Healthy Spiced Apple Crisp Recipe (Grain-Free)

I’m a fan of all things fall, but pumpkin spice can get old after a while. This delicious, healthy apple crisp recipe features sweet and tart apples, fragrant apple pie spice, and a melt in your mouth crunchy topping. All of the flavors you could want on a cool autumn day.

Most of us grew up with apple pie, apple crisp, and apple cobbler. These classic dishes tasted so good, but they were also absolutely packed with sugar! This updated version still has all the flavors you love about the original apple crisp, but it’s naturally sweetened and grain-free.

The (not so) secret ingredient is my homemade apple pie spice. Once you have a batch mixed up (it’s earned a permanent place in my pantry!), it’s really easy to flavor your apple crisp. Or pancakes, or muffins, or anything else you want to add some delicious fall flavor to.

Healthy Apple Crisp Ingredients

Apple crisp typically has oats, but not always. Sometimes the terms apple crisp and apple crumble are used interchangeably and many of the ingredients overlap. All you really need to know though is that this apple crisp tastes amazing!

Instead of regular flour and oats it uses almond flour and coconut flour. These give the crumble topping a nice crunch without the grains. The toasted pecans also add to the crunchy, nutty flavor. It’s naturally sweetened with coconut sugar and maple syrup, but if you can find maple sugar it really amps up the fall flavor.

How to Make Toasted Pecans

You can use raw pecans, but toasting them really adds another depth of flavor. There are several methods, but I find the stovetop method the easiest. Nuts start to burn quickly once they’re toasted, so be sure to keep a close eye on them!

Heat a skillet to medium low heat.
Add the pecans and stir continually until they smell nutty and fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
Immediately remove pecans from the pan.

And here’s how to make a delicious and healthy apple crisp recipe that’s perfect for company or everyday dessert!

Healthy Apple Crisp

This apple crisp recipe is a healthy twist on the classic comfort food. Made with apple pie spice, it’s as convenient as it is delicious!

7 medium sweet-tart apples (fuji, honeycrisp, pink lady, etc.)
¼ cup apple cider or juice
1 TBSP maple syrup (more if your apples are very tart)
1 ½ TBSP lemon juice
1 ½ tsp apple pie spice
⅛ tsp salt
3 TBSP unsalted butter (diced)

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Peel and core the apples. Cut into thin slices, about ?-inch thick.
In a large bowl combine the apples, apple cider, maple syrup, lemon juice, apple pie spice, and salt. Stir to coat.
Spread the apples into a 9-inch round baking dish with 2-inch high sides or an 8×8-inch square pan. Dot with cubed butter.
Bake until bubbling, about 30–35 minutes. Stir gently.

For the crumble topping

While the apples bake, prepare the topping. In a bowl, combine almond flour, coconut flour, nuts, coconut sugar, apple pie spice, and salt.
Stir in the melted butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Crumble topping evenly over the partially baked apples.
Return to the oven and bake until the topping is deep golden and the apples are bubbling, 40–50 minutes (check after 25 minutes, as ovens vary).
Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. The topping will crisp as it cools.