With tender spiced apples and a cinnamon brown sugar oat topping, this apple crisp recipe is an easy fall dessert everyone will love!

Overhead view of apple crisp in bowl with scoop of vanilla ice cream

Apple crisp is a classic autumn dessert that’s easier than making apple pie because it swaps the pie crust for a crumbly oat topping. You get the same cinnamon-spiced baked apples, just in a form that’s a little more doable for busy days!

Why You’ll Love This Apple Crisp Recipe

  • Cozy fall flavour. The warm spices and sweet-tart apples make this vegan apple crisp impossible to resist!
  • Easy to make. You don’t have to roll out pie crust with an apple crisp! Just sprinkle the oat mixture over the top of the apples, and it bakes up perfectly.
  • A balance of textures. The combination of soft baked apples and crunchy oat topping creates a satisfying contrast in textures. (Don’t forget to add a scoop of vegan ice cream or coconut whipped cream on top for another layer of texture, too!)
Overhead view of ingredients for apple crisp with labels

Notes on Ingredients

Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

For the Apple Filling:

  • Apples – Granny Smith apples are great if you like tart flavor, or Honeycrisp for a more balanced sweet- tart flavor.
  • Sweetener – Maple syrup or brown sugar.
  • Lemon juice
  • Spices – Ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg add warmth to the filling.
  • Vanilla extract
  • Cornstarch or tapioca flour – This thickens the filling.

For the Crisp Topping:

  • Rolled oats – Also known as old-fashioned oats.
  • All-purpose flour – I haven’t tried it myself, but I think a 1:1 gluten-free flour would also work in this recipe if you want to make a gluten-free vegan apple crisp.
  • Coconut sugar or brown sugar
  • Ground cinnamon 
  • Salt
  • Coconut oil
  • Sweetener – Maple syrup or agave nectar.

How to Make an Apple Crisp

  • Prepare the apple filling. Toss the peeled, sliced apples with all of the other filling ingredients, and spread them into a greased square baking dish.
  • Make the topping. Combine the rolled oats, flour, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Then, stir in the melted coconut oil and maple syrup.
  • Assemble the crisp. Sprinkle the crisp topping over the apples.
  • Bake. Bake the apple crisp in a 350ºF oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the apples are tender.
  • Serve. Cool for 10 minutes, then serve.
Overhead view of apple crisp in baking dish

Tips and Variations

  • Use high-quality apples. There’s no way to make bland, lackluster apples into a delicious apple crisp. It just won’t work! The apples should taste good raw if you’re using them for baking.
  • Cut the apples to uniform size. This ensures they’re all baked through at the same time.
  • Add some crunch. Sliced walnuts, chopped pecans, or chopped walnuts can be added to the topping for additional crunch and some nutty flavour. (You may need to tent the baking dish if the nuts start browning too quickly in the oven.)
  • Switch up the fruit. A firm pear can be a great addition to the apple filling. Simply use half apples and half pears for a twist on the classic apple crisp.
Vegan apple crisp on plate with ice cream

How to Store

  • Refrigerate: Store leftover apple crisp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Freeze: You can also freeze this dessert by wrapping it tightly with plastic wrap or transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep well for up to 3 months. 
  • Reheat: Allow frozen apple crisp to thaw in the refrigerator. Warm leftovers in a 350ºF oven or in the microwave until heated through.
Vegan apple crisp on plate with ice cream

Enjoy friends! If you make this apple crisp, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!

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Spoon digging into vegan apple crisp in baking dish

Apple Crisp

With tender spiced apples and a cinnamon brown sugar oat topping, this apple crisp recipe is an easy fall dessert everyone will love!
5 (from 1 rating)

Ingredients

For the Apple Filling:

  • 4 large apples, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, 6 cups when sliced, peeled, cored, and sliced
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup, or brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch, or tapioca flour

For the Crisp Topping:

  • 1 cup rolled oats, 90g
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour, 60g
  • ½ cup coconut sugar, or brown sugar, 85g
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • cup coconut oil, melted, 44g
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup, or agave nectar

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 9×9-inch baking dish.
  • In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with maple syrup, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and cornstarch until the apples are evenly coated.
  • Spread the apple mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
  • In another bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
  • Add the melted coconut oil and maple syrup to the dry ingredients. Stir until the mixture is well combined and crumbly.
  • Evenly sprinkle the crisp topping over the apples in the baking dish, covering them completely.
  • Bake the apple crisp in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
  • Allow the apple crisp to cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
  • Serve warm, optionally with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream or a dollop of vegan whipped cream.

Notes

  • Refrigerate: Store leftover apple crisp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Freeze: You can also freeze this dessert by wrapping it tightly with plastic wrap or transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep well for up to 3 months. 
  • Reheat: Allow frozen apple crisp to thaw in the refrigerator. Warm leftovers in a 350ºF oven or in the microwave until heated through.
Calories: 343kcal, Carbohydrates: 57g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 127mg, Potassium: 227mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 30g, Vitamin A: 68IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 38mg, Iron: 1mg

Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.