Healthy Apple Crumble Recipe (best healthier apple crisp!)

This healthy apple crumble recipe is easy to throw together and perfect for any season! It’s gluten free, sweetened with only maple sugar, uses minimal ingredients, and has the most delicious oatmeal crumble topping you’ve ever tasted! Make this for your next backyard bbq and serve warm with vanilla bean ice cream for the ultimate treat!

Healthy Apple Crumble made easy!

You’re going to love how simple this healthier apple crumble recipe is. Even if you’re not much of a baker, I promise you can make this recipe! This is also a great recipe to make with kids! It’s short and sweet and not one bit complicated.

The recipe only takes about 10 minutes to prep! I know, I could barely believe it myself! But seriously, it couldn’t be easier. It’s now my all-time favorite apple dessert.

Before we get to the recipe, let’s give the crunchy oat topping a moment of appreciation here. It’s just insane. Golden brown crunchy perfection and arguably the best thing about this entire dish. You’re going to want to put it on everything. Speaking of, last night I put it on top of some vanilla ice cream and it was just :chef’s kiss: perfection.

What makes this easy apple crumble recipe healthy?

I’ve taken the classic apple crumble recipe and made it gluten free (which is great for lowering inflammation), replaced the white and brown refined cane sugars with maple sugar (which is less likely to spike blood sugar), used less sugar altogether (no need for all that extra added sugar), and replaced generic butter with healthy fats (grass-fed organic butter or ghee).

And y’all. It tastes even better than the classic recipe for apple crisp, not kidding here!! There’s something to be said about using quality ingredients. Your body and tastebuds will thank you!

Ingredients needed for this healthy apple crisp

Apple Filling:

-5 crisp tart apples, peeled and cut into small pieces (½” cubes) (I used Envy apples)

-⅓ cup maple sugar

-1 Tbsp Bob’s Red Mill gluten free 1-to-1 baking flour

-1 tsp cinnamon

-1 pinch fine sea salt

-2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Oat Crumble Topping: (aka your new addiction. It’s so good!)

-1 cup gluten free rolled oats

-1 cup Bob’s Red Mill gluten free 1-to-1 baking flour

-1 cup maple sugar

-1 tsp cinnamon

-½ tsp baking powder

-1 pinch fine sea salt

-½ cup melted grass-fed organic butter or ghee (salted)

How to make healthy apple crumble

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease 11” oval baking dish (or rectangle around 7×10”) with a little bit of butter or oil.
2. Make apple filling. Add apple cubes to a large mixing bowl. Add ⅓ cup sugar, 1 Tbsp flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1 pinch salt and toss to coat. Pour 2 Tbsp lemon juice over the top and toss again. Pour apple mixture into baking dish and spread into an even layer.
3. Make crumble topping. Mix together 1 cup oats, 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp baking powder, and 1 pinch salt in the mixing bowl. Pour in ½ cup melted butter and stir until combined and crumbly. Crumble the topping over the apple filling in an even layer. The crumble topping can also be made in a food processor, if you would like. But I like to use the same mixing bowl to save some dishes!
4. Bake on center rack in your preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden on top. 
5. Allow to rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream! And a touch of maple syrup on top if you’re feeling extra! For a healthier topping, you can also make homemade frozen yogurt from Greek yogurt, vanilla, and pure maple syrup. Easy and delicious! Let me know in the comments section below if I should share a recipe for my homemade frozen yogurt! I make a sugar-free version with 5 g carbohydrates per serving that’s so good! It’s the perfect way to enjoy this oaty apple crumble recipe without the extra sugar.

Equipment Needed for this healthy apple crisp recipe

• Baking dish (11″ oval baking dish or rectangle around 7×10″)
• Large bowl
• Vegetable peeler
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Sturdy mixing spoon
• Oven

How long does this healthy apple crumble last?

You can store any leftover apple crumble in an airtight container on the countertop for 24 hours and then transfer to the refrigerator and store for up to 5 days. I have not tried to freeze this recipe, but I imagine it can be done! Just thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven at 250ºF when you’re ready to eat!

Can this apple crumble be made ahead of time?

Yes! You can absolutely make this healthy apple crisp ahead of time and store in the refrigerator unbaked until you’re ready to bake (but no longer than 1 day. You will need to remove it and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour before baking to take the chill off. If you’re going this route, you may also need to add 5-10 more minutes onto the cooking time.

This healthy apple crumble recipe can also be baked ahead of time and kept in the fridge. Just reheat at 250ºF until heated through (about 30 minutes).

What occasion is this healthier apple crisp good for?

I love this apple crumble recipe for all different types of occasions, really! It’s truly great for all seasons and I think your taste buds will agree. And since apple season here on the West Coast doesn’t really end, it’s an apple lover’s dream!

I love it for a summer backyard bbq, for a fun fall dessert, and it’s even special enough for a thanksgiving dessert! It’s honestly just like homemade apple pie but with like 10% of the effort. So if you’re not a pie-baking type of person or just want something quick but with all those good flavors, then this is the delicious dessert for you!

What are Envy apples?

Envy apples are an apple varietal from Washington state that have the perfect balance or sweet, tart, and crisp! These tart apples are perfect for this healthier apple crumble recipe since they hold their shape well when baked. They are very similar to the more common varietals Honeycrisp apples and Pink Lady apples: all tart, sweet, juicy apples.

