This Easy Healthy Sugar-Free Apple Crisp recipe is baked with Granny Smith apples and a crunchy topping, all with no refined sugar. This low-calorie dessert works well for breakfast, too!
I’m so weird about dessert! I really go for the ones without frosting and I love pretty much all fruit so a crisp is right up my alley! Crisps remind me a lot of a lightened-up cobbler, but they are different. You may also enjoy my Slow Cooker Crockpot Apple Oatmeal.
What’s the Difference Between Crisp, Crumble, and Cobbler
Crumbles have a topping similar to streusel, often made with butter, flour, and sugar. A crisp is made very similarly, but often includes oats. Both often have the option to add nuts to the topping as well.
A cobbler is usually made with biscuit dough or pie crust. It has buttery, flaky layers with fruit filling lying within. Peach cobbler has always been one of my favorite desserts.
What Type of Apples to Use
You will want apples that are both tart and sweet. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious will work well. I like to use all Granny Smith, but you can use what you prefer or a combination of the ones mentioned.
How to Peel and Core the Apples
The fastest way to do this is to use an apple peeler and apple slicer and corer. You want to peel the apples, remove the core and then slice the apples into identical slices so that the apples cook at an even temperature. You can slice them in whatever shape you wish.
How to Make Healthy Apple Crisp
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add the apples, cinnamon, vanilla, sweetener, and lemon juice. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes until the apples are soft.
- Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Add to the pan and stir.
- Transfer the apple mixture to the bottom of the baking dish.
- Combine the oats, brown sweetener, cinnamon and melted butter in a separate bowl.
- Spread the topping throughout the pan.
- Bake for 45 minutes.
What Sweetener to Use
The two biggest things that make this dish healthy is the use of rolled oats instead of all purpose flour and the sweeteners used instead of refined sugar.
I like to use granular monkfruit sweetener for the filling and granular golden monkfruit sweetener for the topping. Monkfruit is zero calorie, zero carb, and is made without the use of artificial sweeteners
You can also use the following:
- Regular sugar (you can use the same amount outlined in the recipe)
- Pure Organic Maple Syrup (1/3 cup in the filling and 3 tablespoons in the topping)
- Honey (1/3 cup in the filling and 4 tablespoons in the topping)
What to Substitute for Butter
You can substitute melted coconut oil (best option) or olive oil.
How to Keep the Dish From Getting Watery
The filling will need a thickening agent to keep it from getting watery. I like to use a mix of cornstarch and water.
How Long Will it Last in the Fridge
Store the crisp in the fridge tightly sealed for 3-4 days.
Freezer Tips
Freeze the dish covered and tightly sealed. Thaw completely and bake for 20-30 minutes on 350 degrees.
I like to serve this with a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream. Rebel and Halo Top are my favorite brands with low carb options. Top this with our Sugar Free Whipped Cream recipe.
More Healthy Dessert Recipes
Healthy Sugar-Free Banana Bread
Salted Caramel No Bake Cheesecake Bars
Healthy Southern Sweet Potato Pie
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You will also love our Slow Cooker Crockpot Apple Crisp.
Easy Healthy Sugar-Free Apple Crisp
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 6 Granny smith green apples Peeled, cored, and sliced.
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup sweetener
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
Topping
- 1 cup rolled oats See notes for low-carb substitute.
- 1/4 cup brown sweetener
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease an 8×8 baking dish. I use cooking spray.
- Place a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add the apples, cinnamon, vanilla, sweetener, and lemon juice. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes until the apples are soft.6 Granny smith green apples, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, 1/2 cup sweetener, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Add to the pan and stir. Cook for 30 seconds.1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 tablespoon water
- Transfer the apple mixture to the bottom of the baking dish.
- Combine the oats, brown sweetener, cinnamon and melted butter in a separate bowl.1 cup rolled oats, 1/4 cup brown sweetener, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 3 tablespoons melted butter
- Spread the topping throughout the pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Loosely cover the pan with foil to prevent the topping from over-browning.
- Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes until the apples are soft.
- Cool before serving.
Video
Notes
- Regular sugar (you can use the same amount outlined in the recipe)
- Pure Organic Maple Syrup (1/3 cup in the filling and 3 tablespoons in the topping)
- Honey (1/3 cup in the filling and 4 tablespoons in the topping)
Lynda
Sunday 6th of October 2024
This Apple crisp was very delicious and easy to make . My daughter and I made this yesterday and it did not disappoint. The recipe was very easy to follow. We did the oven bake recipe. I will be making this again next time I will just use more apples.
Teresa
Friday 1st of November 2024
@staysnatched, I need to make this a day ahead. Would I just need to completely prepare and cook then cover tightly and refrigerate then reheat the next day? Or prepare up to the point of baking then refrigerate …then cook the next day? I don’t want to ruin the consistency of the topping. 🤔
staysnatched
Sunday 6th of October 2024
Wonderful! So glad you enjoyed it.
Marcia
Sunday 28th of April 2024
Could I use this as a filling for a small apple pie
staysnatched
Sunday 28th of April 2024
Maybe. I've never tried it. If you test it, let me know!
Jessica
Thursday 4th of January 2024
Delicious! Added some nutmeg to the apple mix and walnuts to the toppings. One question though, my crisp ended up soupy and falling apart a lot even after adding cornstarch and the full baking time. Any thoughts on why this might have happened? It created a lot of juice in the saucepan and i left out the juice in the bake, could the cornstarch been left out there?
staysnatched
Thursday 4th of January 2024
The cornstarch has to be adequately mixed with water before adding it. That creates a slurry that will thicken the dish so that it isn't soupy. It's possible you did omit the cornstarch slurry mixture you needed. Next time if you think you need more thickener add that (additional cornstarch and water) to the saucepan until it reaches the consistency you think you need.
Kathy Wilson
Tuesday 31st of October 2023
I made it and used sugar free granola in place of oatmeal and added sliced almonds to the topping. It was so good I am going to make it again today.
staysnatched
Tuesday 31st of October 2023
So glad to hear you will be making it again!
Leslie
Thursday 16th of March 2023
Has anyone tried this without peeling the apples?