This healthy apple crisp has all the cozy, fall flavors you love, without the refined sugar, flour, or butter. Goey cinnamon apples baked with a crunchy pecan topping make it the perfect fall treat. Naturally sweetened, gluten-free, easy to make, and downright delicious!

scooping healthy apple crisp in white baking dish with a serving spoon

Fall is here! ‘Tis the season for cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice, and apple goodies galore. Apple pie is always a fan favorite, but I’ve always been more pulled toward apple crisp. Same cinnamon apple-y goodness without the fuss of messing with a crust? Yes please!

Traditional apple crisp recipes are made with white flour, butter, and refined sugar (and lots of it!). This healthy apple crisp delivers the same comforting flavors, but with less sugar and better-for-you ingredients.

The crunchy golden topping is made with a mix of pecans and almond flour, and no oats. And it’s naturally sweetened with maple syrup and coconut sugar. But you’d never know it’s healthier by the taste!

If apple picking is on your fall bucket list, this apple crisp is a delicious way to use up some of your stash. Easy to make and guaranteed to make your kitchen smell amazing, it’s the perfect treat to enjoy all season long.

This apple crisp would also be a welcome addition to any Thanksgiving spread, especially if you have guests with dietary restrictions. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo, and vegan, but every bit as satisfying as the classic. Simple, wholesome, and ridiculously good, consider this your new go-to fall dessert!

Why You’ll Love This Healthy Apple Crisp

Here’s what sets this apart from traditional apple crisp recipes:

Wholesome ingredients – naturally sweetened with coconut sugar and maple syrup.
Cozy fall flavors – Gooey cinnamon apples + a crunchy pecan topping = big YUM. 😋
Easy to make – No pie crust needed. Just layer, bake, and enjoy!
Allergen-friendly – Gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, paleo, and vegan, so it works for a variety of diets.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Apple Filling

Apples – I used Pink Lady, but you can use any you like! Honeycrisp, Fuji, Granny Smith, Braeburn, or Jonagold would all be delicious.
Maple syrup – adds a touch of natural sweetness to the apples.
Lemon juice – prevents the apples from browning and adds a tart bite.
Tapioca starch – helps thicken the apple filling.
Vanilla – adds extra flavor.
Spices – cinnamon, nutmeg & sea salt.

Topping

Pecans – give the topping a rich, buttery flavor and crunchy texture. Feel free to use another nut like walnuts, hazelnuts, or almonds.
Almond flour – keeps the topping gluten-free, grain-free & Paleo.
Coconut sugar – a lower glycemic alternative to sugar that adds a rich, caramel-like taste.
Coconut oil – a dairy-free swap for butter that holds the topping together and keeps this recipe vegan.

How to Make This Healthy Apple Crisp

Step 1: Prep the Apples – Preheat your oven to 350°F. Add the sliced apples to a large bowl with the maple syrup, lemon juice, tapioca starch, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gently toss with a spatula until the apple slices are coated evenly.

coating apple slices in bowl with small spatula

Place the apple slices in a greased 8×8 baking dish or 9-inch pie pan and set aside.

cinnamon apple slices in white baking dish

Step 2: Mix the Topping – In a large bowl, add the pecans, almond flour, coconut sugar, and coconut oil. Mix until well combined and the topping is crumb-like.

mixing pecan topping ingredients in glass bowl with small spatula

Step 3: Spread the Topping – Sprinkle the pecan topping evenly over the sliced apples.

pecan topping spread out evenly over sliced apples in white baking dish

Step 4: Bake – Bake for 45-50 minutes in a preheated oven until the topping is golden and the apple mixture is bubbling. Check at about the 30-minute mark, and if the topping is browning too quickly, cover with foil to prevent burning. Continue baking until apples are tender.

serving of healthy apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice in small white bowl with spoon

Step 5: Serve – Let the apple crisp cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of coconut whipped cream.

Serving Suggestions

This apple crisp is delish on its own. But adding toppings takes it to the next level. Here are a few serving ideas:

Ice cream: apple crisp + a scoop of vanilla ice cream = pure heaven. If you’re looking for a dairy-free ice cream, Nadamoo is my fave!
Coconut whipped cream: a dairy-free, lower sugar swap for traditional whipped cream.
Yogurt: adds a creamy tang to balance the sweetness.

A few helpful tips

Feel free to reduce the coconut sugar in the topping to ¼ cup (or less) to lower the sugar in this recipe.
Opt for crisp, firm apples. They tend to hold their shape better when baked and work best in apple crisps. Softer varieties like Red Delicious can get mushy when cooked.
As mentioned, keep a close eye on the apple crisp while it’s baking. If it’s getting too brown, cover it with foil and continue baking. I often check about 30 minutes in.
I usually chop the pecans in a food processor. Just pulse until they reach your desired size – easy peasy.
To peel or not to peel? Your call! I’ve done both, and it’s delicious either way. The apple skin softens up quite a bit while cooking.

Healthy Apple Crisp (Paleo, Vegan & Gluten-Free)

Mindy

This healthy apple crisp has all the cozy, fall flavors you love, without the refined sugar, flour, or butter. Goey cinnamon apples baked with a crunchy pecan and almond flour topping make it the ultimate fall dessert. Naturally sweetened, gluten-free, easy to make, and downright delicious!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1 5

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings