Sugar Free Apple Crisp Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Deanne Frieders · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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This sugar free apple crisp recipe is the perfect dessert for fall and winter! There's so much to love about the warm and cozy combination of sweet apples, hearty oats and spicy cinnamon.

By making some simple substitutions, we're stepping away from the refined sugar while still satisfying our sweet tooth!

Sugar Free Apple Crisp Recipe (1)

Fall is in the air and that means cooler weather, oversized sweaters, and of course, apple season. Is there anything better than strolling through an orchard this time of year? I didn't think so.

Apples are a perfect autumnal fruit because they can be enjoyed in so many different ways...You can eat them fresh, cook them in a dish like this pork tenderloin with apple or turn them into something sweet like this sugar-free apple crisp. Even better, this recipe is gluten free. Double win!

I happen to think fruit crisps are the perfect fall dessert. They're warm and cozy, and there are so many ways you can make them! So of course, this healthy apple crisp recipe is on our seasonal rotation!

Ingredients

Sugar Free Apple Crisp Recipe (2)
  • apples - If the peeling seems like a chore, check out my favorite apple peeler and give it a try.
  • lemon juice
  • real maple syrup - we're using this instead of the usual brown sugar
  • no added sugar apple juice
  • cinnamon and allspice
  • salt

For the crisp topping

  • old-fashioned oats - if you want to make this a gluten-free apple crisp, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
  • almond flour
  • almonds - for a little crunch and texture
  • honey
  • unsalted butter

How to make apple crisp

Grab an oven safe8×8 baking dishand grease it with butter or non-stick cooking spray. Set your oven to 350°F.

Step 1: Prep the apples.

Place sliced apples in a large glass bowl and toss with lemon juice. Use the real stuff if you can. Like, actually cut the lemon in half and squeeze it. Be sure to take a whiff, I love the scent of fresh lemon!

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Step 2: Add the good stuff.

Add real maple syrup, apple juice, cinnamon, allspice and salt. Use a large spoon to gently toss the ingredients to combine and set aside.

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Step 3: Prepare the crumble topping.

Combine topping ingredients in a separate bowl and stir until oats are thoroughly coated and all ingredients are well combined. Set aside.

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Step 4: Assemble the crisp.

Pour apple mixture into prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Spread the oat topping evenly across the top of the apples evenly.

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Step 5: Bake it!

Place into pre-heated oven and bake for 30 minutes. If the top layer is golden brown, 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 before serving.

The best way to take this to the next level is to serve it up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

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FAQS

What are the best apples for apple crisp?

Honey Crisp, Pink Lady, Jonagold and Braeburn apples all work well.

I actually don't recommend using tart apples like Granny Smith apples in this recipe as they're - well - too tart! This means we'd usually add more sugar to balance the tartness. And since we're trying to keep this low sugar...well, you get the idea!

What's the difference between a crisp and a crumble?

The main difference is the ingredients in the topping. An apple crumble doesn't have oats in the topping.

Do I have to peel the apples?

You don't have to peel them if you don't want to! The texture will be slightly different but truthfully, the peels contain nutrition and fiber!

How to store leftovers

Store leftovers, covered or in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yep, you sure can! You can pop it in the fridge to hold, or you can bake in the oven, cool and freeze for later.

When you're ready to serve it, you can thaw and then reheat it a bit in the oven.

Other healthy dessert recipes:

  • No Bake Cheesecake Parfaits
  • Chocolate Hazelnut Chocolates

Other apple dessert recipes you’ll love:

  • Apple Slab Pie
  • Apple Cider Mimosas
  • Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal
  • Air Fryer Apple Crisp

Sugar Free Apple Crisp Recipe (8)

Sugar Free Apple Crisp Recipe

Deanne Frieders

This sugar free apple crisp recipe is the perfect dessert for fall and winter! There's so much to love about the warm and cozy combination of sweet apples, hearty oats and spicy cinnamon.

3.78 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Dessert Recipes

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 409 kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 large apples cored, peeled, and sliced* see below for variety recommendations
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed if you can swing it!
  • cup real maple syrup
  • 2 Tablespoons 100% apple juice sugar free
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Topping Ingredients:
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • cup almond flour
  • cup almonds sliced
  • cup honey
  • 3 Tablespoon unsalted butter melted

Instructions

  • Pre-heat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8” x 8” baking dish and set aside.

  • Place apples in a large bowl and toss the apple slices with lemon juice. Add maple syrup, apple juice, cinnamon, allspice, and salt. Toss to combine and set aside.

  • Combine oats, flour, almonds, honey and melted butter in a separate bowl and stir until oats are thoroughly coated and all ingredients are well combined. Set aside.

  • 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.

  • 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.

    Serve warm with some vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.

Notes

Choose firm apples, such as Pink Lady apples, Honey Crisp, Jonagold or Braeburn apples. These varieties will hold up well to the heat of baking without turning to mush.

To keep this gluten free, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.

For oats, be sure to use old fashioned or rolled oats. Quick oats, instant oats or steel cut oats will not cook the same.

