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Best Ever Recipe for Gluten Free Apple Crisp

This is the best recipe for Gluten Free Apple Crisp. It’s easy to make and can be doubled to feed a crowd.

Gluten Free Apple Crisp in a round white baking dish

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Gluten Free Apple Crisp

Nothing says Autumn has arrived like the smell of a gluten free apple crisp baking in the oven. The scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, apples, oats, and brown sugar wafting through the kitchen is practically torture.

Thankfully, apple crisp is meant to be eaten warm, so you don’t have to wait an agonizing eternity for it to cool before digging in.

You’ll want to wait just long enough though because you don’t want to burn your tongue so bad you won’t be able to taste it. Don’t be like me, I’m speaking from experience.

The best apple crisp recipe is the original version of my Gluten Free Caramel Apple Crisp. And while this recipe is more basic, its flavor profile is anything but basic.

Warm spices and sweet sugar, sweet apples, hints of citrus, a buttery oatmeal crumb that basically tastes like an epic oatmeal cookie…

You’ve got soft and crisp textures. Flavor profiles like sweet and spice. Warm crisp paired with cold ice cream or whipped cream. You’ve basically got everything you’ll ever want in this gluten free apple dessert which is why it’s so addictingly good.

Gluten Free Apple Crisp in a round white baking dish with a silver spoon on a blue kitchen towel

Did you make this recipe? Leave a star rating and let me know in the comments! You can also leave a photo/comment on this pin for others to see.

Contrasting flavors, textures, and temperatures. This is a DESSERT GOLDMINE my friends! This is the reason why apple crisp will forever and always be a popular dessert.

It may sound old-fashioned, but it’ll never go out of style. Apple crisp is the little black dress of the dessert world.

Serve this gluten free apple crisp (aka dessert gem) with your favorite vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream. OR be a little extra (why not?!) and serve it with white chocolate ganache whipped cream.

It’s also good leftover straight out of the fridge. Just pretend it’s something like apple pie overnight oats and you’ve got yourself a winning breakfast 😉


Key Ingredients for Gluten Free Apple Crisp

  • Fresh apples. Seriously, you can’t make an apple crisp without fresh apples. Apples that you’ve picked yourself at the orchard are even better!
  • Citrus Zest. This gluten free apple crisp recipe gets so much of its flavor from the addition of a little orange zest and lemon zest. It gives so much dimension to the flavor profile – don’t skip it!
  • Gluten Free Oats – Gluten free apple crisp with oats is the only way to go, IMO. Use purity protocol oats if necessary for your dietary needs. My husband doesn’t have Celiac Disease so we use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Organic Old Fashioned Rolled Oats.

Equipment Needed to Make Homemade Apple Crisp

  • 9-inch Pan – You can make this in a Deep 9-Inch Pie Dish or a 9×9 inch square baking pan. Either works! If you want to double the recipe, use a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
  • Stand mixer or hand mixer – While you could technically do it by hand, it’s faster and easier to make the topping with a stand mixer or hand mixer. Working that cold butter into all the dry ingredients is hard work!
  • Microplane Zester/Grater – the best and easiest way to get that lemon and orange zest. I use mine for parmesan cheese too so it’s a multipurpose tool!

Two bowls of gluten free apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream


How to Make Gluten Free Apple Crisp

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. (I use Coconut Oil Spray.)

Step 2. Combine the sliced apples, citrus zest, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch in a large bowl. Mix to completely coat the apples then transfer to the prepared baking dish.

Step 3. Add the gluten free flour, xanthan gum (if using), granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, and gluten free oats to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix to combine all the ingredients. Add the butter and mix on low until a dough forms and comes together.

Step 4. Crumble the topping over the apples being sure to evenly cover all the apples. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes until hot and the apples are bubbling at the edges. 

Step 5. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.


Tips for Making

  • Use the right apples! Firm/Crisp apples are the best apples for baking. Using a combination of sweet and tart apples give this gluten free fruit crisp the best flavor.
  • This recipe can be doubled. Need to feed a crowd? Double the recipe and bake it in a 9×13 pan! Bake about 50 minutes to an hour. 
  • Don’t skip the zest! Seriously, don’t skip the orange or lemon zest. It brings a different dimension of flavor to the apple crisp and it won’t be the same (or as good!) without it.

