This Gluten-Free Apple Crisp recipe has all the flavors of fall baked into a gooey and delicious rustic dessert. It is so simple that any level of baker can successfully make this recipe and it's much faster to pull together compared to an apple pie. And since it's gluten-free, more people can enjoy this lovely treat.
With fall in full swing, we are overrun with apples here in Vermont. Literally, we have pounds and pounds of apples just waiting to be eaten or cooked. And whenever we have an abundance of apples, we love to bake a rustic apple crisp.
Filled with fresh apples, cinnamon and brown sugar then topped with an oat and brown sugar streusel, this recipes has all the elements we love about fall! You see, autumn is the perfect season to slow down (a bit), enjoy the short season of produce like pears, winter squash and Brussels sprouts and cook with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Put all those feelings together and you have this warm and hearty gluten-free apple crisp.
I have shared a handful of other crisp recipes, including an Easy Strawberry Crumble and a Blueberry Crisp, both gluten-free. Why make these crisps gluten-free? Well, I believe if you can make a recipe more people can enjoy without compromising the quality of the final product, why not?
Jump to:
Ingredients that Matter
This recipe features fresh apples (and fresh apples are always best!) along with some pantry staples. Here are the ingredients you'll need for this recipe:
- Apples. You want to use enough apples to get 6 cups of chopped apples, which is between 4 and 6 apples, depending on their size. I recommend using a combination of varieties, a cooking apple like a Macintosh along with a crisper apple like Honeycrisp, Gala or Macoun (my personal favorite!).
- Cinnamon. Besides apples, the main flavor of this crisp is cinnamon. It's a warm spice that goes incredibly well with gooey cooked apples.
- Oats. The topping is a brown sugar oat streusel. Be sure to purchase a gluten-free oat to keep this recipe safe for anyone with a gluten intolerance. I like to use Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats.
- Gluten-Free Flour. A little gluten-free flour goes into the filling to thicken the cooked apples and more in the topping to make the crumble. Use a one-to-one gluten-free flour like King Arthur Baking Company Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour.
- Brown Sugar. The molasses in brown sugar has a wonderful warm flavor that compliments the apples very well. You can, of course, use regular granulated sugar, if you prefer.
- Butter. A bit of butter is used throughout the dish. Rub butter into the the oat mixture, which as it cooks will help brown and crisp the topping. And a bit of butter is added to the apples to make the filling a tad rich.
- Nutmeg. Like cinnamon, a bit of nutmeg goes very well with apples. I recommend using freshly grated, if possible.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
This recipe comes together very easily. Seriously, it's perfect for people who think they are terrible at baking! Here is how to make the recipe:
Start by making the oat topping. To a medium bowl add the oats, brown sugar, gluten-free flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and mix by hand until well combined. Add chopped pieces of butter and rub into the mixture until the topping resembles small pebbles. Set aside.
Peel apples then cut into bite-sized pieces. There is no need to be precise as the apples will cook down. You will want about 6 cups of roughly chopped apples, which is about 4 to 6 apples.
Add chopped apples to an 8-inch square baking dish and add a bit of gluten-free flour, cinnamon and salt. Stir until well combined. Add bits of butter throughout.
Sprinkle the oat and brown sugar topping over the apples then bake in a 375F oven until the topping is well browned and the apples are bubbly.
Hint: Be sure to let the crisp cool for 10 minutes before digging in! This will help the gooey apple filling setup to a scoopable consistency.
Substitutions and Additions
This recipe is already gluten-free and there are ways to tweak the crisp based on your dietary needs or restrictions. There are also many ways to make some simple additions to suite your tastes, like:
- Dairy-Free & Vegan - If you want to make this recipe dairy-free and/or vegan, simply swap out the butter for a vegan butter, coconut oil or even vegetable oil.
- Nuts - Try adding chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping, about ⅓ cup, for a some more crunch.
- More Spices - You don't have to stop at cinnamon and nutmeg if you are a warm spice lover. Try adding ground cloves, allspice or even ginger.
- More Fruit - Try adding a cup of fresh cranberries, strawberries or raspberries to up the fruit flavor.
- Brandy - Add a splash of apple brandy to the apple filling for complex flavor.
Equipment
You will need an 8-inch square baking dish for this recipe. For these photos, I used a lovely blue dish from Bennington Potters but you could also use this Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage Square Baking Dish.
Storage & Serving
If your family is anything like mine, there probably won't be any leftover apple crisp, but if there is, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Be sure it cools to room temperature before transferring to the refrigerator.
You can prep this recipe in advance. In fact, you can assemble the crisp, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to bake, up to 1 day. Let the dish sit on the counter while the oven preheats.
If you are looking for some serving suggestions, try adding a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I've been known to enjoy a spoonful of crisp for breakfast with yogurt.
All About Apples
You can find a lot of contrasting information about what are the best apples to bake with, but I can offer some simple advice. First, start by using whatever is freshest. Here in Vermont we have a ton of apple orchards where we'll pick our own in season (lots of neighbors have trees in their yards, even). Freshly picked apples taste the best as their sugars have yet to convert to starch.
Second, I suggest using a combination of textures and flavors. So pick a softer apple like Macintosh which will breakdown as it cooks (think applesauce), along with a crisper apple like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, which hold their shape when cooked. It's just nice to have a combo of textures in your baked goods!
FAQ
Use a variety of textures and flavors in your apple crisp, like Macintosh, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Cortland, Gala and Macoun. Above all, try to pick the freshest apples possible.
Be sure to use a gluten-free old fashioned rolled oat (read labels to ensure the product is certified gluten-free) along with gluten-free flour (choose a one-to-one all-purpose alternative).
More Desserts
Looking for more dessert recipes like this? Try these:
Fall Recipes
Are you looking for more fall recipes? Try these:
Recipe
Gluten-Free Apple Crisp
- Total Time: 65 min.
- Yield: 5 cups 1x
Description
This Gluten-Free Apple Crisp recipe has all the flavors of fall baked into a gooey and delicious rustic dessert. It is so simple that any level of baker can successfully make this recipe and it's much faster to pull together compared to an apple pie. And since it's gluten-free, more people can enjoy this lovely treat.
Ingredients
Topping
- ⅓ cup rolled oats (gluten-free)
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup gluten-free flour
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
- 1 pinch table salt
- 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature
Filling
- 6 cups peeled and chopped apples, from 4-6 apples
- 2 Tbsp. gluten-free flour
- 2 Tbsp. light brown sugar
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch table salt
- 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
Instructions
Topping
- To assemble the topping, mix together in a medium bowl the oats, sugar, gluten-free flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt until well combined. Break up butter into small pieces and add to the oat mixture. Rub the butter into the oat mixture until the mixture resembles small pebbles.
Filling
- Preheat the oven to 375F and lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Add chopped apples to prepared baking dish and sprinkle with gluten-free flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt and stir until well combined. Tear butter into small pieces on sprinkle on top. Sprinkle apples evenly with oat and brown sugar topping.
- Bake in the oven until the top is golden brown at the apple filling is bubbly, 45-50 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Serve with whipped cream, ice cream or yogurt.
- Use a combination of apples like Macintosh, Honeycrisp, Gala, Granny Smith and/or Macoun. I recommend using the freshest apples possible.
- You don't have to peel the apples, but if you don't the filling will be chewy.
- To make this recipe dairy-free and gluten, swap out the butter for a vegan butter, coconut oil or vegetable oil.
- Prep Time: 10 min.
- Cook Time: 45 min.
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ruth says
This was so easy to throw together as a weeknight dessert and super delicious!!