There’s nothing quite like the aroma of a warm apple crisp baking in the oven. That cozy scent of sweet apples and cinnamon is the very definition of comfort. But often, this beloved dessert can be loaded with refined sugar and flour, leaving you feeling heavy and sluggish. What if you could enjoy all the warm, bubbly, and satisfying goodness of a classic apple crisp in a version you can truly feel good about?
- What You’ll Need: Ingredients
- Timing
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat Oven and Prepare Your Baking Dish
- Step 2: Create the Wholesome Crumble Topping
- Step 3: Prepare the Maple-Kissed Apple Filling
- Step 4: Assemble and Bake Your Healthy Apple Crisp
- Step 5: Cool and Serve Warm
- A Wholesome and Delicious Dessert
- Dietary Swaps and Customizations
- Serving Suggestions
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Storing and Reheating Tips
- Conclusion
- FAQs
- Q1. Can I use a different type of nut or make this crisp nut-free?
- Q2. Can I prepare this apple crisp ahead of time?
- Q3. Can I use a different sweetener in the filling?
- Healthy Apple Crisp with Maple and Pecans
This is it. This Healthier Maple Pecan Apple Crisp is here to prove that a wholesome dessert can be every bit as delicious and comforting as the original. We’re swapping out refined sugars in the filling for the rich, natural sweetness of pure maple syrup, and using whole wheat flour and oats for a hearty, fiber-rich topping. This is the perfect, guilt-free healthy apple crisp that will become your new go-to recipe for cozy nights in.
What You’ll Need: Ingredients
This recipe uses wholesome, simple ingredients to create a dessert that is both delicious and nourishing. The combination of whole grains, natural sweeteners, and fresh fruit is a true winner.
| Component | Ingredient | Amount/Quantity |
| For the Pecan Oat Topping | Whole wheat flour | 1/3 cup |
| Dark brown sugar, packed | 1/3 cup | |
| Rolled oats (old-fashioned) | 1/2 cup | |
| Ground cinnamon | 1/2 teaspoon | |
| Chopped pecans | 1/4 cup | |
| Cold butter or vegan butter, in small cubes | 1/4 cup | |
| For the Maple Apple Filling | Medium Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Granny Smith apples | 5, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced |
| Pure maple syrup | 1/4 cup | |
| Ground cinnamon | 1 teaspoon | |
| Pure vanilla extract or bourbon (optional) | 1 tablespoon |
Timing
This comforting dessert is quick to prepare, with most of the time spent letting the oven do the magical work of making the fruit bubbly and the topping golden and crisp.
- Preparation Time: 15 minutes
- Bake Time: 45-55 minutes
- Cooling Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: Approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create a warm, bubbling, and incredibly delicious apple crisp.
Step 1: Preheat Oven and Prepare Your Baking Dish
First, get your oven ready for baking. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease an 8×8-inch square baking pan or a similar-sized baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. It’s also a great idea to place your baking dish on a larger, rimmed baking sheet to catch any potential drips from the bubbling fruit filling.
Step 2: Create the Wholesome Crumble Topping
In a large bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped pecans. Whisk them together until they are evenly mixed. Add the small cubes of cold butter. Using your fingertips, a pastry cutter, or two knives, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture becomes crumbly and resembles wet sand with some pea-sized pieces of butter still visible.
Pro Tip: Once finished, place the bowl of topping in the fridge to keep the butter cold while you prepare the apple filling. This is a key step for an extra-crispy topping!
Step 3: Prepare the Maple-Kissed Apple Filling
In another large bowl, place your thinly sliced apples. Drizzle the pure maple syrup and the optional vanilla extract or bourbon over the apples. Sprinkle with the 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Gently toss everything together until the apple slices are evenly coated in the sweet, spiced mixture. Now for a fantastic trick to thicken the filling: take a heaping ¼ cup of your chilled crumble topping and toss it in with the apple mixture.
Step 4: Assemble and Bake Your Healthy Apple Crisp
Pour the apple mixture into your prepared baking pan and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining crumble topping evenly over the apples, making sure to cover them completely. Bake for 45-55 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the topping is a beautiful golden brown and the apple filling is hot and bubbling deliciously around the edges.
Step 5: Cool and Serve Warm
Carefully remove the crisp from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Let it cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. This allows the hot, bubbly filling to set up slightly, making it easier to scoop. This dessert is at its absolute best when served warm.
A Wholesome and Delicious Dessert
This healthy apple crisp is a wonderful way to enjoy a sweet treat. Here is an estimated nutritional breakdown per serving, assuming the recipe makes 9 servings.
- Calories: ~260 kcal
- Protein: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g (Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 25g)
- Fat: 11 g (Saturated Fat: 5 g)
Packed with fiber from the apples, oats, and whole wheat flour, this is a dessert you can feel good about.
Dietary Swaps and Customizations
This recipe is incredibly versatile and can be easily adapted to fit various dietary needs.
- For a Gluten-Free Apple Crisp: This is a very simple swap! Just use your favorite measure-for-measure gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in the topping, and make sure that your rolled oats are certified gluten-free.
