Gluten-free apple crisp with a generous layer of oat and oat flour based topping! With a vegan and dairy-free option.
First of all – if you’re after a grain-free apple crisp, check out my vegan and paleo apple crisp!
Today’s gluten-free apple crisp is a much more traditional version with oats and oat flour making up the topping. Because it’s oat-based, it’s both gluten-free and 100% whole grain. Make sure to use gluten-free oats and oat flour if you need the crisp to be gluten-free.
And if you don’t have oat flour on hand, you can whirl some quick or rolled oats in a food processor, high-powered blender like a Blendtec or Vitamix or an electric coffee grinder until it’s very fine and powdery.
My favorite way for small amounts is the coffee grinder. Then the high-powered blender. Those both get the oat flour really fine.
If you have a large food processor, you’ll probably need to grind more oats than you need for this recipe to get it to grind the oats finely enough. And even then, the oat flour won’t be as fine as with the other two methods. But it’ll still work!
I have a large food processor and need at least a cup or two of oats to even get it over the blade.
If you’re wondering what to then do with all that oat flour, you could try my gluten-free banana pancakes. My walnut chocolate chip cookies and Swedish apple pie, which are both gluten-free + vegan, would also be excellent choices!
But back to this crisp. You can use butter or for a vegan and dairy-free version, coconut oil.
Every time I make this gluten-free apple crisp, I wonder if I’m making a mistake while putting on the topping. The recipe calls for an 8″x8″ but I start wondering if I wrote down the wrong pan size. There’s SO much topping!
But it always works out and once it bakes, it doesn’t turn out to be an absurd amount of topping. I think it’s just perfect. The topping is the same one I used in my strawberry rhubarb crisp, which has been a huge hit the last few years!
No crisp would be complete without a little extra something on top, right? I highly recommend this maple ice cream for the dairy-eaters or this paleo and vegan vanilla sauce.
Questions about this gluten-free apple crisp?
- Can I use something other than oat flour?
Unfortunately not. It’s not really interchangeable with any other type of flour.
- Can you taste the coconut?
Not if you use refined coconut oil (which I definitely prefer to do in this apple crisp recipe)!
- What other sweeteners could I use?
You need to use a granulated one. If you have one that you use that’s a good sub for brown sugar, it should probably work in this recipe.
- What can I use instead of coconut oil or butter?
I think vegan butter would work. Use the same amount as butter listed. I don’t think olive oil or another liquid oil would.
- What type of apple should I use?
To be honest, I usually use whatever I have on hand for this gluten-free apple crisp. But here’s some info on the best apples to use for baking. They recommend Granny Smith, Braeburn, Honeycrisp, Jonagold and a few others.
Gluten-free Apple Crisp (vegan, whole grain, dairy-free options)
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon (75 grams) oat flour (make sure to use gluten-free oat flour, if needed)
- 1 1/4 cups (115 grams) rolled oats (make sure to use gluten-free oats, if needed)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2/3 cup (132 grams) brown sugar or coconut sugar (brown sugar is what I used)
- 2/3 cup (149 grams) butter, melted or 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon (126 grams) coconut oil1, melted and cooled slightly for the dairy-free and vegan version
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons (12 grams) oat flour
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 cups (658 grams) apple chunks, cut into 3/4-inch (2 cm) chunks, from about 5 medium apples
For the topping:
For the filling:
Directions
- Adjust oven rack to lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and get out a 1-quart (1-liter) casserole dish or an 8 × 8-inch (20 × 20 cm) baking dish.
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix together all of the topping ingredients. It might be quite wet.
- Prepare the apple filling. Place the chopped apples in a large mixing bowl and then sprinkle the remaining ingredients on top. Stir to coat the apples in the liquid mixture. Spoon the apple mixture into the pan and distribute the topping evenly over the top. It'll be a thick layer of topping.
- Place the crisp on a baking sheet to catch spills and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the topping is firm and the edges are bubbly. Let cool for 1 hour, which will give the juice some time to thicken a little.
- Serve warm, room temperature, or cold, with vanilla or maple ice cream or vanilla sauce.
Notes
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17 comments on “Gluten-free Apple Crisp (vegan, whole grain)” — Add one!
Favorite fruit? Apples! And this is one of my favorite recipes – thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! :)
I just bought some apples at the grocery store. Will be using them to make this apple crisp! Looks so tasty!
I hope you’ll like the crisp! Thanks for your comment. :)
I made this tonight and used 2 large apples and 2 red pears and it was amazing. I followed the recipe exactly and got an amazing caramalized inside and crunchy topping. Everyone make this!
Hi there! So sorry for just now seeing your comment. Pears sounds like an interesting addition! I’ll have to try that. Thanks a bunch for your feedback. :)
Going to have to make some oat flour this weekend and give this a try!
I’ll be right over. Save me a giant slice. This looks incredible.
I love fruit crisps and your oat topping looks and sounds so delicious! I love how easy it is to make too!
I looove crisps and using oat flour for the topping is absolutely perfect!
Oh yum, this crisp is pretty much everything! Perfect for this time of the year!
This looks so good – I could just dive right in!
This is such a perfect Fall dessert!!
I seriously want some of this! This is perfect for Fall.
I wish I had some of this right now
I’m so glad it’s apple crisp season!!! I love your oat topping—and the more, the merrier!!!
I love lots of topping! It’s the best part!