If you love fall desserts, you will want to make a double batch of this gluten free apple crisp recipe. It is full of juicy apples and brown sugar cinnamon. The oat topping adds just the right amount of crispiness.
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I am so excited for apple season. You can taste the freshness difference when fall apples are ripe. Apple season usually begins mid-to-late August and goes through early November.
If you love apples as much as we do, my kids wanted me to tell you that you also need to make my popular Gluten Free French Apple Cake recipe.
One of the big questions many ask when making apple crisp is to peel or not peel the apples. There really isn't a correct way. I do not peel my apples because I like the extra fiber by keeping the apple peels on. Check out my gluten free apple crisp web story too!
Why This Gluten Free Apple Crisp Is Amazing:
- You need to try this gluten free apple crisp recipe because it is just that good! I love a lot of the crispy topping, so you will note there is more of the topping than many recipes.
- This gf apple crisp is delicious warm or cold! Top it with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, and it will be a huge hit. It tastes incredible any way you eat it!
- If you are in a hurry, you can speed the process up by buying pre-sliced apples at your grocery store. This is also a great recipe to use canned apple pie filling!
- The crisp topping is thick and full of sweet brown sugar and cinnamon flavors. It makes a nice crunchy topping that really accents the apple flavor.
If you love apples as much as we do, check out all of my best gluten free apple recipes!
Ingredients Notes:
- Gluten Free Flour Blend - I tested this recipe using King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours. Note: You do not need to use a blend with xanthan gum in this gluten free apple crisp recipe.
- Gluten Free Rolled Oats - It is critical to use certified gluten free oats if you are Celiac. Cross-contamination runs high in regular oats. I use regular rolled oats, not quick oats.
- Brown Sugar - This recipe can use light or dark brown sugar. If you are wondering is brown sugar gluten free, you can read more about this.
- Sugar - Don't use coarse sugar. Regular white can sugar is best.
- Butter - Use unsalted butter. I have not tested swapping coconut oil. If you are dairy-free, use vegan butter.
- Salt - I use sea salt, but kosher salt is also good in this recipe.
- Apples - It is up to you what variety of apples you use. I recommend using tart apples for this gluten free apple crisp recipe. Granny Smith apples, Gravenstein, and Pink Lady are my favorites for adding tart flavor.
While you are drooling over this apple crisp recipe, you should also try my easy Gluten Free Apple Pie recipe!
Step By Step Recipe Directions:
Step 1: Slice your apples into either small pieces or thin slices. Put them into a large bowl.
HINT: Leave the peels on for added fiber!
Step 2: Toss the apples with sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Optional, if you like the apple filling a little creamy, add 2 tablespoon melted butter and mix it with the apple mixture.
Step 3: Add your apples to a greased 9x13 baking dish.
Step 4: In a medium bowl, add the dry ingredients, including oats, gluten free flour, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Whisk to blend them together.
Step 5: My favorite way to blend the butter is using a pastry blender to cut the cold butter into the oats mixture.
Step 6: Your butter will resemble crumbs in the oat mixture.
Step 6: Sprinkle the oat crumb mixture over the apples.
Step 7: Bake at 350º F for 45 minutes until done.
Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. If you are looking for more apple recipe ideas, try this easy Gluten Free Apple Cobbler.
Variations:
- Use a combination of fruit like adding peaches or blueberries. Blueberries are my personal favorite mix-in with the apples.
- Add in dried fruit like raisins.
- Add chopped walnuts or pecans.
- Feel free to add a drizzle of caramel sauce!
- Try my Gluten Free Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp for a fun new flavor combination!
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
Apple crisp is made with oats, whereas a crumble is made with a streusel topping.
The best apples for my gluten free apple crisp recipe are tart apples like Granny Smith, Fuji, and Pink Lady.
The gluten free flour in the crisp mixture will thicken your apples as they bake together.
You can easily make this recipe dairy-free by using dairy-free or vegan butter.
You can use canned apples, but it is best not to add additional sugar to the apples if you use them.
Store this apple crisp in an airtight container. This apple crisp will keep up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Wrap the top of the casserole dish tightly with foil, or move the apple crisp into an airtight container.
Yes, for best results, substitute the oats by using this gluten free crumb topping instead.
If you love fall baking, give my delicious creamy Gluten Free Pumpkin Cobbler recipe a try too!
More Gluten Free Apple Recipes:
- Gluten Free Apple Cake
- Easy Gluten Free Apple Muffins
- Gluten Free Hatch Chile Apple Pie
- Gluten Free Apple Galette
📖 Recipe
The Best Gluten Free Apple Crisp
Equipment
- 9x13 baking dish
Ingredients
- ¾ cup gluten free flour blend * see note
- 1 cup gluten free rolled oats * see note
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- dash of salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon (1 teaspoon in the crisp topping and ½ teaspoon in the apples.)
- ½ cup butter *see note
- 6 cups chopped apples peeled or unpeeled
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350º F.
- In a large bowl, combine the gluten free flour blend, gluten free oats, brown sugar and cinnmon. Whisk to blend.
- Take your softened butter and use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the oat mixture.
- Spray the baking dish with cooking spray. Add your apples to a bowl and toss with sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Optional, if you like the filling a little creamier, melt 2 tablespoon of butter and toss it with the apples.
- Add the chopped apples to the baking dish.
- Sprinkle the crisp topping over the apples. Spread it out so it evenly coats the apples.
- Bake 45 minutes until the apples are tender.
- Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
- I like to use tart apples like Granny Smith, Gravenstein, or Pink Lady for this recipe.
- I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- It is critical to use certified gluten free oats if you are Celiac. Cross-contamination runs high in regular oats. Use whole rolled oats, not quick oats.
- Use vegan butter for dairy-free!
- This gluten free apple crisp will keep up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Raisins
- Walnuts or pecans
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
Note this post was updated from an older August 2021 post with more detailed directions.
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Jill
There is a picture of salt as one of the ingredients and it is included in the directions (step 4) but it is not included in the list of ingredients with the amount required.
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you Jill, it is just a small dash of salt. There really wasn't a measure (1/8 tsp is too much so I just did a quick dash.)
Nellie Tracy
Great recipe to have on hand this fall! Delicious!
Sandi Gaertner
It really is a great recipe for fall.
Diana
My gluten-free friends loved this amazing dessert!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you enjoyed it Diana 🙂