If you don't have sugar free apple juice, you can substitute the equivalent amount of water.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gramsCalories: 409kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 5gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 134mgFiber: 9gSugar: 51g

Tried this recipe?Mention @ThisFarmGirlCooks or tag #thisfarmgirlcooks!

Sugar Free Apple Crisp Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for brown sugar in apple crumble? ›

Combining white sugar with molasses may be a better brown sugar substitute, but if you don't have molasses, other liquid sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar will work as well. You should mix a tablespoon or two of the liquid sweetener into a scant 1 cup of white sugar to replace a cup of brown sugar.

Why do you put lemon juice over the apples when making an apple crisp? ›

Many recipes for apple pie and apple cobbler will call for tossing your sliced apples in a little bit of lemon juice before putting them into your dish. Lemon juice prevents oxidation of the apples, which means that it stops the slices from turning brown by providing a barrier between the ...

Why add flour to apple crisp? ›

Rolled or quick oats- You can make my best apple crisp with rolled oats or quick oats! I used rolled oats and it took about 40 minutes to bake. If you use quick oats, it'll likely take closer to 35 minutes to cook! Flour- Flour helps to create the perfect topping and bind it all together.

Why is my apple crisp not crunchy? ›

Just make sure you add enough melted butter to coat everything: it brings it all together. Your day-old mush will turn back into the warm and crunchy crisp once more if you reheat in the oven at 350°. And for the love of autumn, please do not forget the ice cream.

What can I use instead of brown sugar in streusel? ›

For every cup of brown sugar called for in your recipe, substitute 1 cup (198g) white granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons (14g) molasses for light brown sugar; or 1 cup (198g) white granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon (21g) molasses for dark brown sugar.

What is a healthy substitute for brown sugar in recipes? ›

Healthy Substitutes for Brown Sugar

For 1 cup brown sugar, substitute 1 cup organic brown sugar, coconut sugar, or date sugar, or substitute up to half of the brown sugar with agave nectar in baking.

What's the difference between apple crisp and apple crumble? ›

Apple Crumble is synonymous with Apple Crisp in the U.K. and Australia, but in Canada and the U.S., it is a slightly different dish. Like an apple crisp, an apple crumble is a baked fruit dessert with a layer of topping. But unlike the crisp, the crumble topping rarely includes oats or nuts.

What can I use if I don't have lemon juice for apple crisp? ›

What can people use as lemon juice substitutes?
  1. Lime juice.
  2. Apple cider vinegar.
  3. Orange juice.
  4. Grapefruit juice.
  5. Celery juice.
  6. White wine vinegar.
  7. Other tips.
Jul 29, 2021

What are the best apples for apple crisp? ›

What Makes A Good Apple For Apple Crisp? The best apples for baking keep their structure under heat, which prevents the chunks of fruit from turning into mush after baking. The firm and crisp Granny Smith and Honeycrisp varieties are popular apples to use in apple pies and apple crisps.

Why are my apples mushy in my apple crisp? ›

Picking the wrong apples

Softer apples like Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, or Macintosh break down too much in the heat of the oven, basically turning into applesauce. So avoid those, and opt for a variety that's firm and crisp like Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp.

Should you refrigerate apple crisp before baking? ›

You can prepare the crisp through step 3, then cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day before baking. You can also freeze the unbaked crisp for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then continue with step 4. Bake time will be a little longer since the crisp will be cold.

Can I cut apples the night before for apple crisp? ›

We prefer to prep the apples when we make the crisp, but you can prep them ahead of time. Peel and slice the apples and toss them with lemon juice, then pack tightly in freezer bags and refrigerate for up to one day.

What is the secret to crunchy crumble? ›

A pastry chef friend shared the technique. Instead of sprinkling the raw crumbs on top of the fruit, where they absorb the juices and turn a little mushy on their undersides, he spread them out in a pan and baked them separately, until crisp and cookielike.

How to tell when an apple crisp is done? ›

Bake the apple crisp until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden brown and crisp, about 45 minutes. Serve the crisps warm with vanilla bean ice cream or fresh whipped cream, if desired.

Can you overcook apple crisp? ›

You don't want to overcook your apples at this point. They're going into the oven after all. And it's way more satisfying to eat when they're not completely soft, but still have a little bite.

Can you use white sugar instead of brown sugar in crumble? ›

50g sugar – use what you have; golden caster, granulated, or light brown all work.

Can you use white sugar instead of brown sugar for a crumble topping? ›

Different sugars yield different results. Demerara gives a really chewy, slightly crisp topping; light muscovado or soft brown sugar lends a fudgy flavour and texture, while caster or granulated sugar results in a shortbread-like crumble.

What is a 1 to 1 substitute for brown sugar? ›

1:1 BROWN SUGAR REPLACEMENT: Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener matches the sweetness of brown sugar, helping you fill your kitchen with a healthy cup-for-cup alternative to ordinary baking ingredients.

What difference does brown sugar make in cookies? ›

Brown sugar, meanwhile, is dense and compacts easily, creating fewer air pockets during creaming—that means that there's less opportunity to entrap gas, creating cookies that rise less and spread more. With less moisture escaping via steam, they also stay moist and chewy.

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