The Best Healthy Apple Crisp Recipe | Ambitious Kitchen (2024)

Are you overly excited for fall and ready for apple season? Good, me too! Let’s make my famous apple crisp together.

Wait, even better… let’s make a healthy apple crisp with a crunchy cinnamon pecan oat topping. You down?

Look, I love apple crisp for a variety of reasons. It’s cozy, comforting, a little bit nostalgic and much easier to make than homemade apple pie. Plus who doesn’t love the texture component of the perfectly sweet, crunchy topping? It’s everything you could want in a dessert.

I originally made this healthier apple crisp a few years ago and haven’t looked back since. You’d never know it was a little better for you either! I’ve lightened it up just enough for you to enjoy and still feel like it’s something really special coming out of your oven. Warm apples, delicious maple pecan flavor, what more do you need?! Get the vanilla ice cream ready it’s time to dig in.

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What makes this apple crisp healthier?

Instead of using regular sugar like most apple crisp recipes call for, I used maple syrup in the filling. The recipe doesn’t call for much but when all is said and done, it ends up being the perfect amount of sweetness. We’re also adding a boost of whole grains thanks to whole wheat flour, and I’ve included simple ways to keep this recipe gluten free and dairy free (while still being delicious).

Ingredients in this healthy apple crisp recipe

If you’ve never made homemade apple crisp before, you are seriously in for a treat. It only requires a few staple ingredients & spices but the result is absolutely incredible. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

Flour: I like to use whole wheat pastry flour for the lovely boost of whole grains, but you can also use regular flour, gluten free oat flour, or almond flour. Options for everyone! If you use oat flour, feel free to make your own right at home, too.
Oats: you’ll also need some rolled oats (gluten free if desired) for that crunchy topping.
Brown sugar: we’re sweetening that delicious topping with some dark brown sugar. You can also use coconut sugar to keep the recipe refined sugar free.
Pecans: hello, pecan oat topping! I love the flavor that crunchy pecans add to the topping.
Spices: for the entire crisp you’ll just need some cinnamon, salt and a little nutmeg. Fall flavors, ILYSM.
Butter: a little cold butter helps the topping hold that crumble texture. Feel free to use vegan butter or coconut oil to keep the apple crisp vegan & dairy free.
Apples: I love using a mix of granny smith or honeycrisp but I’m sure it will work with whatever apples you have available.
Secret ingredient: the filling also calls for a little bourbon, but you can swap that for vanilla if you’d like. Either way, this apple crisp is going to make your belly (and heart) very, very happy. Learn how to make your own vanilla extract here!

How to make the best healthy apple crisp

Prep your pan. Grease an 8×8 inch baking pan or a 9 inch skillet with cooking spray, an preheat you oven to 350 degrees F.
Make the topping. You’ll then want to combine all of the ingredients for the crunchy oat topping. Pour in the butter (or coconut oil) and combine the mixture with your hands until nice crumbles form that resemble wet sand. Pop that in the fridge.
Make the apple filling. Toss together the sliced apples, maple syrup, spices and bourbon and let the marinate in the bowl for a few minutes to soak up the flavors.
Assemble the crisp. Add 1/3 of the topping to the bowl with the filling and toss it together. Place all of this into your prepared pan and sprinkle on the rest of the topping.
Bake, cool & serve! Finally, bake the crisp on a baking sheet (in case the filling bubbles over) until golden brown. Let it cool and serve with vanilla ice cream for the ultimate treat!

Make it ahead of time

Yes, you can make this healthy apple crisp ahead of time! Simply prepare it as directed, cover your pan or skillet with foil, place it in the refrigerator and then bake it as directed before you’re ready to serve. Easy!

Store your leftovers

In the fridge: store any leftover apple crisp in an airtight containerin the fridge. Simply warm it up a bit in the microwave or enjoy cold straight from the fridge.
In the freezer: yes, this healthy apple crisp is freezer-friendly! Assemble the apple crisp but do not bake it. Cover the crisp well with aluminum foil and transfer it to the freezer for up to 3 months. Bake the frozen apple crisp at 350 degrees for about an hour or until it’s golden and bubbly.

