Tastiest Gluten Free Apple Crisp Recipe {Dairy Free Option}

One taste of this delicious gluten free apple crisp and you won’t believe it is both gluten and refined sugar free. The addition of fresh thyme adds a subtle savory note to the otherwise sweet flavor profile of this gluten-free apple crisp recipe. Scroll down for tips on how to make it dairy free too!

The Best Gluten Free Apple Crisp with Oats

The warm weather is perfect for fruit crisps! These deliciously fruity treats are one of my all-time favorite desserts. Apples, berries, and all the juicy fruits you can find at your local grocery store or farmers market.

Not only do they taste great but you can easily throw together a dessert recipe quickly and on short notice which makes them perfect for gatherings this time of year!

What’s the Difference Between Apple Crisp and Apple Pie?

An apple crisp is typically made with a combination of fresh apples, oats, sugar, butter, and spices.

An apple pie is made in a pie dish with a pastry dough crust and typically has a lattice top.

While an apple crisp can be served warm or cold, an apple pie is typically served warm.

What’s the Difference Between Apple Crisp and Apple Crumble?

The biggest difference between an apple crisp and an apple crumble is the topping.

An apple crisp has a crumbly topping made with oats, flour, sugar, and butter. An apple crumble has a streusel topping that is made with flour, sugar, butter, and nuts.

Both desserts are equally delicious and perfect for fall.

What Are the Best Apples for an Apple Crisp?

With so many to choose from, how do you know which variety of apple to use? There are two main things to consider – the sweetness vs. tartness of the apple and the firmness.

Granny Smith apples are probably the most tart apples you’ll find at the grocery store. If you like it tart, use these.

Bear in mind that all apples lose some tartness along with firmness as they cook. This is why you want to choose firm apples, such as Granny Smith or Pink Lady (pictured), for this recipe. These varieties will hold up well to the heat of baking without the apple filling turning to mush. 

At the other end of the scale with the sweet apples, you’ll find honeycrisp apples to be some of the sweetest, and if you like it mushier golden delicious apples are definitely on the soft apples side of the scale.

There’s no rule against using different kinds of apples in one recipe either! You may find that a mix of Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples gets you the exact level of sweetness you’re looking for.

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 45-50 minutes

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients You Need For This Gluten Free Apple Crisp Recipe

Apples

Lemon juice

Maple syrup

Apple juice make sure it’s 100% apple juice AND sugar free

Cinnamon

Allspice

Thyme

Salt

Oats gluten-free oats

Almond Flour

Almonds

Honey raw, local

Butter

Optional

Vanilla bean ice cream or whipped cream, with or without caramel drizzle

6 large apples, cored, peeled, and sliced

1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/3 cup real maple syrup

2 tablespoons 100% apple juice (sugar free)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground allspice

1½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

¼ teaspoon salt

Crisp Topping Ingredients:

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/3 cup almond flour

1/3 cup almonds, sliced

1/3 cup honey, preferably local

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

To Serve: (Optional)

Vanilla bean ice cream or freshly whipped cream, caramel drizzle

How to Make

1. 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.
2. Place sliced apples in a large bowl and toss with fresh lemon juice. Add maple syrup, apple juice, cinnamon, allspice, thyme leaves, and salt. Toss to combine and set aside.
3. Combine topping ingredients in a separate bowl and stir until oats are thoroughly coated and all ingredients are well combined. Set aside.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Serve warm with some vanilla bean iced cream or freshly whipped cream, if desired. Enjoy! 

How to Serve Apple Crisp

Apple crisp is best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on top. Add a little pizzazz with a caramel drizzle or sprinkle of cinnamon!

How to Store Leftover Apple Crisp

Leftover apple crisp keeps in the refrigerator up to three days when kept in an airtight container.

Variations For This Apple Crisp Recipe

Can I make this apple crisp dairy free?

Yes! The only dairy item in this recipe is the unsalted butter in the All you have to do is use a vegan butter or coconut oil in place of the butter.

What if I don’t have real maple syrup?

We wanted to create a super healthy apple crisp recipe that is both gluten free and free of refined sugar. But we get it – real maple syrup is expensive and sometimes hard to find. You can substitute the maple syrup with coconut sugar or brown sugar (tightly packed!)

What if I have a nut allergy?

Any gluten-free flour like oat flour will do; we just like the texture of almond flour best for this recipe.

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I hope you give this gluten free apple crisp recipe a try!

If you do try this recipe, I want to know! Please leave a comment below.