Healthy Apple Crisp (Award Winning!)

This healthy apple crisp is a cozy and comforting dessert made with easy ingredients! No refined sugar and no butter needed, it’s simple yet sure to impress!

It’s no secret that I have a slew of healthy apple recipes. I’ve made applesauce bread and a healthy apple cake. Now we can add a healthy apple crisp to the rotation!

Apple crisp is like an apple crumble, but a little easier to make. It also isn’t anywhere near as heavy and frankly, tastes much more delicious!

Table of Contents

Why this recipe works

No refined sugar. No white sugar or brown sugar is needed. Instead, we use maple syrup and coconut sugar to add some sweetness, and even then it is used sparingly!
No butter or eggs. Unlike traditional apple crisp recipes, this one uses no butter or eggs. This means NO white flour.
Quick and easy! This is the kind of dessert you can prepare with little notice.
Freezer friendly. Whenever I make an apple crisp, I always make an extra batch to keep in the freezer. Whenever I’m hosting friends for dinner or need a cozy dessert, I simply defrost and plop in the oven!

This apple crisp ticks all the boxes. A sweet and rich filling, topped with a crispy and tender topping. It’s sweet, slightly tart, and perfect when served on its own or with a scoop of ice cream!

Ingredients needed

This recipe calls for basic pantry staples along with fresh apples. If you don’t already have everything on hand, you’ll easily find them at any grocery store. Here is what you’ll need:

For the filling

Apples– Fresh apples, not ones which are on their last legs. Use a mix of tart and sweet apples, like granny smith apples and gala apples. Peel the apples, because the skins will be quite bitter if used in the filling.
Lemon juice– The citrus balances out the tartness of the apples.
Maple syrup– A refined sugar free sweetener. You can also use honey or agave nectar.
Cornstarch– Thickens the filling.
Cinnamon and nutmeg– Warming spices that are perfect with any apple dessert out there.

For the crisp topping

Almonds– Finely chopped almonds to make the topping extra crispy.
Almond flour– Blanched almond flour, not almond meal. You can also use rolled oats.
Shredded coconut– Unsweetened shredded coconut with no added sugar. This doesn’t give too much of a coconut flavor, but gives it a lovely crunch.
Coconut oil– Softened to room temperature. Use refined coconut oil to ensure there is no coconut taste. You can also use unsalted butter.
Coconut sugar– Add a little sweetness, while keeping the topping refined sugar free.

How to make a healthy apple crisp

With less than 5 minutes hands on time, the oven takes care of all the hard work. Get ready for your kitchen to smell amazing!

Step 1- Prep the apple and crisp mixture

Start by adding the filling ingredients to a mixing bowl until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the crisp topping until combined.

Step 2- Pre-bake the apples

Transfer the filling into a greased 9 x 9-inch baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes until the mixture is bubbling.

Step 3- Add the crisp topping

After 25 minutes, remove the baking dish and spread the crisp topping on top.

Place back in the oven and bake for a further 10 minutes, until golden brown.

Tips to make the best recipe

Apples are key. You don’t want your crisp to be too sweet, but you also don’t want to be too tart. Use a mix of tart apples (granny smith, pink lady, and empire apples) and sweet apples (golden delicious, Fuji, and gala apples).
If you notice the top of your crisp topping becoming golden brown sooner than 10 minutes, you can cover the baking dish and continue cooking until the filling is bubbling.
Serve this apple crisp with some healthy ice cream or frozen yogurt, for a cozy and satisfying healthy dessert.

Storage instructions

To store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered. Apple crisp will keep well for up to one week.
To freeze: Place apple crisp in a shallow container and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Reheating: Either microwave the apple crisp in 20-second spurts until warm or place it back in a preheated oven for 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which apples are best for a crisp?

A mixture of tart and sweet apples is best for crisps or crumbles. These include Honey crisp, Granny Smith, Golden delicious, and Pink lady.

What’s the difference between brown betty and apple crisp?

While very similar, a brown betty typically uses flour in the topping. A crisp, on the other hand, typically contains oats.

Should you cover apple crisp when baking?

There is no need to cover an apple crisp as the apples are par-baked first. This means that when the crisp topping is added, once its golden brown it can be removed from the oven.