This healthy refined sugar free apple crisp is loaded with cinnamon, ginger, and dried cranberries. The oatmeal topping made with a blend of pecans, walnuts, almond butter, and maple syrup make this apple crisp vegan and gluten free. Top it with coconut milk ice cream for the ultimate guilt free dessert.
Best ever healthy sugar free apple crisp? Really? Is it possible to still have a sweet indulgent dessert without refined sugar? I’m here to tell, yes it is! This plant-based dessert is where it’s at!
Apple crisp is one of my all time favorite desserts. I recall my mom asking me what kind of cake I wanted for my birthday one year, and telling her that I’d like apple crisp instead.
It’s one of those all time classic recipes. There’s numerous recipes out there and most home cooks have their own favorite version.
A classic apple crisp is made with brown sugar, white flour, and butter. It’s the way my mom used to make it, and wow was it good!
However, that classic version is no good if you’re following a gluten free, vegan, or whole food plant-based lifestyle.
I knew it would be possible to make an apple crisp that was just as delicious as the classic recipe my mom made without the refined sugar, flour or butter to make a vegan, gluten free, whole food plant-based friendly dessert.
This recipe was a big hit in my house! Confession time…we all ended up eating the leftovers for breakfast! But, hey, it’s refined sugar free and full of apples so why not eat it for breakfast, right?
What makes this sugar free apple crisp healthy?
This apple crisp is refined sugar free using maple syrup in place of brown sugar making it a naturally sweetened dessert.
It’s also naturally gluten free using gluten free oats for the topping and arrowroot flour in the apple mixture instead of wheat or white flour.
The arrowroot flour and apple juice make for a caramel like sauce in the apple mixture without the need for butter or sugar.
I added ground flax, raw pecans, and raw walnuts to the oat mixture for crunch and a healthy dose of omega-3s and healthy fats.
I needed a bit more moisture but didn’t want to use butter or oil so I opted for almond butter which perfectly compliments the walnuts and pecans.
Do I need to refrigerate apple crisp?
I keep my apple crisp covered and refrigerated. Apple crisp topping can become soggy if not eaten immediately.
However, the topping of this apple crisp holds up well in the refrigerator. You don’t need to worry about getting a soggy top.
How do you reheat apple crisp?
When you’re ready to eat the apple crisp again you can reheat it in the oven at 350 F for 15 minutes or until warmed through.
You can also pop it in the microwave to reheat. Time will vary depending on how much you are reheating at a time. A small single serving needs no more than 30 seconds , while a whole apple crisp will need quite a bit more time.
Ingredients you need to make sugar free apple crisp:
Apple Mixture:
- 6 Granny Smith Apples
- Sugar Free Cranberries (optional)
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Apple Juice, Apple Cider, or Water
- Arrowroot Powder
- Maple Syrup
- Vanilla Extract
Crumble Topping:
- Gluten Free Oats
- Cinnamon
- Raw Pecans
- Raw Walnuts
- Raw Almond Butter (I get mine for Trader Joe’s)
- Cinnamon
- Salt
Tools and equipment you’ll need to make sugar free apple crisp:
You’ll need a food processor to easily mix the oat and nut topping. I love my Cuisinart Food Processor. I use it all the time.
It’s one of those kitchen staples that make plant-based cooking easier. Check out my Essential Kitchen Tools for more of my can’t live without favorite tools.
If you enjoy making casseroles and crisps getting a trusty set of Corningware Baking dishes is a must too.
- Food Processor
- Baking Dish
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Mixing Bowls
How to Make Sugar Free Apple Crisp – Step by Step
Step 1-Preheat oven to 350 F. Slice, core, and peel 6 apples. It’s up to you if you’d like to peel the apples or not. There are a lot of excellent nutrients in the peel, and the peel softens when cooking. It saves time to skip the peeling step. Cut the apples in thin slices. It takes time for apples to release their moisture so the thinner the slices the less time to cook and more easily the apples will soften and make a nice caramel sauce with their juices.
Step 2-Combine sliced apples with cranberries (optional), cinnamon, ginger, maple syrup, vanilla, arrowroot powder (or corn starch), and apple cider or water.
Step 3-Combine oats, ground flax, pecans, walnuts, maple syrup, almond butter, cinnamon and salt in a food processor. Pulse until a crumbly paste is made.
Step 4-Pour apple mixture on the bottom of a medium baking dish. Sprinkle oat crumble evenly over the top.
Step 5-Bake in oven for 25 minutes or until top browns and apples release their juices and soften.
Serve warm with a scoop of coconut ice cream.
Variations
You can date syrup, date sugar, or whole dates in place of the maple syrup. Some people prefer dates to maple syrup as it is less processed than maple syrup.
For the liquid in the apple mixture you can use water, apple juice, or apple cider.
If you’re unable to eat oats try subbing almond flour.
The sugar free cranberries in this recipe are optional. I’ve had a lot of readers ask where they can find sugar free cranberries. I buy the brand Honestly Cranberry on Amazon. They make dried cranberries with no added sugars or juices.
Check out these other healthy family friendly desserts!
If you’ve tried my Best Ever Sugar Free Apple Crisp recipe, please rate it and let me know how it turned out. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more plant-based family recipes your whole family will enjoy!
Sugar Free Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 6 Granny Smith Apples organic
- 1 cup apple juice, apple cider or water
- ¼ cup sugar free cranberries optional
- 2 tbsp arrowroot powder or corn startch
- 1 tsp cinnamon plus ¼ tsp for the oats mixture
- ¼ tsp ginger
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 cup gluten free oats
- ¼ cup ground flax
- ¼ cup raw walnuts
- ¼ cup raw pecans
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 tbsp almond butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Slice, core, and peel 6 apples.
- Combine sliced apples with cranberries (optional), 1 tsp cinnamon, ginger, 1 tbsp maple syrup, vanilla, arrowroot powder (or corn starch), and apple cider or water.
- Combine oats, ground flax, pecans, walnuts, ¼ cup maple syrup, almond butter, ¼ tsp cinnamon and salt in a food processor. Pulse until a crumbly paste is made.
- Pour apple mixture on the bottom of a medium baking dish. Sprinkle oat crumble evenly over the top.
- Bake in oven for 25 minutes or until top browns and apples release their juices and soften.
Video
Notes
- You can leave the peel on the apples if you wish to save time.
- You can choose to use water, apple juice, or apple cider as the liquid in your apple base. The nutritional information is estimated using water.
Super delicious! Our family are participating in Veganuary and cut out all refined sugars and processed foods at the same time. I left out the cranberries because my son does not like cooked dried fruit (don’t ask). My kiddos were super excited to see this hit the table. We all loved it! Thank you.
I’m so glad that your family enjoyed this recipe! Good for all of you for giving up refined sugar, and trying Veganuary! I hope you discover more delicious vegan recipes!
How lovely your apple crisp looks and so easy to make too, need a bowl!
I could eat apple crisp morning, noon and night! I love the addition of cranberries! Yum!
Awesome recipe. Really like that you use granny smith’s and that it’s gluten free and sugar free.
I love apple crisps! They are the perfect fall recipe. Definitely going to try this out!
This sounds amazing. I have an oat allergy though – do you think I could just use more nuts instead of the oats?
You could use a gluten-free flour or a whole wheat flour.
Such a great recipe for fall! Looking forward to enjoying this all season long; delish!