Can I Make This as a Dairy Free and Vegan Apple Crisp?

To make this dairy free, use Nutiva Shortening in place of the butter. While I haven’t tried it myself, you can also try subbing with refined coconut oil or a vegan butter of your choice.

Miyoko’s European Style Cultured Vegan Butter is my go-to for dairy free butter.

Gluten Free Apple Crisp features warm, spiced apples and a crisp oatmeal cookie-like topping. It’s the perfect dessert to make in the fall! Follow this recipe and you’ll make the best apple crisp recipe every time that’s full of flavor and contrasting textures. It’s an old fashioned recipe with a modern twist. Serve it with vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream! Visit whattheforkfoodblog.com for more gluten free desserts. #applecrisp #bestapplecrisp #glutenfree #fallbaking #applerecipes


Other Gluten Free Apple Recipes to Try


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This Gluten Free Apple Crisp recipe can also be found on Food Fanatic where I am a regular contributor.
Gluten Free Apple Crisp in a round white baking dish

Gluten Free Apple Crisp

Yield: Serves 8
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Take advantage of apple season with this Gluten
Free Apple Crisp. Full of sweet apples, a crisp oatmeal topping, and warm spices, it’s warm and cozy Fall dessert.

Ingredients

For the Filling:

  • 1 ½ pounds apples, peeled and sliced (about 5 medium apples, see notes)
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest (3 g)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest (3 g)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar (60 g)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (2 g)
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch (18 g)

For the Topping:

  • ¾ cup gluten free flour blend (103 g, see notes)
  • ½ teaspoon xanthan gum (2 g) – omit if your flour blend contains it
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar (73 g)
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar (75 g)
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ cup gluten free old-fashioned oats (50 g)
  • ½ cup butter, cubed and cold ( 4 oz.)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray a 9x9 inch baking dish or 9-inch deep dish pie plate with non-stick spray.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, orange zest, lemon zest, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch. Mix well and pour into the prepared baking dish.
  3. To make the topping, add the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, and oats to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix to combine.
  4. Add the cubed butter and mix on low to incorporate. When the dough starts to come together, crumble it over the top of the apples.
  5. Place the baking dish over a rimmed baking sheet (in case the apples bubble over) and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until the topping is browned/crisp and the apples are bubbling.
  6. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream.

Notes

  1. For this recipe, I used a mixture of 3 Granny Smith Apples, 1 Honey Crisp Apple, and 1 Golden Delicious Apple but any combination of baking apples will work!
  2. I use my Nightshade-Free Gluten Free Flour Mix in this recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 358Trans Fat: 0gFiber: 4gProtein: 4g

Nutrition Facts are estimated. Please consult a doctor or nutritionist if you have special dietary needs.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Did you make this recipe? Leave a star rating and let me know in the comments! You can also leave a photo/comment on this pin for others to see.

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Gail M

Tuesday 30th of November 2021

Best GF apple crisp. The topping has great texture and stays nice and crispy. Next time I'll cut back on the nutmeg though.

Shay

Friday 14th of October 2022

Thank you Gail!

Kim Whitman

Wednesday 19th of August 2020

I made this recipe last night and it was delicious! I will make it again and share a link on Instagram.

Tawana Spence

Saturday 4th of July 2020

Definitely 5 star recipe! Made this last weekend and my family keeps asking me to make it again. I added 1 cup of blueberries bc they were starting to turn and switched all sugars for dates. Absolute Yumminess! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.❤️

Mary Madison

Tuesday 24th of September 2019

My daughter has celiac disease and she cannot tolerate any oats, what could I use in place of oats in the crisp.

Robin

Friday 29th of November 2019

Mary, you can leave the Oats out and just keep a simple topping. Most Apple Crisp Recipes are with Flour & Oats or just Flour.......Depending on the mood, we switch out often. I just made this recipe......literally just took it out of the oven and we love it. Enjoy.

Shay

Saturday 5th of October 2019

Hi Mary, I haven't tried this recipe with an oat sub.

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