Gluten-Free Apple Crisp
- By Amy Dong
- Published Sep. 10, 2023
- Updated Mar. 11, 2024
You will be rewarded with a gluten-free apple crisp that is perfectly tender in the center and golden brown on top. Easier than baking a whole apple pie, it’s a simple dessert that your friends and family will devour.
In This Article
Gluten Free Apple Crisp
Crisps are a type of American dessert that are compromised of fruit and a crispy topping. They come in many varieties such as peach crisp and easy apple crisp. However, no matter what type of fruit is used, the center is always soft and sweet, and the topping comes together with a mixture of butter, flour, sugar, and whole oats.
For this gluten-free apple crisp, we took our original recipe and swapped out just a few ingredients to create the same irresistible taste in a more allergy-friendly dessert. Served warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, it’s a fall staple that will have your guests begging for seconds!
Apple Crisp vs. Apple Crumble
In the United Kingdom and Australia, the terms crisp and crumble are used to refer to the same dessert. Yet, in America and Canada, the two are not quite the same. They’re both baked fruit desserts. Yet, fruit crumbles have a much softer topping similar to a coffee cake streusel. Meanwhile, crisps are marked by their crumbly topping that almost always contains some kind of nuts and oats.
Key Ingredients
We turned standard apple crisp into a gluten free dessert that’s absolutely incredible. You will appreciate the ingredient list, which is simple and budget-friendly.
- Baking powder is combined with gluten-free rolled oats to create a light and crunchy topping.
- Brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt are used in conjunction with melted butter and added to the topping for warm flavors and a rich taste. You’ll also need a pinch of nutmeg and a dash of ground cloves for the filling.
- Toasted pecans add a finishing touch and a nice crunch to the crust.
- A mixture of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples makes for a sweet flavor and out-of-this-world texture.
- Technically optional, the only thing that could make this gluten apple crisp even better is a scoop of Creamy Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, and we definitely include it!
Key Steps
- Combine spices, butter, and sugar with oats and gluten free flour.
- Use clean hands or pastry cutter to form topping; chill until use.
- Crunchy apples with sugar, warm cinnamon, and lemon zest for an irresistible gluten free apple crisp filling.
- Layer filling with plenty of crisp topping for an amazing gluten free apple crisp.
→ For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
Pro Tips For Success
One of the great things about this gluten free apple crisp is that it’s crazy easy to make, especially when you follow our best baking tips.
- Use Certified Gluten Free Oats. You’ll want to make sure the oats you’re using are from a certified gluten-free factory. Otherwise, you run the risk of cross-contamination, and they may not be 100% gluten-free.
- Use a Pastry Cutter and Cold Butter. This allows for easier cutting and guarantees that your topping is sufficiently coated with equal-sized pieces of butter for an absolutely decadent dessert.
- Cover with Foil. If the top begins to brown before the center is fully cooked, remove your crisp from the oven, cover the top with foil, and bake for another 15 minutes or until the edges begin to bubble.
- Let Your Crisp Cool. We know it’s hard to wait, but trust us; it’s worth it. Letting your dessert cool for 1-2 hours will allow enough time for the center to thicken. Otherwise, it will all fall apart.
Commonly Asked Questions
The most common reason why the topping doesn’t get crisp is that the butter was not distributed evenly. To prevent this from happening, be sure it blends well into the oat mixture.
The best apples for a gluten free apple crisp are Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Golden Delicious. However, whatever varieties you choose, you’ll want to make sure that they are crisp, slightly tart, and can withstand baking. For instance, while great for snacking extra sweet varieties like Gala and Fuji apples will become too mushy once baked and make for a runny crisp.
If your crisp turns out dry, it’s because there was not enough butter. Be sure to double-check the ingredient list before you begin baking; don’t skimp on the butter.
If you need to swap out the cinnamon, consider using another warm spice such as nutmeg, allspice, or even apple pie spice instead.
Yes, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to six days. Or, keep it airtight in the freezer for up to two months.
Yes, swap out the regular butter for a dairy-free option to achieve the same taste and texture without the use of dairy.
More to Bake and Eat
- Chewy Apple Oatmeal Bars (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Refined Sugar-Free) – Everyone’s favorite dessert meets a healthy on-the-go breakfast with these easy bars.
- Apple Pie Bars – If you love this apple crisp, these apple bars will become your new go-to snack this fall.
- Dutch Apple Pie – The perfect balance between sweet and tangy, this apple pie is absolutely scrumptious and perfect for feeding a crowd.
- Apple Cake with Caramel – If you’re looking for a make-ahead treat, this gem of a cake is just what you need.
- Gluten-Free Banana Bread – A delicious gluten-free baking option.
Also Try Easy Blueberry Bars
Did you make this?
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Gluten Free Apple Crisp
Ingredients
For the Topping:
- ¾ cup 1 to 1 gluten free baking flour
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp table salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, diced and cold
- ¼ cup toasted pecans
For the Filling:
- 2 ½ lbs firm apples, see note
- Zest + Juice of 1 large lemon, a little under 1/4 cup juice
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- Optional: vanilla bean ice cream
Instructions
- Butter an 8×8 baking dish, and preheat oven to 350F with rack on middle position.
- In a bowl, combine all topping ingredients except butter. Stir to combine well. Using a pastry cutter, cut cold butter into the ingredients until mixture is crumbly, resembling wet sand with little clumps of butter still intact. (If your fingers are cool, it's easier to mix with clean hands.) Cover and chill while you prepare the filling.
- In a large bowl, combine all filling ingredients and toss to incorporate. Pour into buttered baking dish. Scatter cold topping evenly over the apples.
- Place baking dish on a large baking sheet. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, check the topping, and cover loosely with foil if it's already browning. Continue baking another 15 minutes, or just until topping is nicely browned and edges are bubbling.
- Let cool at least 1-2 hours or until lukewarm to allow filling to thicken.
Notes
- I use a mixture of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp sliced into 1/2-inch thick pieces.
- Use old fashioned whole oats, for best texture. We do not recommend instant or quick-cooking oats here.
- If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating ♡