Served warm from the oven, this gluten free apple crisp will quickly soar to the top of your most requested recipes list! It's the perfect dessert that not only comes together super quick, but is dairy free as written.
So grab a baking dish and some Granny Smith apples and get ready for the best apple crisp recipe ever!
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The beautiful golden brown topping of this apple crisp is just the start of this warm, delicious, crowd pleasing dessert. Underneath that hearty, cinnamon spiced topping are apples in their most simple form. Nothing added, just crisp, tasty apples.
Why this recipe is the best!
It's not often that a simple dessert recipe leaves such an impression on the taste-testers. But this one had everyone reaching for seconds! It has all the things you want in an apple crisp:
- Hearty oats
- Dairy free as written
- Simple prep
- Short ingredients list
- Best baking smell EVER!
And it's a favorite for even the pickiest eaters!
Baking pro tips for apple crisp
1. Measure by weight
As I've covered in my baking masterclass, measuring ingredients by weight is the surest way to perfectly textured, consistently delicious baked goods. Everything from white bread to raisin bread to dinner rolls to sugar cookies, weighing ingredients with a digital scale means you have the exact amount of flour or starch each and every time. This is the one I have that's budget friendly but reliable.
2. Softened butter
It's much easier to cut in the butter when it's had about 30 minutes to soften. Slice the butter into cubes and use a pastry blender like this one to fully incorporate the butter in with the oat-flour mix. It should resemble large crumbs.
3. Double for more servings
If you have 6 or more adults, or some big time dessert fans, I'd advise doubling this recipe. I don't often advise that, but this recipe is a great one for it. Just double the ingredient amounts and place the apples in a 9" x 13" baking dish. Baking time might increase to 50 minutes, but other than that, there's no other changes.
How to make this recipe
Ingredients & substitutions
Just a short stack of 7 ingredients is all you need for this tasty Fall inspired dessert! Here is a breakdown of the ingredients and the brands I used and recommend for this recipe. I'll also include a substitute if there is one that works...
Granny Smith apples - Granny Smith are the variety that are usually a very vibrant, bright green. They are a bit on the sour side to eat as-is but are wonderful to bake with. I would not recommend substituting these.
Brown sugar - I used the Imperial brand of brown sugar but any light brown sugar would work well here. If you must substitute this, I recommend substituting half of it with Swerve brown sugar. Do not swap out all of it as the apples need the brown sugar but half is do-able.
Gluten free flour mix - I use my gluten free flour mix here. King Arthur is my second choice (for things like these pumpkin cookies and these oatmeal cookies) and it works equally well.
Oats - I used the old fashioned variety of gluten fee oats for this crisp. Quaker brand was the one I reached for here, but you could also use the Rolled oats from Bob's Red Mill. If you need to substitute the oats, quinoa flakes are a good (although pricier) alternative.
Cinnamon - I use and recommend the McCormick brand of cinnamon. I would not advise substituting the cinnamon as it is an essential flavor profile.
Nutmeg - I use the same brand of nutmeg that I do for cinnamon - McCormick. I would not advise substituting this as it's a flavor essential.
Vegan butter - Country Crock sticks are my baking go-to for vegan butter. Earth Balance would be equally good though.
Mixing and prep
A little bit of prep work and you are on your way to a delicious, apple dessert! First you'll butter the baking dish (step 1 in the image above). Then spread the 5 cups of apples in the dish (step 2).
In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients together (step 3). Then cut in the butter using a pastry blender (step 4). The mixture will look like large crumbs (step 5). Sprinkle this mixture over the apples in the dish (step 6).
Baking
No need to cover the dish, just bake it at 350 F for about 45 minutes. A fork stuck into one of the apples should have a little bit of give, but still be solid (not mushy).
FAQ's
Unfortunately no. Granny Smith are the ones I recommend for the best results.
Quinoa flakes would be another option. They are close to oats and bake up wonderfully.
A warm from the oven apple crisp is delicious as-is but a scoop of vanilla ice cream is also delicious or some whipped topping or whipped cream. And serve it with some yogurt for a breakfast treat!
Store any leftover apple crisp covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat it inn the microwave before enjoying.
Other recipes you may like!
Gluten Free Apple Crisp {Dairy Free}
Ingredients
- 5 cups Granny Smith apples peeled and sliced
- 158 grams brown sugar
- 65 grams gluten free flour mix about ½ cup
- 55 grams oats about ½ cup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon nutmeg
- ⅓ cup vegan butter softened
Instructions
Prep apples
- Peel and slice 5-6 granny smith apples. The total amount should be 5 cups.
Prep crisp topping
- Heat oven to 350F. Butter an 8" x 8" baking dish and set aside.
- Spread apples in baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar, flour mix, oats, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Using a pastry blender, cut in the softened butter until mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
- Sprinkle topping over apples in the baking dish.
- Bake at 350F for 40-50 minutes or until apples are soft when tested with a fork.
- Serve warm.
Video
Notes
- Apple slices should be about ¼ - ½ inch thick.
- Quick cooking oats were used in this recipe.
- Slicing the butter before cutting it in makes it easier to incorporate into the topping.
- Do not cover the crisp while baking.
Denise
Apple Crisp is delicious! Yummmm...
Christine
Hi Denise,
Thank you - one of my favorites!:)
Christine