Vegan Apple Crisp

Name: Vegan Apple Crisp
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 5 cups chopped apples (3 to 4 large apples); 1 1/2 Tbsp arrowroot powder (or tapioca starch); 1/4 cup cold water; 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg; 1/2 tsp ground ginger; 1 tsp ground cinnamon, divided in half; 1/2 cup Simple Homemade Date Syrup, divided in half; 1 Tbsp of fresh lemon juice (1/2 of a lemon); 1 cup rolled oats, divided; 1/3 cup chopped walnuts; 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce; 1/8 tsp salt (optional)

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This healthy vegan apple crisp is a delicious winner! It's gluten-free, soy-free, oil-free, and made with no refined sugar.

top side view of a vegan apple crisp in a casserole dish with spoon lifting some out; apples blurred in the background

This recipe makes four generous-sized dessert portions or six smaller portions.

What you need to make this healthy apple crisp

Apples
Simple Homemade Date Syrup
Rolled oats (use gluten-free, if gluten-sensitive)
Walnuts (or pecans)
Lemon
Cinnamon, ground
Nutmeg, ground
Ginger, ground
Arrowroot powder (or tapioca starch)

top view close up of ingredients for apple crisp: apples, oats, nuts, spices, lemon, date syrup

Any apple will do with this recipe. You can also substitute with pears. The unsweetened apple sauce with the Simple Homemade Date Syrup acts as the binder and sweetener for the oat crumble topping. The walnuts provide a nice crunch and add some heart-healthy omega-3 ALAs. The arrowroot powder (or tapioca starch) helps to thicken the yummy sauce that coats the apples.

How to make this dessert

Preheat the oven to 350 F (175 C).

Prepare the apples

Chop apples into ½- to 1-inch (1.3 to 1.5 cm) chunks or slices. Place them into a 1.25 quart (or 1.1 liter) casserole dish. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, make a slurry by combining the arrowroot powder with cold water. Then add ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ½ of the ground cinnamon, and ½ of the Simple Homemade Date Syrup and give it a good stir.

Pour the slurry over the apples in the casserole dish.

Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the apples in the casserole dish.

Make the oat crumble topping

Take about ¼ of the rolled oats and grind or process them in a mini blender or mini food processor.

Add the ground rolled oats with the intact rolled oats to the same mixing bowl. Add the chopped walnuts, unsweetened apple sauce, ½ of the cinnamon, and ½ of the Simple Homemade Date Syrup. Stir well to combine.

Dollup and spread the oat crumble over the apples in the casserole dish.

Bake uncovered at 350 F (175 C) for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and let it set for 10 minutes before serving.

top view of a mixing bowl with a slurry of arrowroot powder, water, date syrup and spices; spoon in position to stir it — In a mixing bowl, make a slurry by combining the arrowroot powder with cold water. Then add ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ½ of the ground cinnamon, and ½ of the Simple Homemade Date Syrup and give it a good stir.

side top view of a slurry being poured over a casserole dish with chopped apples — Pour the slurry over the apples in the casserole dish. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the apples.

top view of a mixing bowl with date syrup, oats, walnuts and apple sauce — Add the ground rolled oats with the intact rolled oats to the same mixing bowl. Add the chopped walnuts, unsweetened apple sauce, ½ of the cinnamon, and ½ of the Simple Homemade Date Syrup.

top view of a mixing bowl with oat crumble mixture for the apple crisp — Stir well to combine.

top side view of oat crumble mixture being spooned onto a casserole dish with chopped apples — Dollup and spread the oat crumble over the apples in the casserole dish.

side view of apple crisp going into the oven to bake — Bake uncovered at 350 F (175 C) for 30-35 minutes.

top view of vegan apple crisp in a white rectangular casserole dish; grey towel and apples blurred in the background — This healthy apple crisp was baked for 30 minutes in a convection oven at 350 F.

Enjoy this delicious, healthy apple crisp with a scoop of Banana Nice Cream.

top view close up of vegan apple crisp in a bowl with banana nice cream on top

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this apple crisp recipe healthy?

The ingredients in this apple crisp are made with whole plant foods. Many recipes strip the beneficial nutrients and add ingredients that are high in saturated fat, like butter. This recipe also leaves the skin of the apple on since that's where much of the nutrients are. According to the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, removing the skin of the apple removes fiber and most of the beneficial flavonoids.

How do you store leftovers?

This healthy apple crisp stores well in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to four days. You can also freeze this dessert in a freezer-safe container for up to four months.

Other healthy desserts to check out

We hope you love this vegan apple crisp as much as we do. Please rate and leave a comment below. Be sure to share a picture on Instagram and tag us @danielsplaterecipes so we can see your creation!

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