The Best Gluten Free Apple Crisp (Easy & Delicious)

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If you're craving a cozy fall dessert, this easy gluten free apple crisp is the ultimate comfort food. Juicy apples are baked under a golden, buttery oat topping that's crisp on the outside and perfectly sweet on the inside. Whether you need a crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving dessert or just want to use up fresh apples, this homemade apple crisp is guaranteed to impress (and no one will guess it's gluten free!).

I'm such a sucker for a good, warm apple dessert. Whether it's apple pie cheesecake, apple cobbler, or a good old fashioned apple crisp like this one, I will never turn it down.

While I do love pumpkin pie, I love whipping up apple crisp for Thanksgiving, too. There's just something about that gooey, apple-cinnamon filling paired with the sweet and crispy oat topping that's irresistible.

I'm going to walk you through how to make this super easy and extra delicious gluten free apple crisp. And if you are a fan of this recipe, be sure to check out my gluten free fall dessert round-up for even more cozy apple treats.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Gluten Free Apple Crisp
• Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Variations & Substitutions
• How to Serve Gluten Free Apple Crisp
• How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Gluten Free Apple Recipes To Try
• 📖 Recipe

Why You'll Love This Gluten Free Apple Crisp

• That perfect golden oat topping is simply irresistible, especially paired with the warm, soft apples.
• This is a cozy fall dessert that's made with just a handful of ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your kitchen.
• No one will know it's gluten free! Between the perfect texture and mouth-watering taste, even your non-gluten free guests will be asking for seconds.
• This recipe is so easy to customize for dairy-free/vegan diets. Read on for substitution tips below.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

For the Apple Filling

• Apples: When it comes to the best apples to use in this apple crisp, anything goes! You can incorporate your favorite apple or do a mix of two different kinds. I like to use Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or a mix of both.
• 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

For the Crisp Topping

• 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.
• Gluten free flour: Regular readers know I love my Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 flour. Use your favorite gluten free flour but make sure it has xanthan gum in it.
• Brown sugar: Again, you can use either light or dark brown sugar.
• Cinnamon
• Salt
• Melted butter

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 apples are soft.

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.

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 350°F for 15 minutes to re-crisp the topping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did you try my gluten free apple crisp? Leave a comment below and tag me on Instagram @justastastyblog and #justastastyblog!

More Gluten Free Apple Recipes To Try

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