- For a Vegan Apple Crisp: This recipe is also easily made vegan. Simply use a high-quality vegan butter stick (cut into cold cubes) or a solid, cold coconut oil in place of the regular butter in the topping.
- Nut-Free Option: If you have a nut allergy, you can simply omit the pecans from the topping. For a similar crunchy texture, you could add some raw sunflower or pumpkin seeds instead.
Serving Suggestions
A warm bowl of this healthy apple crisp is a true delight, especially with a simple, creamy topping.
- With Ice Cream: The classic way to serve any crisp is with a scoop of ice cream. To keep it on the healthier side, a high-quality, low-fat vanilla ice cream or a frozen yogurt is a fantastic choice.
- With Greek Yogurt: For a tangy, protein-packed topping, serve the warm crisp with a generous dollop of plain or vanilla Greek yogurt. The cool, creamy yogurt is a perfect contrast to the warm, sweet apples.
- For Breakfast: Leftovers of this healthy apple crisp make an absolutely incredible breakfast! It’s like having a warm bowl of baked oatmeal with apples.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Follow these simple tips to ensure your crisp is perfect every time.
- A Gummy or Pasty Topping: This can happen if your butter is too soft when you start, or if you overmix the topping until it forms a paste.
- Solution: Use butter that is very cold, straight from the refrigerator, and cut it into small cubes. Mix it into the dry ingredients only until coarse crumbs form. Leaving some small, pea-sized pieces of butter is a good thing—this is what creates a crisp, flaky texture.
- A Watery Apple Filling: If your apples are particularly juicy, the filling can sometimes be a bit thin.
- Solution: Don’t skip the step of tossing a heaping ¼ cup of the topping mixture in with the apples! The flour and oats in the topping act as a natural thickener for the juices that the apples release during baking.
- Using the Wrong Kind of Apples: Using a soft, mealy apple variety (like Red Delicious) will cause them to break down into a mushy, applesauce-like texture.
- Solution: Stick to the recommended firm, crisp baking apples like Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Granny Smith. They will become tender while still holding their shape beautifully.
Storing and Reheating Tips
Leftovers of this apple crisp are a wonderful treat and store very well.
- Storing: Cover the cooled crisp with foil or transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: You can reheat individual portions easily in the microwave. To re-crisp the topping on a larger portion, it’s best to place it back in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes, until it’s warmed through.
Conclusion
This Healthier Maple Pecan Apple Crisp is the perfect dessert for anyone who loves cozy, comforting flavours but also wants to make mindful, nourishing choices. The combination of sweet, tender apples, warm cinnamon, and a crunchy, whole-grain topping is a true celebration of the fall season. It’s a simple, rustic, and incredibly satisfying dessert that proves that “healthy” and “delicious” can absolutely go hand in hand.
We are so excited for you to curl up with a warm bowl of this amazing healthy apple crisp. Give this recipe a try and let us know what you think in the comments below! Don’t forget to rate the recipe and subscribe for more easy and wholesome dessert ideas.
FAQs
Q1. Can I use a different type of nut or make this crisp nut-free?
Absolutely! This recipe would be wonderful with chopped walnuts or sliced almonds in place of the pecans. For a completely nut-free version, simply omit the nuts. You could add ¼ cup of raw sunflower or pumpkin seeds for a similar crunch.
Q2. Can I prepare this apple crisp ahead of time?
Yes, this is a great make-ahead dessert. You can fully assemble the entire crisp (without baking it), cover it tightly, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to bake, you may need to add an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time since it will be starting from cold.
Q3. Can I use a different sweetener in the filling?
Yes. While pure maple syrup adds a lovely, distinctive flavour, you could also use an equal amount of honey or agave nectar in the apple filling.
Print
Healthy Apple Crisp with Maple and Pecans
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 9 servings 1x
Description
What You’ll Need: Ingredients. Whole grains, natural sweeteners, and fresh apples come together for a cozy, nourishing apple crisp with a crunchy pecan-oat crumble and maple-kissed filling.
Ingredients
For the Pecan Oat Topping
- 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (old-fashioned)
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup cold butter or vegan butter, in small cubes
For the Maple Apple Filling
- 5 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Granny Smith) (peeled, cored, thinly sliced)
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract or bourbon (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat & prep dish: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan; set on a rimmed baking sheet to catch drips.
- Make pecan-oat topping: In a large bowl combine whole wheat flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. Cut in cold butter with fingertips, a pastry cutter, or 2 knives until mixture looks like wet sand with pea-size bits. Refrigerate while you prep apples.
- Maple apple filling: In another bowl, toss sliced apples with maple syrup, cinnamon, and optional vanilla or bourbon. For a thicker filling, stir in a heaping 1/4 cup of the chilled crumble.
- Assemble & bake: Spread apples in prepared pan; sprinkle remaining crumble evenly over top. Bake 45–55 minutes, until topping is golden and filling bubbles at edges.
- Cool & serve: Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes to set. Serve warm.
Notes
Pep talk: Keeping the crumble cold helps it bake extra crisp. If apples seem very tart, add 1–2 Tbsp more maple syrup. For gluten-free, use certified GF oats and a 1:1 GF flour blend.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 25
- Fat: 11
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 3
