This gluten free apple crisp recipe is flavorful, sweet, and the most perfect fall dessert

When fall rolls around, nothing beats the comforting warmth of a homemade apple crisp. This gluten-free version is simple, delicious, and bursting with the flavors of the season. Made with sweet apples, warm spices, and a crunchy topping, it’s the perfect dessert for those who want all the taste without the gluten. Whether you’re serving it up for a special occasion or enjoying it on a cozy evening at home, this gluten-free apple crisp will quickly become a family favorite.

Feel free to make this delicious dessert for anyone, as nobody will be able to tell that it is gluten free. Apple crisp is my personal favorite fall dessert, and I spent some time creating the most perfect recipe!

There are two parts to this recipe: the apple filling and, of course, the crisp!

Gluten Free Apple Crisp Filling

The filling of this recipe is thinly sliced apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, granulated sugar, vanilla, and just a bit of lemon juice. Peeling the apples is recommended, but not required. The difference will only be in the texture, as sometimes apple skins do not bake well.

Apple Crisp Topping

This crispy topping is made from gluten free all purpose flour, oats, butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar. You will want to whisk everything except the butter together first, and then add the butter at the end. I use very, very soft butter for the topping and even then I find I have to use my hands to completely combine it with the rest of the mixture.

The texture will resemble crumbly cookie dough when finished. You will put this on top of the apples and form it to cover any open spots.

How to Serve Gluten Free Apple Crisp

Myself and many others agree that while you cannot go wrong eating the apple crisp by itself, it is most delicious when served with ice cream. The combination of textures and temperatures creates the most satisfying experience.

Plain vanilla ice cream is perfect for this. However, a caramel flavor would certainly hit the spot too.

Gluten Free Apple Crisp Step by Step

Prepare the topping

Measure out the ingredients: gluten free oats, gluten free flour, cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter.
Next, mix every ingredient except for the butter together until evenly combined.
Add the butter and mix. You may have to use your hands towards the end to really work it into the mixture.
Finally, set this aside while you make the filling.

Prepare the filling

Peel and cut your apples. Peeling is recommended so that the skins do not get in the way of the velvety texture of the softened apples once everything is baked.
After that, combine the apples with all of the filling ingredients: lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and granulated sugar.

Once you have prepared both the filling and the topping, you can put the apples in a baking dish. You can really use any baking dish that is the appropriate size. I love baking these in pie pans, but this time I used a rectangular glass baking dish.

Cover the apples with the topping completely, covering up any spots. Place in the oven at 350 degrees fahrenheit and bake for 45-50 minutes. The apples should be bubbling, and the topping should be ever so slightly brown.

Apple Crisp Ingredients Explained

Apples: The type of apples used is up to you! You may enjoy the crisp sweetness of Honeycrisp or the more tart Granny Smith. No matter what kind you use, the crisp will come out perfectly delicious. For this recipe, we are using 6 medium sized apples.

Oats: Oats are the main event in this dessert! The oats pair perfectly with the flour to make crispy goodness!

Gluten Free All Purpose Flour: As mentioned above, flour helps the oats make the perfect crumbly texture. Usually in my gluten free recipes, the type of gluten free flour used is crucial. For this recipe, the specific brand of flour will not make much of a difference since we are not making something cake like.

Brown Sugar: There are two types of sugar in this recipe, brown and granulated white. The brown sugar will create depth in the flavor of the topping, really pairing well with the cinnamon and nutmeg.

Granulated Sugar: There is only a little bit of granulated sugar here, and it is in the filling. It helps add sweetness to the naturally sweet apples.

Lemon Juice: Our acidic ingredient to balance all of the sweetness. Lemon is the most perfect acid to add to an apple dish. Pro tip: if slicing the apples ahead of time, add the lemon juice to keep them fresh and prevent browning.

Cinnamon: There is certainly lots of cinnamon here. It is the perfect spice for the apple flavor and the crunchy, buttery topping. Nothing can beat cinnamon and apple!

Nutmeg: The nutmeg is used to enhance the cinnamon flavor and add depth.

Vanilla: We are using just a bit of vanilla here, and it is in the filling. The amount we use may seem insignificant, but the level flavor it brings out in combination with the spices is unbeatable.

Butter: The topping is where you can find the butter here. It not only binds the mixture, but makes the topping ultra rich and satisfying.

Apple Crisp Filling Ingredients

Apples, lemon juice, granulated sugar, vanilla, cinnamon.

Apple Crisp Topping Ingredients

Gluten free oats, gluten free all purpose flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter.

Make sure your oats are gluten free

In order for this crisp to be completely gluten free, make sure the oats you use are certified gluten free.

Many people assume that all oats are safe for the consumptions of a gluten free person, but that is incorrect. The oats are typically contaminated with other gluten-containing grains during processing. Certified gluten free oats will be processed with this issue in mind, and will. be safe for those who are gluten free.

For another gluten free fall recipe, check out my gluten free snickerdoodle cupcakes.