Gluten Free Apple Crisp

This Gluten Free Apple Crisp is my new favorite dessert! The combination of apple, cinnamon, gluten free oats and cardamom is great for the approaching fall season- or anytime of the year, really. The crispy topping is so easy to whip together and so incredibly delicious. Your whole family is guaranteed to love this easy dessert.

This recipe screams fall to me but I can eat it any time of the year as well. I like to make variations of that this recipe inspires such as my Vegan Peach Cobbler. If you have extra apples after making this recipe, you have to check out my Homemade Gluten Free Apple Cake and my Gluten Free Apple Muffins.

Jump to:

• Why I Love This Recipe
• Recipe Ingredients
• Step By Step Instructions 
• Recipe FAQ’s
• Chef’s Tips
• Other Gluten Free Apple Recipes You Will Love
• Gluten Free Apple Crisp

Why I Love This Recipe

• The flavors are unbelievable! You’ll want to make this dessert all the time. 
• Desserts can be tricky, but this recipe is so easy.
• Prep time for this apple crisp only takes 15 minutes. 
• I am obsessed with all kinds of fall desserts, this recipe was inspired from my Gluten Free Apple Muffins. 
• If you love crisps as much as I do, check out the Gluten Free Blackberry Crisp on my blog.
• This recipe is naturally gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free, flourless, vegan, and soy free. 
• If you would like to get this treat and a variety of other treats delivered straight to your front door, check out my Pittsburgh-based paleo meal prep menu.

Recipe Ingredients

• Apples– I used green apples for this. You may use a variety, or one kind- whatever you prefer. In general, green apples are more sour and have a thick skin, making them crisper. Red apples are sweet and have a thin skin. 
• Cinnamon & cardamom– Delicious flavors on an apple dessert. Together, they create a nice warmth for the apples. 
• Vanilla extract– Enhances all the flavors of the crisp. 
• Arrowroot– This is a thickening agent. This will thicken the apple filling a bit, while it bakes. You may also use cornstarch. I prefer arrowroot because I have a corn sensitivity. 
• Maple syrup- A great, natural sweetener for baked goods. Always be sure to use a pure maple syrup – I recommend Costco’s Kirkland brand. 
• Gluten free oats– This is the key to the crispy topping! You can get gluten free rolled oats at places like Trader Joe’s or Costco. 
• Almond flour– A naturally gluten free flour that is great for baking. I do not suggest substituting the flours here. There is no other flour quite like almond flour, so using another kind will affect the texture. 
• Coconut sugar- This is a great, natural, plant-based sweetener. The flavor is amazing! It tastes just like brown sugar yet it is naturally refined sugar free. If you only have brown sugar on hand you can use brown sugar. Coconut sugar is just a healthier option. 
• Baking powder- A leavening agent, which helps add volume to the recipe. 
• Ghee– This helps the oats get crispy and crumbly. Ghee is simply clarified butter, and has the lactose and casein removed. This is what people are normally sensitive to in standard butter. You can make your own Homemade Ghee with my recipe or buy it in the store. If you are vegan you can substitute vegan butter. 

Step By Step Instructions 

• Step 1
  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. 
• Step 2
  • In a large mixing bowl, add sliced apples, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, arrowroots, and maple syrup. Toss this mixture until the apples are coated nicely. 

• Step 3
  • Spray an 8×8 baking dish with cooking oil spray. Pour the apple mixture into the baking dish. 

• Step 4
  • Make the crisp topping. In a mixing bowl, add the oats, almond flour, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and baking powder. Mix until well combined. 

• Step 5
  • Add the chunks of butter to the mixing bowl. Use your hands to work the butter into the oat mixture. You will end up with a clumpy topping. 

• Step 6
  • Sprinkle the crisp topping over the apple filling. Bake for 55-60 minutes. The apple filling will start to bubble. 

• Step 7
  • Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting. 

Recipe FAQ’s

• What Kind Of Apples Should I Use? 
  • This is personal preference. I used Granny Smith and it was amazing! Green apples are more sour and tart, while red apples are sweeter. The tartness from the apples worked so well with the other flavors. You can also use half red and half green for some variety! 
• What Is An Apple Crisp? 
  • Apple crisps have a crunchy, crumbly topping on top of warm, seasoned apples. 
• Leftovers
  • You can reheat leftovers in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Or you can reheat in the air-fryer at 350 degrees F for 3-5 minutes. 
• Baking Dish Recommendation 
  • I use a non-toxic dish by Caraway. I love their whole bakeware set! Any 8 by 8 baking dish will work though! Keep in mind if you use a different size it may take longer or not as long to cook. 
• Can I Make It Without Oats?
  • If you are going for the gluten free vibe I strongly suggest using oats! It gives it the best texture and adds a nice crisp. 

Chef’s Tips

• I love to top this with coconut whipped cream or dairy-free ice cream. 
• After 25 minutes in the oven, you can loosely cover the baking dish with foil, to prevent the crisp from burning/ becoming too brown. 

Other Gluten Free Apple Recipes You Will Love