This healthy oatmeal apple crisp is just like the kind your grandma used to make, but with a healthier vegan twist. It's packed with cinnamon-spiced apples and topped with a crunchy, hazelnut crust. Plus, it's super easy to make, and comes together in about 15 minutes.
Look no further - this is your new favorite healthy fall dessert!
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I have a big, old apple tree in the back yard, and every year it produces a bumper crop of apples. So, I'm always looking for healthy apple recipe ideas that are easy to whip up. This one totally fits the bill.
You probably have most of the ingredients for this healthy oatmeal apple crisp in your pantry already. And, if you don't, this recipe is very flexible and amenable to substitutions. I'll give you a few alternative suggestions below.
Top Tip: You might also like my vegan blueberry cobbler.
🙋What's The Difference Between A Crisp & A Crumble?
Crisps and crumbles are both fruit-based desserts with a streusel topping, but they have some minor differences.
Crisps have a crunchy, chunkier oat-based topping like I've used in this recipe. Crumbles have a softer, crumblier topping and they're usually made with softer fruits, like this vegan strawberry crumble. Both are typically served warm often with ice cream or whipped cream, but crisps maintain their texture better when cooled.
The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, especially in the United States, while in the United Kingdom, crumble is the more common term.
🛒Ingredients
- Apples: When making apple crisp, it's best to choose apple varieties that hold their shape well during baking and have a good balance of sweetness and tartness. I recommend Granny Smith, Braeburn, Golden Delicious or Pink Lady apples for the best results.
- Lemon Juice: Lemon Juice prevents the apples from oxidizing and turning brown. To be honest, it won't hurt not to add it..the apples will just be a bit darker.
- Maple Syrup: I've replaced refined sugar with healthier maple syrup. Plus, I like the taste of maple syrup here more than granulated sugar.
- Cinnamon: Is there anything that says "fall" more than cinnamon and apples? Yummy!
- Nutmeg: Woody, bittersweet nutmeg is the perfect partner to tart apples.
- Rolled Oats: Make sure that you choose rolled oats, and not steel cut oats. Also, be sure to verify that they're gluten free if that's important to you.
- Hazelnuts: I use hazelnuts in all my apple crisps. Their sweet, earthy flavor is a great complement to tart apples. But, feel free to swap them for pecans, almonds or walnuts.
- Spelt Flour: Spelt flour has a nutty flavor that works so well in fall desserts, but if you can't find it it's fine to use whole wheat flour. Almond flour makes a great gluten free alternative.
- Vegan Butter: Spreadable vegan butter yields the best results. Coconut oil also works.
👨🍳How To Make Healthy Oatmeal Apple Crisp
- The first step is to peel, core and slice your apples. Lay them out in a greased 8x8 baking dish and drizzle the maple syrup over the top. Squeeze in the lemon juice, and turn everything over with a spatula. Sprinkle with spices. Now, cover the pan tightly with foil and pop it in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
- While the apples are baking, prepare your crisp topping. Mix together the rolled oats, muscovado sugar, spelt flour, cinnamon, chopped hazelnuts and vegan butter. As always, I highly recommend using a scale to measure your ingredients. You simply won't get accurate results using cups. Here's a handy cups to grams converter, and a post I wrote on why it's so important to measure ingredients using a scale.
- Cut the butter in with the back of a fork until you have a crumbly (but not sand- like) texture.
- When the apples are done baking, remove the foil and add the topping to your apple crisp. Return the pan to oven for 20 more minutes.
- Tuck in and enjoy! If you're feeling indulgent, serve with vanilla ice cream.
Chef's Tip
When making oatmeal apple crisp, it's best to choose apple varieties that hold their shape well during baking and have a good balance of sweetness and tartness. I recommend Granny Smith, Braeburn, Golden Delicious or Pink Lady apples for the best results.
💡Variations and Substitutions
- Throw in some chopped dates, raisins, cranberries of goji berries.
- Instead of hazelnuts, why not try walnuts, pecans or almonds?
- Use your favorite gluten free flour in place of spelt flour for a gluten free dish. Almond flour works really well.
- Instead of Muscovado sugar, use coconut sugar.
- Use coconut oil instead of vegan butter.
❄️Storage Instructions
Refrigerator
Once your oatmeal apple crisp has cooled completely, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To reheat individual portions, simply microwave them for 30-60 seconds or until warmed through. If you want to reheat the entire crisp, cover it with foil and place it in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
Freezer
If you have leftover oatmeal apple crisp that you won't be able to finish within a few days, you can also freeze it for up to 3 months. To do this, wrap the cooled crisp tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil before placing it in the freezer. When you're ready to enjoy the frozen crisp, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat it in the oven as described above.
🙋Frequently Asked Recipe Questions
It's not strictly necessary, but I prefer to use peeled apples when I want a softer texture, like we have in this apple crisp. But, in recipes where you want more texture (like muffins) you can leave the peel on.
There's a few reasons your crisp might be too watery. Some apple varieties, like McIntosh or Red Delicious, have a higher water content and can release more liquid during baking, resulting in a watery crisp.
Secondly, If the crisp isn't baked long enough, the apples may not have had enough time to release their liquid and allow it to evaporate.
Lastly, If you serve your oatmeal apple crisp immediately after taking it out of the oven, the filling may appear watery. Allowing the crisp to cool for 15-20 minutes before serving will give the filling a chance to set and thicken.
Yes, of course. Simply replace the nuts with more rolled oats.
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📖 Recipe
Healthy Oatmeal Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 6 Granny Smith apples or Golden Delicious, Braeburn or Pink Lady apples
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
For The Hazelnut and Oat Topping
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup spelt flour
- ¾ cup muscovado sugar
- 1 cup roasted hazelnuts finely chopped
- ½ cup coconut oil or vegan butter not melted
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400° F (200° C). Lay the apples in the bottom of a greased ovenproof dish. Drizzle the maple syrup and lemon juice over the top, sprinkle with the cinnamon and nutmeg. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, stir together the oats, spelt flour, muscovado sugar, and chopped hazelnuts. Work the vegan butter in using a pastry cutter or the back of a fork. Aim for a crumb like texture with some lumps.
- When the apples are doing baking, take the foil off and spread the crumb topping over the top. Bake in the over for a further 20 minutes.
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