Made with a scrumptious crisp topping layered over a filling similar to apple pie, this easy apple crisp recipe is one of my family’s favorite cool weather desserts. Just like my blueberry crisp recipe, the filling can be mixed up right in your baking dish, which means you’ll be able to skip washing an extra bowl.
This recipe is plenty sweet so I serve it plain, but I’m sure it would be delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Now, you may be wondering . . .
What are the best apples for apple crisp?
My official answer is that the best apples are the ones you have on hand. My personal favorite to use are granny smith apples, which is not what I expected when I first started experimenting different varieties. They yield a sweet, firm crisp with a thick syrupy filling that my family adores.
However, I’ve had good results with other varieties such as fuji, gala, honey crisp, golden delicious, and pink lady, so whatever you like will probably work.
What’s the difference between a crisp, a crumble, and a cobbler?
A crisp typically has a crunchy topping made with a oats, some kind of sweetener, flour (in this case almond), butter (or coconut oil if you’re dairy-free), and sometimes nuts like pecan, walnut or almond. Apple crisps are probably the most well-known, but the summer both strawberry crisps and blueberry crisps are popular, too.
A crumble topping doesn’t usually include oats or nuts. It’s more like a streusel.
Cobblers are usually made with a thick dropped-biscuit or pie dough topping. In my Southern-style peach cobbler, I prefer to use use a buttery biscuit topping that melds perfectly with cinnamon, vanilla, & heaps of fresh peaches.
Easy Apple Crisp Recipe (Gluten-Free)
Equipment
- vegetable peeler
Ingredients
For Apple Filling:
- 4 cups apples (peeled and thinly sliced)
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp arrowroot flour
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
For Crisp Oat Topping:
- 1 cup old fashioned oats (look for certified gluten-free and also glyphosate-free)
- ½ cup walnuts, pecans or almonds (roughly chopped)
- ½ cup blanched almond flour
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ¼ cup melted coconut oil (or unsalted butter)
- ¼ cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350° F.
- Place the apples in an 8×8 casserole baking dish and sprinkle with arrowroot flour and cinnamon. Stir together lemon juice, maple syrup, and water, then pour over the apples.
- Stir the apples until they are well-coated with the arrowroot, maple syrup and lemon juice, then set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine all the dry ingredients needed for the crisp – oats, nuts, almond flour, and salt. Stir until well-combined.
- Add the coconut oil/butter and maple syrup to the crisp mixture and stir again.
- Scoop spoonfuls of the topping over the apple mixture. It's best to leave a little space between the spoonfuls to allow some heat to escape from the apple mixture during baking.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
More Warm & Comforting Apple Recipes
Slow Cooker Caramel Apples – This recipe can be quickly tucked into your slow cooker before bed, then your whole kitchen is filled with a delicious aroma in the morning. My family loves it – I hope yours will, too.
Paleo Apple Fritters – These fritters are a delightful breakfast addition, or you can top them with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Hot Apple Cider – This spiced cider is super easy to make and can also serve as the base for buttered rum.
Caramel Apples – Made from scratch with only THREE ingredients, including the apples!
Paleo Apple Pie – I haven’t tried it yet, but this recipe from A Clean Bake is on my list to bake this fall!
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