For baked goods like this, the type of apples you use really matters! For the best results, you definitely want something with a tart flavor that’s not going to be overly sweet or turn mushy when baked. That’s why classic apple desserts are usually made with Granny Smith apples instead of sweet apples like Red Delicious or Fuji.

Envy apples are the perfect alternative if you’re looking to try something new when you pick up your fresh fruit! When my sweet tooth hits, I love having an Envy apple and a handful of blueberries for a healthy snack. If it’s your first time trying them, you are really in for a treat! You can find them at your local supermarket or farmers market.

Ingredient substitutions if you feel like experimenting!

• Organic all-purpose flour – If you’re not looking for a gluten free version, you can absolutely use a regular AP flour, although I always recommend choosing organic!
• Whole wheat flour – I haven’t tried this one myself but I think it should work just fine!
• Coconut sugar – You can use this but it will make the crumble darker. It will still taste great but won’t be as pretty since maple sugar is much lighter in color. That’s really the only change though, so it’s not a bad substitution if you don’t mind a little darker color to it!
• Granny smith apples – If you can’t find Envy apples where you live, you can substitute with another tart apple like granny smith.
• Other apple varieties – If you can’t find Envy apples, you could also use a combination of apples for this recipe (like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady, as mentioned above). I don’t recommend using the sweeter varieties like Golden Delicious apples or Gala.
• Apple juice – You can try this instead of lemon juice, if you would like. But I definitely recommend the fresh lemon juice to give you that nice acidity.
• Almond flour or almond meal – If you want to use almond flour instead of the old-fashioned oats in this recipe, you can totally do that! I have not tried it myself, but I think it should be a 1 to 1 substitution. I definitely recommend the oaty topping though!
• Brown sugar – You can use this in place of maple sugar to make your sweet cinnamon apples if you must, but keep in mind that brown sugar has a much higher glycemic index and is more likely to cause blood sugar spikes than maple sugar. Maple sugar and coconut sugar are much healthier alternatives.
• Coconut oil – To make this recipe vegan, you can use coconut oil to replace the butter/ghee. It will still be great, just not quite as flavorful. Use butter if you can. You won’t regret it!
• Oat flour – This is one substitution I wouldn’t recommend, as it will likely make this recipe slightly gummy.
• Chopped pecans, walnuts, and/or sunflower seeds – Can use these instead of oats to make the crumble if you can’t have oats. Either one will work, it’s just a matter of personal preference. I prefer walnuts for a mellow, bread-like flavor.
• Water and apple cider vinegar – If you don’t have any lemons for the fresh lemon juice and absolutely must, you can use a couple tablespoons water and a splash of apple cider vinegar in a pinch. You’ll get that same acidity needed for the cinnamon apple filling, just not the freshness that fresh lemon juice provides.
• Sugar free sweetener – For a low sugar option, you can try a sugar free sweetener like Lakanto Monk Fruit Sweetener or Swerve. I haven’t tried it yet though, so no guarantees that it will work!

Future recipe ideas

Have you ever tried to make apple crisp in a slow cooker? It’s a thing! And I’m definitely thinking I need to try that next! Perfect for warmer days when you don’t want to heat up your kitchen or if you’re bringing it to a friend’s house or potluck!

I’m also thinking I should make an apple crisp overnight oats recipe! How fun would that be?? Let me know what you think in the comments section or if you have any other recipe suggestions for me! I’ve love to hear from you!

Check out some of my other healthy dessert recipes!

• Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie (keto + gluten free)
• THE BEST Gluten Free Brownies
• 3-Ingredient Dough Gluten Free Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
• Gluten Free Salted Maple Scones
• Paleo Peach Cobbler (reader favorite!)
• Paleo Blueberry Cobbler (my all-time favorite dessert)
• Healthy Apple Crumble Bars (check out this yummy recipe from my friend Amy over at Amy’s Healthy Baking!

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Healthy Apple Crumble Recipe (best healthier apple crisp!)

5 from 4 votes

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This healthy apple crumble is simple to make and tastes just like traditional apple crumble! It's gluten free, can be made dairy free and vegan, and has no refined sugar. 

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 40 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients 

Apple Filling:

• 5 crisp tart apples peeled and cubed (½” cubes) (I used Envy apples)
• ⅓ cup maple sugar
• 1 Tbsp Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 pinch fine sea salt
• 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Topping:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 gluten free baking flour
• 1 cup maple sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 pinch fine sea salt
• ½ cup melted butter or ghee salted*

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease 11” oval baking dish (or rectangle around 7x10”).
• Make apple filling. Add apple cubes to a large mixing bowl. Add sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt and toss to coat. Pour lemon juice over the top and toss again. Pour into baking dish and spread into even layer.
• Make crumble topping. Mix together oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Pour in melted butter and stir until combined and crumbly. Crumble the topping over the apple filling in an even layer.
• Bake on center rack for 35-40 minutes or until golden on top. 
• Allow to rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla bean ice cream!

Did you love the recipe? I would love it if you left me a 5-star review below!

Notes

*sub coconut oil for vegan/dairy-free

Category:

• Baking & Breads
• Dessert
• Family Friendly
• Game Day
• Halloween
• Memorial Day / 4th of July / Labor Day
• Party Food

Author: Kit

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