Gluten Free Apple Crisp (No Oats, Paleo Friendly)

This Gluten-Free Apple Crisp recipe, made without oats, is the perfect easy dessert for the fall and holiday season! Made using simple ingredients, it's an easy recipe that any level of baker can whip up in just around 30 minutes time.

Whether it's peak apple season and you're trying to whip up as many quick & easy apple desserts as possible or Thanksgiving is right around the corner but you don't have time to bake an apple pie from scratch, this simple gluten-free apple crumble will quickly become your go to recipe. It's the perfect easy dessert to serve during a fall dinner party. Speaking of, if you're looking for more fall entertaining inspo, check out this article which features this Paleo Apple Crisp!

If you're a fan of fruit crisp no matter the season, you might also enjoy this Apple Strawberry Crisp or this Blueberry Crisp recipe.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It is simple to prepare. Requiring only one bowl, simple pantry staples and 30 minutes of baking time, this recipe could not be any easier to whip up in a flash.
• It’s a healthier, flexible diet option. A classic fall dessert, this healthy apple crisp is gluten free and paleo friendly, there is also an easy option to make this a vegan apple crisp.
• It is a great recipe for a beginner. If you’re not the most confident baker, this is the perfect easy dessert that you can prepare for friends and family. You’ll not only impress them but you’ll feel super confident in your abilities, too!

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Gluten Free Apple Crisp Ingredients & Tested Substitutions

Apples: The best type of apple to use in any homemade apple crisp, or apple pie, are a mix of sweet apple like pink lady apples or honeycrisp apples  & tart apples, like granny smith apples.

Coconut Sugar: I prefer to use coconut sugar, however brown sugar will also work in its place.

Tapioca Starch: To keep this apple crisp paleo friendly, I use tapioca starch instead of corn starch to thicken the apple mixture, however you can also use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend if you prefer.

Lemon Juice: Fresh squeezed or bottled.

Vanilla Extract: Pro tip, if you do not have vanilla extract on hand, a great substitute is maple syrup.

Spices: Cinnamon & cardamom is what I use but you can also add in ground ginger & nutmeg to punch up the fall flavors.

Almond Flour: Instead of using oats to make the crumble topping, this recipe uses almond flour.

Grass Fed Butter or Coconut Oil: Butter is my preference however coconut oil or vegan butter works just as well. No matter what you use, make sure it is cold rather than room temperature.

Gluten Free Apple Crisp Step by Step Instructions

1. Prep. Preheat oven to 375 F and grease a 9″ pie dish with butter. Slice and peel apples. 
2. Prepare filling. In a large bowl, combine sliced apples, coconut sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon & cardamom to create the crisp filling. Stir gently to combine all ingredients until the apple slices are fully coated & pour mixture into the prepared baking dish.

3. Prepare the crumble topping. In the same mixing bowl, add almond flour, coconut sugar and cold butter. Using your hands, gently massage butter into dry ingredients until texture is crumbly.

4. Bake. Add the crumbly topping to the filling and evenly distribute across. Bake at 375F for 25-30 minutes or until crisp topping is golden brown.

Make Ahead Tip

If you would like to make this recipe ahead, follow the below tips to ensure it comes out as deliciously as if you made it the same day:

• Prepare filling ingredients and topping ingredients separately. Omit the butter from the crumble topping until you are ready to bake.
• Store them in airtight containers, the filling in the fridge and the topping at room temperature.
• When you are ready to bake, simply add the filling to a baking dish, add softened butter to the crumble topping + top and bake according to the recipe instructions.

Expert Tips & Tricks

• Don't be afraid to use a variety of fall spices. Adding ground nutmeg, ginger or even an extra teaspoon of cinnamon will really punch up the flavors of the crisp.
• Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream & a drizzle of caramel sauce or get a little fancy with some homemade whipped cream
• Slice the apples thinly for more caramelization
• Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to prevent the crumble topping from burning if baking past the 25 minute mark.

How To Store Gluten Free Apple Crisp

Gluten free crisp is best eaten right away, however if you do have some leftovers you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.

If you liked this recipe you might also enjoy:

Champagne Vanilla Crema Mascarpone

Apple Strawberry Crisp

Did you have a chance to make this recipe? If so, please leave me a 5 star rating and review below. I always love and appreciate hearing from you!