Granny Smith are all excellent choices. I especially love using a combination of sweet and tart apples for the best balance of flavor.
• Slice the apples evenly – aim for slices that are about ¼-inch thick. Uniform slices cook at the same rate, so you’ll end up with perfectly tender apples throughout the crisp instead of some pieces being mushy while others stay too firm.
• Don’t skip the cornstarch – as the apples bake, they release a lot of natural juices. Cornstarch thickens those juices into a delicious cinnamon-maple sauce so your crisp isn’t watery.
• Use cold butter (or solid coconut oil) – cold fat creates those irresistible crunchy, crumbly clusters in the topping. If the butter is too soft or melted, the topping can become dense instead of crisp.
• Mix the topping just until crumbly – work the butter into the oat mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with small pea-sized pieces remaining. Overmixing can make the topping too compact instead of light and crisp.
• Tent with foil if needed – if the topping is browning faster than the apples are cooking, loosely cover the dish with foil for the last 10 to 15 minutes so everything finishes baking evenly.
• Let it rest before serving – it may be tempting to dig in right away, but letting the apple crisp cool for about 10 to 15 minutes allows the filling to thicken and makes serving much easier.

Variations and Substitutions

• Make it gluten-free – this apple crisp is naturally gluten-free, just make sure to use certified gluten-free oats and gluten-free oat flour.
• Make it dairy-free – simply substitute the butter with solid coconut oil or your favorite vegan butter.
• Nut-free – you can easily leave out the pecans or simply replace them with crunchy sunflower seeds.
• Swap the sweetener – honey can be substituted for the maple syrup, though maple syrup complements apples especially well.
• Add fruit – mix in fresh pears, cranberries, or blackberries along with the sliced apples. You can also swap the fruit and make a cherry crisp or this peach crisp.
• Extra spices – mix in a little ginger, cardamom, or cloves for even more fall flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Apple Desserts

• Baked Apple Cider Donuts
• Healthy Apple Cinnamon Muffins
• Healthy Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
• Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
• Maple Cinnamon Sautéed Apples
• Apple Pie Overnight Oats

More Recipes for Fall Baking

• Healthy Pumpkin Bread
• Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Soft Iced Pumpkin Cookies
• Baked Banana Bread Donuts
• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Donuts

Hope you all enjoy the BEST Healthy Apple Crisp recipe! If you love this as much as we do, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny! I love seeing all your delicious recreations!