Healthy Apple Crisp with Pecan Oat Topping

Everyone asks for the recipe for this easy Healthy Apple Crisp with bubbly apple cinnamon filling and toasty pecan oat topping! With half the sugar of classic crisps plus nourishing ingredients like oats, nuts, and whole grain flour, it's a total crowd pleaser. It tastes incredible with vanilla ice cream on top! You can even freeze the filling and topping to bake later.

Is there anything better than a warm bowl of apple crisp with gorgeously gooey apple cinnamon filling and toasty oat topping? No, there is not.

Let's be real, we've got quite a few healthy dessert recipes that are total keepers (ahem, have you laid mouth on my sweet cherry crisp with oats?). But this healthy apple crisp is one of those "there's no way this is healthy!" moments. SHOCKINGLY delish.

Be prepared to share the recipe with anyone and everyone!

The low down on VIP ingredients

• Apples: The apple crisp gods swear by a combo of firm sweet and tart apples for a more complex flavor. (No one wants a one note crisp!) I tested this recipe with Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples, which both hold up great and are readily available.
• Rolled oats: Another must in crisps, it took a bit of trial and error to get the ideal flour to oat ratio but we did it! Twice the amount of oats as flour is my favorite for texture perfection.
• Brown sugar: I just love brown sugar when I'm baking crisps for the ultimate caramel flavor and ideal texture. I've tested this with light and dark brown sugar and both work great. When I tested this with granulated sugar, it was less caramel-y and enjoyable. What sets this healthier apple crisp apart is that it's sweet but not overly so!
• Nuts: To me, nuts aren't optional--their one of my secret weapons for flavor and textural intrigue. I've tested this recipe with walnuts and pecans and loved the results with both!

Let's make it!

Happy fall baking AKA surely the coziest time of year!

Healthy Apple Crisp with Pecan Oat Topping

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews

• Author: Alexis Joseph
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 9 servings 1x
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Oven
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Everyone asks for the recipe for this easy Healthy Apple Crisp with bubbly apple cinnamon filling and toasty pecan oat topping! With half the sugar of classic crisps plus nourishing ingredients like whole grain flour, it's a total crowd pleaser. It tastes incredible with vanilla ice cream on top! You can even freeze the filling and topping to bake later.

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

For the filling:

• 4 large apples, peeled and chopped into ½ inch chunks* (I did 3 Honeycrisp and 1 Granny Smith)
• 2 tbsp whole wheat flour (or all purpose)
• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp nutmeg
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

For the topping:

• ⅔ cup old fashioned oats
• ⅓ cup whole wheat flour (or all purpose)
• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• ⅓ cup pecans or walnuts, finely chopped
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp fine sea salt
• 4 tbsp cold unsalted butter, chopped into small pieces

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and grease an 8x8 inch baking dish (or a pie plate or 10-inch cast iron skillet) with cooking spray.
2. Make filling: place apples in a medium mixing bowl. Sprinkle with flour then add brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Toss to combine (I use my hands) and dump into prepared baking dish.
3. Make topping: in the same bowl you used for filling, add oats, flour, brown sugar, nuts, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk to combine.
4. Add cubed butter and use your hands to combine well (this may take a bit but it'll soften up!) until a nice uniform dough forms with the butter all distributed. Sprinkle topping evenly over the apples.
5. Bake for 50-60 minutes. (You want the apples to be tender.). Allow crisp to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before topping with vanilla ice cream and digging in! Store leftovers in an airtight container (or cover the dish with foil) in the fridge for up to 4 days.

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Notes

*5-6 cups of chopped apples

To freeze: It's best to freeze in unbaked so the topping doesn't get too browned. Prepare filling and topping and place in a separate gallon freezer bags (be sure to press the air out of the bag). Lay flat and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw overnight in the fridge and bake per the recipe.

Recipe adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction