Print

The Best Healthier Cinnamon Apple Crisp

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

This is the best healthier Cinnamon Apple Crisp recipe. Made with gluten-free and dairy free-friendly ingredients. A delicious apple recipe with apple pie flavors, paired with a scoop of your favorite ice cream.

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 40 mins

Yield: 6-8 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Cinnamon apples:

  • 4–5 apples, skin removed and sliced thin (honey crisp, gala or granny smith – really any apples you want)
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Crumb topping:

  • 2 cups rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
  • 1/3 cup flour (gluten-free if needed)
  • 1/2 cup pecan halves
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 tablespoon pumpkin spice
  • 1/3 cup butter or coconut oil, melted (or use vegan butter)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Prep Your Dish + Ingredients: Start by preheating your oven to 375°F and greasing a medium-sized casserole dish or cast iron skillet with oil or butter. I love using a cast iron skillet here because it gives the crisp slightly crispier edges—but a baking dish totally works too.
  2. Then peel and thinly slice your apples. I highly recommend slicing them as thin as you can (about 1/8-inch thick) for the best texture. Thinner slices = more caramelized, tender apples!
  3. Measure out the remaining ingredients so everything is ready to go—this makes the whole process smoother and stress-free.
  4. Make the Cinnamon Apple Filling: In a large bowl, add your peeled and sliced apples. Toss them with the lemon juice, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, and 1/2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice until every slice is coated in those warming spices. This is what gives that classic apple pie filling flavor—only better.
  5. Once the apples are fully coated, pour them into your prepared dish and spread them out evenly. Try to avoid overlapping too much so everything bakes evenly.
  6. Make the crumb toppings: In a separate medium bowl, combine your oats, flour, pecans, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice. Stir everything together until well distributed.
  7. Then add in your melted butter or coconut oil, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Use a spatula or your hands to combine everything until the dry ingredients are fully coated and start to clump together.
  8. This crumble is seriously addicting—you might be tempted to sneak a few spoonfuls before it even hits the oven.
  9. Assemble + bake: Now comes the fun part: layering your crisp. Sprinkle the oat topping evenly over the cinnamon apples until they’re fully covered. Don’t press the topping down—you want it to stay nice and crumbly so it crisps up in the oven.
  10. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes to help the apples soften and release their juices. Then remove the foil and bake for another 18-20 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and your kitchen smells like a cinnamon dream.
  11. Carefully remove from the oven and let the crisp cool for about 10 minutes before serving. This helps the juices settle and gives the topping a bit more crunch. You can loosely cover it with foil again if you want to keep it moist while it sits.
  12. Serve with your go-to ice cream and enjoy!

Notes

*Store in airtight container for 5 days. Reheat in oven or microwave as you enjoy!

  • Author: Rachel Mansfield

© 2025 rachLmansfield
https://rachlmansfield.com/the-best-healthier-cinnamon-apple-crisp/