Apple crisp is a classic recipe that the whole family loves. However, not everyone wants all the sugar in traditional apple crisp recipes.
With just a few simple changes to the ingredient list, you won’t believe that this delicious baked cinnamon apple crisp has no added sugar (refined). And it’s also gluten-free!
The addition of fresh thyme adds balance with a subtle savory note to the delicious sweet flavor profile of this delicious healthy apple crisp recipe.
Ingredients For Healthy Baked Apple Crisp
For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients.
Apple Crisp Filling Ingredients
- 6 large apples, cored, peeled, and sliced
- 1 T. fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 c. real maple syrup
- 2 T. 100% apple juice (sugar-free)
- 1 t. ground cinnamon
- ½ t. ground allspice
- 1½ t. fresh thyme leaves
- ¼ t. salt
Apple Crisp Topping Ingredients
- 1 c. old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/3 c. almond flour
- 1/3 c. almonds, sliced
- 1/3 c. honey, preferably local
- 3 T. unsalted butter, melted
The Best Apples To Use For Apple Crisp
When it comes to making the best healthy apple crisp, there are a variety of different types of apples that can be used. Some apples are better suited for baking and hold their shape better when cooked, while others have a richer flavor that is ideal for adding sweetness to the dish.
Some of the best apples to use for this baked apple crisp recipe include Granny Smith and Pink Lady. These tart apples have a firm texture that helps them retain their shape in the oven without losing too much moisture or becoming mushy.
How to Peel and Core the Apples
When making this recipe, it’s important to remove the apple peel and core. Below are some tips to make this process go smoothly.
Peeling and coring an apple is easy with the right tools. For peeling, a paring knife or apple peeler will work. For coring, an apple corer is the best tool, but a paring knife can also be used.
First, wash the apple to remove any dirt or residue. Then, using a paring knife or vegetable peeler, carefully remove the skin from the apple, going around the entire fruit. If using a paring knife, it can be helpful to cut off the top and bottom of the apple so that it can stand upright on your cutting board.
To remove the core with a paring knife, start at the top of the apple and make downward cuts into the flesh of the fruit until you reach the center. Finally, use a twisting motion to remove the core from the apple.
What Can I Substitute For Butter In Apple Crisp?
Melted coconut oil can be substituted for butter in this recipe.
How To Make Healthy Baked Apple Crisp
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 45-50 minutes
Serves: 4-6
Follow these simple steps to prepare your apple crisp recipe.
- Place the top oven rack in the center position and pre-heat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8” x 8” baking dish and set aside.
- Place the cored, peeled, and sliced apples in a large non-reactive bowl. Toss with fresh lemon juice. Add maple syrup, apple juice, cinnamon, allspice, thyme leaves, and salt. Toss to combine and set aside.
- Combine the crumble topping ingredients in a separate medium bowl. Stir until the old-fashioned oats are thoroughly coated and all ingredients are well combined. Set aside.
- Pour the apple filling into the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Spread the topping evenly across the top in a uniform layer, as well.
- Place the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. If the top layer is nicely browned, cover dish loosely with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning. Continue baking for another 15-20 minutes or until the apple crisp is nice and bubbling. Remove from oven and set aside to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream, if desired. Enjoy!
How To Store Apple Crisp
It’s best to enjoy your apple crisp soon after making it. However, if you don’t finish it all you can store it in the refrigerator or freezer.
How Long Will Apple Crisp Last in the Fridge
If stored properly in an airtight container, apple crisp will stay fresh for about 3-4 days.
How To Reheat Apple Crisp
You can reheat your leftover apple crisp in the oven. Place the apple crisp in an oven-safe dish. Then heat at 350 degrees F for about 5 minutes, then enjoy the warm apple crisp with some ice cream or whipped cream.
You may also like: Homemade Apple Pie a la mode
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What’s the Difference Between Crisp, Crumble, and Cobbler?
A. Apple crisp, apple crumble, and apple cobbler are all popular fall desserts. But what’s the difference between them?
- An apple crisp is made with a topping of oats, flour, sugar, and butter. The topping is then baked on top of the apples.
- An apple crumble is similar to a crisp, but the topping usually doesn’t have oats.
- An apple cobbler has a biscuit-like dough for its topping. The dough is placed in dollops on top of the apples before they’re baked.
Q. Should Apples Be Peeled For Apple Crisp?
A. Yes, we recommend removing the peel from your apples when making homemade apple crisp. While the peel adds a nice pop of color, it can become tough after baking. For a nice soft, delicate filling with tender apples, it’s best to remove those apple peels.
Q. What Can I Substitute For Brown Sugar In Apple Crisp?
A. In this recipe, we use maple syrup, apple juice, and honey as sweeteners instead of brown sugar and refined sugar.
Q. What Are The Best Apples For Apple Crisp?
A. For this recipe, we recommend using pink lady apples or granny smith apples. The key is using a firm apple that has a sweet but tart flavor. Rome Beauty and Honeycrisp apples are also popular choices to use in apple dessert recipes.
You may also like:
– Homemade Apple Pie
– Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Orange Scones
This healthy apple crisp recipe with tender apple slices, delicious crumble topping and no sugar is a delicious and nutritious way to enjoy the taste of apple season. Why use white sugar when you can use a natural sweetener like the ones in this recipe! can indulge in this sweet treat without feeling guilty. Give it a try!
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Healthy Apple Crisp (No Sugar)
You won't believe this delicious healthy apple crisp recipe has no sugar (refined)! It's sweetened with honey, maple syrup and apple juice.
Ingredients
- FILLING INGREDIENTS
- 6 large apples, cored, peeled, and sliced
- 1 T. fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 c. real maple syrup
- 2 T. 100% apple juice (sugar free)
- 1 t. ground cinnamon
- ½ t. ground allspice
- 1½ t. fresh thyme leaves
- ¼ t. salt
- TOPPING INGREDENTS
- 1 c. old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/3 c. almond flour
- 1/3 c. almonds, sliced
- 1/3 c. honey, preferably local
- 3 T. unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Place top oven rack in the center position and pre-heat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8” x 8” baking dish and set aside.
- Place apples in a large non-reactive bowl and toss with fresh lemon juice. Add maple syrup, apple juice, cinnamon, allspice, thyme leaves, and salt. Toss to combine and set aside.
- Combine topping ingredients in a separate bowl and stir until oats are thoroughly coated and all ingredients are well combined.Set aside.
- Pour apple mixture into prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Spread the topping evenly across the top in a uniform layer, as well.
- Place into pre-heated oven and bake for 30 minutes. If the top layer is nicely browned, cover dish loosely with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning. Continue baking for another 15-20 minutes or until the apple crisp is nice and bubbling. Remove from oven and set aside to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve warm with some vanilla bean iced cream or freshly whipped cream, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Choose firm apples, such as Granny Smith or Pink Lady for this recipe. These varieties will hold up well to the heat of baking without turning to mush.
Micky Reed, a two-decade veteran in the food and baking industry, leverages her influential Three Snackateers food blog and Instagram presence to collaborate with industry giants like Ben & Jerry's and Crumbl Cookies. Her work has been featured on Delish, PopSugar and more. Her expertise as a product curator for one of the world's largest international snack subscription box companies solidifies her status as a key player in the field.