Description
This Healthy Apple Crisp is a delightful autumn dessert featuring thinly sliced apples tossed in pure maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and bourbon, topped with a crunchy oat, pecan, and whole wheat pastry flour crumble. Naturally sweetened and perfect warm with vanilla ice cream, it’s a wholesome twist on a classic comfort treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Topping
- ⅓ cup (38g) whole wheat pastry flour (or regular flour or gluten free oat flour or almond flour)
- ½ cup (48g) old fashioned rolled oats, gluten free if desired
- ⅓ cup (71g) dark brown sugar (can also sub coconut sugar but brown sugar is best)
- ½ cup (56g) raw chopped pecans
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup (57g) cold butter or vegan buttery stick, cut into very small cubes (can also use coconut oil)
Apple Crisp Filling
- 5-6 medium Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and very thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup (104g) pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon bourbon (or pure vanilla extract)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously grease an 8×8-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Make the Topping: In a large bowl, combine the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and chopped pecans. Add the small cubes of cold butter and work it into the mixture by squeezing with your hands until it becomes crumbly and resembles wet sand. Alternatively, you can use a pastry cutter or pulse in a food processor just until combined. Refrigerate the topping while you prepare the filling.
- Prepare the Apple Filling: In a large bowl, toss the thinly sliced apples with maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and bourbon or vanilla extract. Let this mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Combine and Layer: Take ⅓ cup of the prepared topping and mix it into the apple mixture to evenly distribute some crumble inside the filling. Pour the apple mixture into the prepared baking pan and sprinkle the remaining topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake the Crisp: Place the pan on a baking sheet to catch any bubbling spills and bake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Serve the apple crisp warm, ideally with a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- This apple crisp is naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup instead of refined sugar for a healthier dessert option.
- The crumbly topping combines oats, pecans, and whole wheat flour for texture and nutritional boost.
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith or sweeter Honeycrisp for balanced flavor and texture.
- Putting a baking sheet under the pan catches any juice that bubbles over when baking.
- Serving warm with vanilla bean ice cream enhances the comforting flavors and adds creaminess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 204 kcal
- Sugar: 23.2 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 7.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34.7 g
- Fiber: 4.2 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg
