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This Skinny Apple Crisp is unbeatable, not to mention gluten, dairy and refined sugar-free! Tart, crispy apples topped with a sweet cinnamon oat streusel; this healthier version will satisfy your sweet tooth without leaving you in a sugar coma!
I hope you had a good weekend! Do anything fun? My weekend consisted of an eight-hour plane ride with three kids three and under… that was a party. However I really shouldn’t complain because we are on vacation in Hawaii this week! Warm beaches + shaved ice EVERY DAY?? Yes please!
Today in honor of Apple Week, I am bringing you a classic dessert – Apple Crisp! There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned apple crisp to kick off the fall season. However my version today is a healthier alternative to your Grandmas classic dessert, made with “better for you ingredients”. It is one of our families favorite desserts and you would never guess that it is completely gluten, dairy and refined sugar-free!
Apple Crisp is like Apple Pie’s lazy but slightly more fun cousin, because it’s so easy to make! I’m not the best at making fancy pie crusts, so an easy streusel topping is right up my alley. The sweet cinnamon oat streusel is definitely the highlight of this dish. The buttery crumble of cinnamon and oats with a slightly nutty accent from the pecans is perfection.
I usually use Granny Smith apples because I like the balance of tart and sweet in this dessert. However I’ve made this crisp with many different types and it always turns out great! Braeburn and Honeycrisp are some of my favorites that work really well and hold their shape while baking. There’s nothing like the aroma of a warm, bubbling apple crisp in the oven on a cool, crisp autumn day. Pure bliss.
So here’s how this skinny apple crisp magic happens:
First, peel the apples and then core and slice them. I like to use a handy tool like this one here that cores and slices them in the perfect skinny slices all at once. We all could use a time saver, am I right?
Next, throw your apples in your baking dish, add the rest of the filling ingredients, and toss to coat.
Last comes the streusel. In a medium mixing bowl combine the all ingredients in a food processor with the s blade, and pulse until it is crumbly and the size of cherries. Pour streusel evenly over the apples and pop in the oven to bake.
Now comes the hard part: practicing extreme self-control while waiting for it to finish baking. Trust me, the smell is going to drive you crazy!!
And of course, it’s required that you top with vanilla ice cream. Two scoops? Okay, you twisted my arm.
Also, have you entered to win the fabulous #appleweek prizes yet? Be sure to enter below and visit HERE to see what you can win!
PrintSkinny Apple Crisp
This Skinny Apple Crisp is unbeatable, not to mention gluten, dairy and refined sugar-free! Tart, crispy apples topped with a sweet cinnamon oat streusel; this healthier version will satisfy your sweet tooth without leaving you in a sugar coma!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dessert
Ingredients
Filling
- 3 lbs. Granny Smith or Fuji apples, 1 inch slices
- 1/2 cup agave nectar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
Streusel Topping
- 1 and 1/2 cups oat flour*
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats (not quick cooking)*
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup maple sugar (can also use date sugar or sucanant)
- 2 sticks Earth Balance, frozen and roughly diced into cubes
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Peel, core and slice apples. Place them in a 9×12 baking dish (or something equivalent, does not need to be the same shape but should be roughly the same size).
- Pour the rest of the filling ingredients over the apples, and toss with a large spoon to coat evenly. This can be done in a large mixing bowl if you prefer, I just like to save dishes.
- Combine all streusel topping ingredients in a food processor with the s blade, and pulse until crumbly and roughly the size of cherries (some smaller).
- Pour evenly over the fruit and bake for approximately 30-45 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling. Check with a knife or fork to make sure you achieve your desired consistency for the apples (I like mine just a touch crisp, not completely soft).
- Cool and serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Notes
*For the oat flour, I like to just blend up some oats really fine in my blender until it becomes flour. Store bought works great too, just make sure it’s Gluten Free if you have a gluten allergy. Same goes for the old fashioned oats.
*If you don’t have a food processor to make the streusel, you can also grate your butter (frozen) using a box grater, right into the topping mixture in a bowl, and then use a pastry cutter (or fork) to combine all of the ingredients. I do this often when I’m feeling lazy and don’t want to get out my food processor and all the parts that go with it and it works great!
Check out these other awesome bloggers #appleweek recipes from today!
- 1-Pot Apple Sausage Meatballs by Books n’ Cooks
- ABC Sheet Pan Dinner by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Apple Bacon Goat Cheese Salad by Jonesin’ For Taste
- Apple Bourbon Float by Our Good Life
- Apple Butter Overnight Chia Oatmeal by Love and Confections
- Apple Cinnamon Layer Cake with Brown Butter Streusel by The Baking Fairy
- Apple Cornbread Cakelets by The Redhead Baker
- Apple Crumble Muffins by The Anthony Kitchen
- Apple Noodle Kugel by Palatable Pastime
- Caramel Apple Pie Dip by Mildly Meandering
- Apple Pie Donuts by Daily Dish Recipes
- Apple Pie Turnovers by The Bitter Side of Sweet
- Apple Pork Burgers by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Apple Cranberry Crock Pot Stuffing by West Via Midwest
- Baked Chai-Spiced Apple Chips by Culinary Adventures With Camilla
- Beet Apple Salad with Maple Vinaigrette by Caroline’s Cooking
- Butterscotch Harvest Cake by Tip Garden
- Caramel Apple Cookie Bars by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Caramel Apple Sheet Cake by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Cinnamon Apple Crumb Cake by Cookaholic Wife
- Cinnamon Caramel Apple Frozen Custard by Faith, Hope, Love & Luck
- Cold Apple Cider with Caramel Infused Rum by Amy’s Cooking Adventures
- Creamy Blue Cheese & Sliced Apple Crostini by Who Needs a Cape?
- Deconstructed Chocolate Caramel Mini Apple Pie by The Freshman Cook
- Deconstructed Skillet Apple Dumplings by Seduction in the Kitchen
- Fall Panzanella Salad by House of Nash Eats
- Fresh Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze by Soulfully Made
- German Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting by Cooking With Carlee
- Glazed Spiced Apple Cider Cookies by Savory Moments
- Hasselback Apples by Kate’s Recipe Box
- PB Apple Muffins by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Skillet Apple and Sausage Stuffing Recipe by Lemon Blossoms
- Skinny Apple Crisp by The Saucy Fig
- Slow Cooker Apple Butter by Shockingly Delicious
- One Pan Pork Chops with Apples and Cinnamon by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
- Out of This World Apple Cake by Family Around the Table
Disclaimer: Thank you AppleWeek Sponsors: Swiss Diamond, Nordic Ware, Envy Apples, Imperial Sugar, The Spice House, Rodelle Vanilla, Flahavan’s Irish Oats and Nairn’s for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for AppleWeek recipes. All opinions are my own. The AppleWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Seven (7) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The AppleWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the AppleWeek posts or entry.
What a fabulous way to make apple crisp healthier. it looks delicious!
YUm….just Yum.