There’s something so comforting about the smell of baked apples and cinnamon filling the house — especially this time of year. I’ve always loved apple crisp, and this grain-free and vegan version has quickly become one of my favorite fall desserts. It’s everything you want in a classic crisp: warm, cozy, perfectly spiced, and just sweet enough — but made with simple, wholesome ingredients.
Served warm with a scoop of vegan ice cream, it’s pure comfort in a bowl. This recipe is not only grain-free but also a healthier twist on traditional apple crisp, making it a great alternative to apple pie for the holidays. Whether you’re fully plant-based or just looking for a lighter dessert, this one’s a crowd-pleaser that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 2 – 2 ½ pounds of apples (I like to use Envy, Honeycrisp or fuji), cored and then diced into 1-inch cubes. Take one of the apples and grate it.
- 3 tablespoons of vegan butter (I like Monty’s or Miyoko’s) or coconut oil)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons corn starch or tapioca starch
Apple Crisp Topping
- 1 cup almond flour
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 5 tablespoons vegan butter or coconut oil melted
Non-dairy vanilla ice cream for serving
Instructions
- Make the filling first. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl mix the chopped apples, grated apple and the rest of the apple filling ingredients until well incorporated. The butter or the coconut oil can be cut into small pieces – it shouldn’t be melted.
- Transfer the apples to a 2-quart buttered baking dish or pan and spread the mixture evenly.
- Make the topping by mixing all ingredients (except the oil or butter) in a medium bowl. Once well blended, add the melted butter or oil and mix well.
- Sprinkle the topping over the apple mixture
- Bake the apple crisp for 45 minutes or until the apples are soft and the topping is golden brown.
- Cool for a few minutes before serving with some vegan vanilla ice cream.
