Gluten Free Apple Crisp is a classic dessert made with sweet and saucy spiced apples that are topped with a generously thick layer of buttery crisp oatmeal. It gets its remarkable flavor from a secret ingredient for modern palates.
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There’s nothing more of a letdown when you go to eat a dessert called a “crisp” and it’s, in fact, anything but crisp.
The topping is either too dry, to crumbly and doesn’t stay together, or too much like a streusel or sometimes even like cobbler.
This, my friends, is a true gluten free Apple Crisp that 100% lives up to it’s name. It’s a classic fall comfort dessert that you can make over and over again with the same delicious results.
My perfected recipe has the most glorious crispy topping that borderline resembles oatmeal cookies. It’s a buttery, sweet, toasted oatmeal combination that adds crunch to every bite.
Apple crisp is best served warm out of the oven and isn’t complete unless you serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of homemade sweet whipped cream.
This recipe serves 10 but can easily be cut in half and baked in a 9-inch round pie pan.
Enjoy!
The Secret Ingredient
A great gluten free apple crisp recipe starts with the best apples for baking. But there’s a little secret ingredient in this apple crisp that makes it stand apart from all the rest: citrus zest.
I use a combination of lemon zest and orange zest for freshness and flavor. The lemon zest (and juice) brings a bright burst of freshness while preventing oxidation and adding acidity and balance to the dish.
The orange zest enhances the flavor. Orange may sound like an odd addition to apple crisp, but it’s a magical ingredient.
If you’ve ever had mulled apple cider, you know that oranges pair well with cinnamon. That flavor combination is extraordinary in apple crisp too!
How to Make Gluten Free Apple Crisp (Visual Instructions)
*Be sure to read the full recipe card below for exact measurements and step-by-step instructions.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can make the apple crisp ahead of time so you can prep it in the morning and bake it in the evening. Just prepare the entire recipe up until it’s ready to go in the oven. Then, instead of baking, cover the apple crisp with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake.
Bring the apple crisp to room temperature for about 10 minutes before baking and then follow the baking directions. You may need to add a little extra baking time for it to get hot and bubbly.
Leftovers should be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
If you’ve made this recipe, leaving a star rating and note in the comments below would be so helpful for other gluten free bakers!
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Gluten Free Apple Crisp – Updated Classic
Ingredients
For the Apple Filling
- 3 pounds Apples, peeled and sliced
- 1 ½ teaspoons Orange Zest
- 1 ½ teaspoons Lemon Zest
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
- ½ cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- ¼ cup Cornstarch
For the Crisp Topping
- 1 ½ cups Gluten Free Flour, see notes
- 1 teaspoon Xanthan Gum, omit if your flour blend contains it
- ⅔ cup Granulated Sugar
- ⅔ cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
- 1 cup Gluten Free Old Fashioned Oats
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter (2 sticks), cubed and cold
Instructions
Make the Apple Filling
- Preheat oven to 350° F and butter or spray a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Add the apples, orange zest, lemon zest, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch to a large bowl.
- Mix well to coat all the apples.
- Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish and set aside.
Make the Crisp Topping
- Add the gluten free flour, xanthan gum, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, and gluten free oats to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
- Mix to combine.
- Add the cubed butter and mix on low speed to incorporate.
- It may take about 5 minutes but it will come together and resemble a crumbly cookie dough.
- Crumble it over the top of the apples. Be sure to cover the apples completely.
- Place the baking dish over a rimmed baking sheet (in case it bubbles over) and bake for 40-45 minutes or until the topping is browned/crisp and the apples are bubbling.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream aor homemade whipped cream.
Notes
- 3 pounds of apples is about 8 apples but will depend on the size of your apples.
- I used a combination of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith. Read my guide on the best apples for baking to choose your favorites!
- This recipe was developed with my Nightshade Free Gluten Free Flour. Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Baking Flour and King Arthur Measure for Measure also work great.
- Use purity protocol oats to make this recipe Celiac safe.
Recommended Products
Nutrition Information
Disclaimers
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Facts are estimated and aren’t always accurate. Please consult a doctor or nutritionist if you have special dietary needs.
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