This easy gluten free apple crisp is everything you want in a cozy fall dessert-tender cinnamon apples baked beneath a buttery, golden oat topping that's crisp on the outside and perfectly soft underneath. It's an easy homemade dessert that's perfect for everything from weeknight baking to Thanksgiving dinner.
I'm such a sucker for a good, warm apple dessert. Whether it's Apple Pie Cheesecake, Apple Cobbler, Apple Cider Bundt Cake, or a good old fashioned apple crisp like this one, I will never turn it down.
While I do love Pumpkin Pie for Thanksgiving, I almost always make an apple dessert, too. There's just something about tender cinnamon apples baked beneath a buttery oat topping that's impossible to resist.
If you're putting together a full fall dessert spread, this apple crisp also pairs perfectly with my Pumpkin Scones for brunch or Apple Cinnamon Cookies when you're craving something handheld. And if you can't get enough cozy baking inspiration, be sure to browse my Gluten Free Fall Desserts collection.
I'm going to walk you through how to make this super easy and extra delicious gluten free apple crisp.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Gluten Free Apple Crisp
- Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Best Apples for Apple Crisp
- Why This Recipe Works
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Variations & Substitutions
- Expert Tips
- How to Serve Gluten Free Apple Crisp
- How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Gluten Free Apple Recipes To Try
- ๐ Recipe
Why You'll Love This Gluten Free Apple Crisp
- Classic comfort food. Warm cinnamon apples and a buttery oat topping make every bite cozy and comforting.
- Easy to make. No pie crust required-just mix, layer, and bake.
- Perfect for fall and Thanksgiving. It's one of my favorite make-ahead holiday desserts.
- No one will know it's gluten free. The topping is just as crisp and buttery as a traditional apple crisp.
- Easy to customize. Make it dairy free or add your favorite mix-ins.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Apple Filling Ingredients
- Apples: Honeycrisp apples become wonderfully soft and sweet while baking, while Granny Smith apples hold their shape and add a bit more tartness. I love using a combination of both for the best balance of flavor and texture.
- Brown sugar: I like to use light brown sugar in this recipe, but you can use dark brown if that's what you have.
- Vanilla
- Salt
Crisp Topping Ingredients
- Oats: Use gluten free rolled (also called old fashioned) oats. I like to use Bob's Red Mill, but any gluten free oats will work. I recommend against using quick oats, as that would change the texture.
- Gluten free flour: I use Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour because it consistently gives the topping the best texture. If you're using another blend, make sure it contains xanthan gum. If you don't need the recipe to be gluten free, all-purpose flour works perfectly as a 1:1 substitute.
- Brown sugar: Again, you can use either light or dark brown sugar.
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Melted butter: Melted butter helps evenly coat the oat topping, creating crisp, buttery clusters as the apple crisp bakes. If making the recipe dairy free, substitute your favorite plant-based butter.
Best Apples for Apple Crisp
| Apple | Flavor | Texture After Baking |
| Honeycrisp | Sweet | Soft |
| Granny Smith | Tart | Holds shape |
| Pink Lady | Sweet-tart | Firm |
| Fuji | Sweet | Soft |
| Braeburn | Balanced | Firm |
Why This Recipe Works
- Brown sugar deepens the apple flavor.
- Rolled oats create a crisp topping.
- Melted butter evenly coats every crumb.
- A simple filling lets the apples shine.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Make the Crisp Topping
STEP ONE: In a large bowl, whisk the dry ingredients (oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt) together.
STEP TWO: Add the melted butter and mix until thoroughly combined. Set aside for now.
Prepare the Apple Filling
STEP THREE: Peel, core, and chop the apples. I love using an apple slicer, a totally underrated kitchen tool in my opinion. Just chop up the individual slices into chunks.
STEP FOUR: Toss the apples with the brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
Assemble and Bake
STEP FIVE: Pour the apple filling into a square baking pan, then top with an even layer of the crisp topping. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges. If the topping begins browning too quickly, loosely tent the dish with foil for the remainder of the baking time.
Variations & Substitutions
Dairy Free or Vegan
To make this gluten free apple crisp dairy free (or vegan), simply substitute your favorite non-dairy butter.
Refined Sugar Free
I haven't tested it myself, but you should be able to swap in coconut sugar as a 1:1 substitute for the brown sugar in this recipe.