More crisps & crumbles to try

Gluten Free Peach Crisp with Salted Coconut Milk Caramel
Apple Pie Bars with Salted Peanut Butter Caramel
Cinnamon Walnut Pear Crisp
Almond Flour Blackberry Crisp for Two! (gluten free)
Tart Cherry Pie Bars with Oatmeal Crumble (vegan + gluten free)

Get all of our delicious !

I hope you all get a chance to make this healthy apple crisp recipe very soon because it’s truly one of my favorites! Put on a good playlist and bake your heart out. It’s easier to make than pie and when the time comes, would be a lovely addition to your Thanksgiving table. My favorite way to serve it is with vanilla bean ice cream because why not?!

If you make this healthy apple crisp, be sure to rate the recipe below and leave a comment below! And if you’d like you can tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram with a photo of your creation. xo!

Healthy Apple Crisp

4.88 from 117 votes

Ingredients

For the topping:
1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or regular flour or gluten free oat flour or almond flour)
1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats, gluten free if desired
1/3 cup dark brown sugar (can also sub coconut sugar but brown sugar is best)
1/2 cup raw chopped pecans
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cold butter or vegan buttery stick, cut into very small cubes (can also use coconut oil)
For the crisp:
5-6 medium Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and very thinly sliced
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
1 tablespoon bourbon (or pure vanilla extract)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease an 8x8 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
To make the topping: Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and pecans in a large bowl until well-combined. Add in the pieces of butter and use your hands to squeeze and combine until the mixture becomes crumbly and resembles wet sand. (Alternatively, you can cut in the butter with a pastry cutter, or place all of the topping ingredients in a food processor and pulse until just blended. My favorite method is to use my hands, as I believe you get the best crumbly topping that way.)
Once finished, place topping in the fridge and begin making the apple filling.
To make the filling: Place apples, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg and bourbon (or vanilla) in a large bowl and toss to combine. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes.
Take 1/3 cup of the topping mixture and toss with the apple mixture. Place the apple mixture in prepared pan and sprinkle evenly with topping.
Bake the crisp on a baking sheet (just in case the filling bubbles over!) for 45-55 minutes, or until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbling. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes on wire rack. Serve warm with your favorite vanilla ice cream. Makes 9 servings.

Recipe Notes

To make gluten free: in the topping, use certified gluten free oats and almond flour or an all purpose gluten free flour or gluten free oat flour.

To make vegan: sub a buttery vegan stick for the butter or use coconut oil.

Make it ahead of time: simply prepare it as directed, cover your pan or skillet with foil, place it in the refrigerator and then bake it as directed before you're ready to serve. Easy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 204calCarbohydrates: 34.7gProtein: 1.5gFat: 7.7gFiber: 4.2gSugar: 23.2g

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Sarah Fennel // Broma Bakery

This post was originally published on September 16, 2018, republished on September 2, 2021, and republished on September 19th, 2022.

The Best Healthy Apple Crisp Recipe | Ambitious Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What are the best apples for making apple crisp? ›

What Makes A Good Apple For Apple Crisp? The best apples for baking keep their structure under heat, which prevents the chunks of fruit from turning into mush after baking. The firm and crisp Granny Smith and Honeycrisp varieties are popular apples to use in apple pies and apple crisps.

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

Like an apple crisp, an apple crumble is a baked fruit dessert with a layer of topping. But unlike the crisp, the crumble topping rarely includes oats or nuts. Instead, a crumble's topping is more like streusel, made with flour, sugar and butter.

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How do you keep apple crisp from getting soggy? ›

Sogginess is not as detrimental in a crisp as a pie because the crisp does not have a lower crust layer. One of the easiest ways to avoid wet apple crisp is to use a thickener to bind the apple juices together. The most common thickener is a cornstarch slurry, mixed with the apples before being added to a baking dish.

