Hey friends! Today we’re making my favorite apple-based dessert recipe–vegan gluten-free apple crisp! Personally, I’ve never quite understood the hype around apple pie. Maybe it was the lackluster store-bought crusts of my childhood, but they always left me wanting more.
Apple Crisp is definitely the way to go. The rich flavors of butter and spices melded into the perfect topping, creating a dessert that is not only more flavorful than pie but also boasted a satisfyingly crunchy texture. And the best part? This vegan, gluten-free apple crisp recipe is quick to prepare and accessible to cooks of all skill levels, making it a must-have in any kitchen repertoire.
Although the recipe has changed over time, this vegan gluten-free apple crisp has always been one of my favorites, and I hope it becomes one of yours too!
Why Honeycrisps?
I’ve tried a wide variety of apples, and honeycrisps have been my absolute favorite! In my opinion, the flavor, level of sweetness and slightly firm texture when they are baked make honeycrisps a perfect apple for baking. If you want to use a different type of apple, feel free, but keep in mind that some apples bake differently, and might become incredibly mushy almost like apple sauce, so do your research. It’s also worth noting that while Granny Smiths bake well in general, I don’t use them in this particular recipe, because the tartness throws off the balance of flavors, and the topping ends up needing more sugar to compensate.
This is a super easy recipe to make, and honeycrisp apples stay fresh in the fridge for months, so it’s easy to keep the ingredients on hand for when you get a craving. If you want to explore other baking apple options, checkout these recommendations by Chris Morocco of Bon Appétit.
Baking Spices
Using a different baking spice blend than the one I recommend in the recipe is totally fine, but I would strongly recommend using plenty of cinnamon and grating the nutmeg fresh. (Freshly grated nutmeg is incredibly flavorful!)
Making Vegan Gluten-Free Apple Crisp
The steps for our vegan gluten-free apple crisp recipe are listed below. Again, it’s incredibly easy to make, takes less than 20 minutes to prep and doesn’t require any special skills or equipment: just a mixing bowl, wooden spoon, potato peeler and baking dish. (We’re using an 8”x8” glass baking dish, but you can also just use a pie pan.)
We’ll start by mixing the dry ingredients together, including the gluten-free flour blend, oats, brown sugar, salt and spices.
Once the dry ingredients are mixed, pour the melted butter over the top.
Stir to distribute the melted butter. The mixture should be even with no dry patches.
Cut the apples into eighths, removing the seed and hard core. I do this step after the topping is mixed, so the apples are fresh, but it doesn’t matter too much since you’re baking them anyways.
Layer the apple slices as evenly as possible in the pan, then cover with the topping mixture. Bake at 375° Fahrenheit until apples are softened and topping is golden brown, about 35-40. The image on the right shows what the apple crisp looks like once it’s fully baked. Timing isn’t as crucial with crisps and cobblers as it is with other baked desserts, such as cookies or cakes, so don’t over think it. If it looks done-ish, you’re probably fine, but leaving it in for an extra 5 minutes shouldn’t hurt either.
Equipment & Ingredients
This recipe doesn’t require any special equipment, just a standard 8×8 baking dish, mixing bowls, and a basic wooden spoon. If you’re grating nutmeg fresh, a nutmeg grater will also come in handy.
As for the ingredients, you can find whole nutmeg online. If you need recommendations on gluten-free options, try this Gluten-Free Flour Blend and these Gluten-free Rolled Oats. As for vegan sugar, the store brands at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods are both vegan. If you don’t live near either store, Woodstock is a good alternative.
Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. If you make this vegan gluten-free apple crisp, or if you have any questions, please share in the comments, and don’t forget to tag us on social media at @we_make_pretty. Before you get to dessert, try kicking off your meal with our Sesame Cauliflower Wings or a Tempeh Bacon BLT. Enjoy!
Vegan Gluten-Free Apple Crisp
Equipment
- Nutmeg grater (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 ½ lbs Honeycrisp apples (3-4 apples, depending on size)
- ¾ cup Packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup GF flour blend
- ¾ cup GF rolled oats
- ½ cup Plant-based butter, melted
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- ¾ tsp Nutmeg (fresh if possible!)
- ¼ tsp Ginger
- ⅛ tsp Allspice
- ⅛ tsp Clove
- ¼ tsp Salt (omit if your butter is salted)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375° fahrenheit.
- Peel and core your apples. Cut into wedges, about 8 pieces per apple. Arrange apple wedges evenly in an 8”x8” glass pan. (No need to oil the pan.)
- Combine the dry ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl and stir with a wooden spoon, mixing together everything except your plant butter. If your butter is unsalted, add the 1/4 teaspoon of salt as well.
- Once the dry ingredients are combined, add the melted plant butter and stir until you end up with a nice crumble. Spread the mixture evenly over the top of the apple slices.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes at 375 degrees. Serve alone or with ice cream. Enjoy!
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