Optional Add-Ins
There are a number of optional add-ins you can incorporate into this recipe, if you're feeling creative.
- Nuts: Regular readers know I don't bake with nuts due to allergies in my home, but you can incorporate chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds into the topping for extra crunch.
- Dried fruit: Raisins, cranberries, or chopped dates could work really well with the apples.
- Seeds: Pumpkin or sunflower seeds mixed into the topping can add a bit more crunch.
- Caramel sauce: Before serving, you can drizzle some homemade or store-bought caramel sauce on top.
Expert Tips
- Let the apple crisp cool for at least 10-15 minutes before serving. This gives the filling time to thicken slightly, making it much easier to scoop.
- Using two different kinds of apples gives the best flavor and texture. I love combining Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples.
- Apple crisp is best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream.
How to Serve Gluten Free Apple Crisp
My all-time favorite way to serve this apple crisp is warm, with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. You can get creative and try different flavors of ice cream, like butter pecan or salted caramel. You could also go with a dollop of whipped cream.
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
Here is how you can store your leftovers (if you have any!):
- Room temperature: You can cover loosely with foil and keep on the counter for up to 1 day.
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The topping may soften slightly but it will still be delicious.
- Freezer: You should be able to freeze the baked apple crisp, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 3 months. For best results, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and serving.
Reheating Tip: Warm individual servings in the microwave, or place the whole dish in a 350ยฐF for 15 minutes to re-crisp the topping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for best results, peel the apples before chopping up, as peeling helps create a softer filling.
Oats are naturally gluten free but can sometimes be cross-contaminated. For this reason, be sure you're grabbing oats that are clearly labeled as "gluten free" on the package.
Crisps tend to have oats in the topping, while crumbles don't.
Yes! You can assemble the apple crisp up to one day in advance and refrigerate it before baking. Or bake it completely, let it cool, and reheat it before serving.
Use the table above for reference. I like to mix Honeycrisp and Granny Smith.
Yes! All you need to do to make this apple crisp dairy free is to substitute your favorite non-dairy butter.
Yes! You can freeze baked apple crisp for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely, then wrap the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil, or transfer individual portions to an airtight freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. To help crisp up the topping again, warm the apple crisp in a 350ยฐF oven for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
Did you try my gluten free apple crisp? Leave a comment below and tag me on Instagram @justastastyblog and #justastastyblog!
Love cozy fall baking? My cookbook includes 60+ exclusive gluten-free baking recipes you won't find on the blog, including seasonal cakes, cookies, and holiday desserts for every occasion.
More Gluten Free Apple Recipes To Try
๐ Recipe
The Best Gluten Free Apple Crisp
Ingredients
For the topping:
- 1 cup (113g) gluten free rolled oats
- ยพ cup (111g) gluten free flour (I use Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1)
- 1 cup (200g) light brown sugar packed
- ยฝ teaspoon cinnamon
- ยผ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 5 tablespoons (70g) unsalted butter melted
For the filling:
- 6 apples peeled and chopped
- โ cup (66g) light brown sugar packed
- ยฝ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ยผ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
Make the topping:
- Preheat the oven to 350โ. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt together. Add the melted butter and mix until well combined. Set aside.1 cup (113g) gluten free rolled oats, ยพ cup (111g) gluten free flour, 1 cup (200g) light brown sugar, ยฝ teaspoon cinnamon, ยผ teaspoon fine sea salt, 5 tablespoons (70g) unsalted butter
Make the filling:
- In a separate large bowl, toss the chopped apples with the brown sugar, vanilla, and salt.6 apples, โ cup (66g) light brown sugar, ยฝ teaspoon vanilla extract, ยผ teaspoon fine sea salt
Assemble and bake:
- Transfer the apple filling to an 8" square baking pan. Pour the topping evenly on top. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the apples appear soft and bubbling.
Notes
- Dark brown sugar would also work well in this recipe.ย
- You can use any type of apple you like in this apple crisp recipe. I like to use Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or a combination of both to get a perfect balance of sweet (from the Honeycrisp) and tart (from Granny Smith).ย
- Serve the apple crisp on its own or with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or dollop of whipped cream.ย
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.ย
Sebastian says
When it comes to desserts with apple, my family loves them. This is a very easy recipe, and tasted so good. Thank you!
Taleen Benson says
I'm so glad, thank you Sebastian!