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How long does homemade apple crisp last? ›

Covered and refrigerated, this apple crisp will stay fresh for 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 325°F for 10 minutes, or until warmed through. The streusel oat topping will begin to soften after the first day, so be aware of that (though it will still taste great regardless!).

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Which apples are the most crisp and sweet? ›

Fuji: Fuji is the sweetest apple variety that Stemilt grows. Each crisp bite will remind you of the sweet taste of apple juice due to its naturally high sugar levels! Fuji apples are ideal for fresh applications like snacking, juicing, or freezing.

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Which apples stay crisp the longest? ›

Thicker skinned and harder apples tend to keep longer; 'Arkansas Black', 'Stayman Winesap', 'Rome', 'Fuji' or 'Pink Lady' can last five months or more when conditions are right. Softer skinned varieties like 'Gala' and 'Golden Delicious' may only last a few weeks even in the best environment.

Why is it called Brown Betty? ›

In the Original Picayune Creole Cook Book (1901) a recipe identical to the Brown Betty traveled under the name “Mulatto's Pudding” furthering the idea that the sweet-sounding Brown Betty was more a race-based epithet towards its maker than a homey moniker denoting golden-brown bread crumbs.

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Is Apple Brown Betty the same as apple crisp? ›

Both are very similar apple desserts, but the difference mainly comes down to the crumble topping: Instead of the flour and oat mixture used in an apple crisp, an apple brown betty uses breadcrumbs for its crumbly, delicious topping.

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How do you know when an apple crisp is done? ›

Bake the apple crisp until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden brown and crisp, about 45 minutes. Serve the crisps warm with vanilla bean ice cream or fresh whipped cream, if desired.

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Should I cover my apple crisp while baking? ›

Baking: Start baking the apple crisp covered with foil. This allows the apples to soften without any risk of the topping over-browning. After about 20 minutes, remove the foil and let the crisp finish cooking uncovered. Once the juices are bubbling, the topping is golden brown, and the apples are tender, it is done!

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Why didn't my apple crisp get crispy? ›

How can I make my apple crisp crispy? If your butter to flour to sugar ratio is off, it will result in a less crispy topping. You want to be careful not to add too much flour or too little. Also, we love adding old fashioned rolled oats to our crumble because it really gives it a nice crunch.

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Should you refrigerate apple crisp before baking? ›

You can prepare the crisp through step 3, then cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day before baking. You can also freeze the unbaked crisp for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then continue with step 4. Bake time will be a little longer since the crisp will be cold.

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What are the best apples for baking? ›

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

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Can I cut apples ahead of time for apple crisp? ›

It's best to use a sharp knife or an apple corer and knife to cut the apples by hand. Can I prepare the apples ahead of time and store them before making apple crisp? Yes, you can prepare the apples ahead of time and store them before making apple crisp.

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Are Gala apples good for baking apple crisp? ›

Gala apples are my favorite variety for this recipe – I like their sweet/tart flavor and firm texture. But if you have a favorite baking apple, feel free to use it here. Granny smith apples, Honeycrisps, Jonagolds, or a mix would all be excellent.

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Which apples are Crispier Fuji or Gala? ›

Texture & Use in Recipes: In terms of texture, Fuji apples are also a lot crisper, and less dense than Gala apples. So, they result in a firm bite with juicy flesh while Galas are softer and creamier. Their texture also means that Fujis are better for baking as they hold their shape better than Galas when cooked!

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Are Honeycrisp apples good for baking? ›

Honeycrisp. One of the sweetest apples around, this Midwestern favorite is good for anything—including baking. It boasts a distinctive juicy crispness and is firm enough that it won't cook down much. It complements just about any other apple variety to make a stellar pie.

What is a substitute for golden delicious apples? ›

Mutsu. Also known as Crispin, this firm-fleshed, less tart option is similar in flavor to a Golden Delicious. But it excels when it comes to structure, keeping more of a solid firmness. Mutsus are great for pies or other recipes that call for gentle cooking.

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