Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Crisp
This Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Crisp will have you craving seconds! Baked until bubbling with a luscious caramel apple filling and a gluten-free oatmeal crumble topping, this vegan holiday dessert is irresistible.
As someone who pretty much makes, photographs, and eats baked goods for a living, it’s hard for me to pick favorites.
Obviously, chocolate and peanut butter desserts are always up there on the list (see: peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. vegan peanut butter cup cheesecake. chocolate peanut butter truffles). BUT – apple desserts are always right up there on the list too.
Specifically, apple crisp. Or really, anything apple crisp related, like this apple crumble pie. I already have a few variations on apple crisp on my website, like cranberry apple crisp and pear apple crisp.
However, while preparing for Thanksgiving, when looking through my recipes for an apple crisp, I didn’t have a great, simple apple crisp recipe. So, I cobbled together a few different recipes of mine to create my ultimate gluten-free vegan apple crisp recipe.
What’s involved in making a great apple crisp?
Well, we’re looking at two main components: the apple filling and the crisp topping.
For an awesome apple filling: first, we need to pick the right apples. I prefer firmer apples that hold their shape pretty well after baking, so I used a combination of Granny Smith apples and Honeycrisp apples. I’ve included a list below of the best baking apples. Softer apples, like Red Delicious, get too saucy after baking. I recommend skipping those or just using one or two if you want texture variety.
BEST BAKING APPLES: Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala, Braeburn, Jonagold, Pink Lady
To make the apple filling even more epic, we make a quick caramel sauce to coat the apples in. The caramel sauce brings this recipe from good to great and is totally worth the few extra minutes it takes.
For the best crisp topping: we’ll use a combination of almond flour, tapioca flour, and oats for a crisp, crumbly topping that’s irresistibly good. It’s lightly sweetened with coconut sugar, has lots of cinnamon, and coconut oil helps hold it together. Pecans add crunch – if you prefer, you could use walnuts, almonds, or even coconut.
The result is a gluten-free vegan apple crumble that is…
- incredibly decadent
- made with soft apples coated in luscious caramel sauce
- well spiced with cinnamon
- topped with a melt-in-your-mouth crumble topping
- easy to make
- perfect for the holidays
- great served with ice cream & topped with caramel sauce
I hope you love this one as much as I do! It’s a go-to in this house and is always one of the first things to be devoured at any event it accompanies me to. Enjoy!
A few other favorites you’ll love:
- Cranberry Apple Crisp (Gluten-Free & Vegan)
- Caramel Pear Crisp (Gluten-Free, Paleo & Vegan)
- Peach Crisp (Gluten-Free & Vegan)
- Apple Crumble Pie (Gluten-Free, Paleo & Vegan)
Gluten-Free Vegan Caramel Apple Crisp
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 9 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Gluten-Free Vegan Caramel Apple Crisp will have you serving yourself seconds! With a luscious caramel apple filling and oatmeal crumble topping, this vegan holiday dessert is irresistible.
Ingredients
For the apple filling
- 2 pounds fresh apples, peeled, cored and sliced in 1/4” slices, I like using firm apples like honeycrisp or Granny Smith. If you use a softer apple, you may want to bake for less time.
- 1/4 cup (50g) coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons (14g) tapioca flour
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For the crisp topping
- 3/4 cup (72g) blanched almond flour
- 1/4 cup (28g) tapioca flour
- 3/4 cup (72g) gluten-free rolled oats
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons coconut oil, solid
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Prepare an 8×8” baking pan (or similarly sized baking dish) by lightly greasing it with coconut oil. Set aside.
- Place the sliced apples in a large bowl. Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in the tapioca flour until dissolved, and then whisk in the coconut sugar, maple syrup, water, cinnamon, and salt. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 3 minutes to thicken and melt together, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat, add the vanilla extract, and then pour the caramel sauce over the sliced apples. Taste the apples and add more sugar or spices, if desired.
- Toss to coat all of the apple slices and pour into the prepared pan, spreading out the apples evenly.
- In a separate bowl, combine the almond flour, tapioca flour, rolled oats, and coconut sugar. Add the coconut oil and using a pastry cutter, two forks, or your hands, work the coconut oil into the flour until it comes together into a course meal with no dry flour remaining. Toss in the pecans.
- Cover the fruit evenly with the oat topping and bake for 40 to 55 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbling. If you’re using soft apples, bake for the shorter amount of time so the apples don’t get too sauce-y. If topping is browning too quickly, tent the pan with aluminum foil halfway through to prevent burning.
- Let cool slightly before serving warm. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
We have an oat allergy. What can we use instead?
I recommend using the topping from one of my paleo crisp recipes instead, like this paleo pear crisp.
What can I use instead of tapioca flour?
Arrowroot flour or cornstarch work well!
thank you! I thought that, but needed to ask an expert. Will leave my comment when I make it. Sounds so yummy!
Amazing as usual! Thank you for this recipe and for all you do! ♥️
So glad you’re loving it, Harita!
how many does this serve?
I would say this makes about 6 servings, though it depends on serving size of course!
Loved this recipe!! Very flavorful and not too sweet. I made this for a group and everyone loved it.
After 50 minutes the top hadn’t browned so I put on the broiler for a minute and that did the trick.
So glad you loved it, Zoe! Thanks for the feedback :)
Have you ever tried making this with the peels left on the apples? I’m wondering how much of a difference that would make. I don’t like to peel my apples, but also don’t want to ruin this recipe.
Thank you!
Yes, you totally can, just a different in texture :) enjoy!
Pecan nuts are the best thing about this dessert. Otherwise would not recommend, it has no taste, and not sweet enough, however the description sounded yummy. Cooking time should be 30 minutes, instead of 55 – it produced apple sauce at 55 minutes with large chunk apple slices. Disappointed after all the time and cost spent on this complex recipe for apple crisp.
Sorry you didn’t enjoy this one, Jenny! I always find it takes a while for apples to break down and soften – were you using a softer apple? That could be the reason why they broke down more quickly than mine did. I added some notes about this to the recipe. I do prefer less sugar in my recipes, so sweetness could be a matter of taste. I always recommend tasting things as you go so you can adjust spices & sweetness to your liking.