Healthy Paleo Apple Crisp (Nut Free)

This healthy paleo apple crisp recipe has a juicy apple filling that's lightly sweetened with honey and topped with a nut free crumble topping. This recipe is paleo, gluten free, nut free and easily made vegan.

We've made apple picking a yearly tradition around here.

It's a great fall activity for the family, as my kids love picking the best looking apples they can find (and eating quite a few along the way) and I love having excess apples for baking.

Last year, I used our apples in a paleo apple pie (which is REALLY good and super easy to make, FYI) and this year I decided to create a healthy paleo apple crisp.

Recipe Highlights

Here's what you need to know about this easy apple crisp recipe:

• paleo and easily made vegan (swap honey for maple syrup)
• grain free & gluten free: no oats or flour in the crumble topping
• nut free: no almond flour, the crumble is made with tigernut flour and tapioca flour
• dairy free: this healthy apple crisp is made without butter or milk

My recipe is lower in sugar than you're average apple crisp. It's sweetened with honey (maple syrup for vegan) but you can omit it, making this a no sugar apple crisp.

Also, if you prefer a paleo apple cobbler, then you can use the filling for this recipe and the biscuit topping for my blueberry cobbler recipe.

Ingredients

Here's what you need to make this baked apple crisp:

Apple Filling

• apples - I used Honeycrisp but any variety will work
• non-hydrogenated shortening - I like Nutiva shortening, but any plant based butter or regular butter (if you aren't dairy free) will work
• lemon juice - I use freshly squeezed lemon juice
• raw honey (or maple syrup)
• vanilla extract
• tapioca flour (or arrowroot starch)
• apple pie spice (or cinnamon)
• salt

Crumble Topping

• tigernut flour (or almond flour)
• unsweetened shredded coconut
• tapioca flour (or arrowroot starch)
• apple pie spice (or cinnamon)
• salt
• non-hydrogenated shortening
• raw honey

The apple filling is made from fresh, juicy apples. I love the flavor of Honeycrisp apples for an apple crisp, but any tart/sweet variety will work. Lemon juice and honey really compliment the apples, adding more zing and flavor. And lastly, tapioca flour works as a thickener, which is needed to create more of a gooey filling once cooked.

As for the crumble topping, it's made with a combination of tigernut flour and tapioca flour. Despite its name, tigernut flour is completely nut free. Tigernut flour is made from dried and ground tigernuts, which are small root vegetables. I love it for baking since it's allergy friendly and has a naturally sweet, nutty flavor. That being said, the tigernut flour may be swapped with almond flour.

How to Make a Paleo Apple Crisp

This healthy baked apple crisp is super easy to make, healthy and tastes amazing - no one will guess that it's paleo.

Before you begin making the crisp, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grab a small baking dish, either 11" x 7" or 8" x 8" and grease it with non-hydrogenated shortening (or butter). I used an 11x7 ceramic baking dish, but have also made this recipe in an 8-inch square glass dish. If you only have a large baking dish, then double this recipe.

Make the Apple Filling

Next, make the apple filling. Wash, core and chop the apples (see photos below). I did not remove the skin, but you can if you wish. To chop the apples, cut the apple in half, remove the core, then thinly slice the apples top to bottom. Lastly, cut the apple slices in thirds.

Next, combine the apples with the remaining filling ingredients. Mix with a spatula until the apple pieces are well coated.

Place the filling in the lined baking dish and set aside.

Make the Crumble Topping

Next, make the crumble topping.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine all dry topping ingredients. This includes the tigernut flour, shredded coconut, tapioca flour, apple pie spice and salt.

Mix in the shortening and honey using a fork or spatula. Combine the topping ingredients until they are just mixed.

Then, crumble the topping over the filling.

Bake the Crisp

Next, bake the apple crisp. Place the crisp in the preheated oven and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

After baking, remove the crisp from the oven and cool in the baking dish. You may serve the crisp warm, room temperature or chilled. (It's excellent after a night in the fridge, so making this crisp ahead of time works well.)

Paleo Apple Crisp Toppings

I topped this paleo apple crisp with dairy free vanilla ice cream. I also love adding a dollop of coconut cream (just the cream from a can of full fat coconut milk).

Storage

This gluten free apple crisp needs to be stored in the fridge. It will last well up to a week.

Keep the crisp in the baking dish and cover with bees wax wrap, foil or plastic wrap. Or, place the crisp in an air-tight glass container.

More Paleo Apple Recipes

• Paleo Apple Pie with Crumb Topping
• Cinnamon Apple Bagels
• Apple Pie Bars
• Cinnamon Apple Pancakes

Enjoy!

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