Apple crumble healthy vegan is an amazing combination because each one of them has different flavors. Apple crumble recipe with oats is freshly prepared and the apples taste really good. Even the crumble tastes amazing. Healthy vegan apple crisp is one of those classic desserts. It has been around for decades so it’s safe to say that it’s popular. Vegan food is also millennial pink and an internet favorite, making this Apple crumble healthy vegan recipe catch a lot of attention. At the end of this amazing recipe, we have a list of health benefits of apples for you.
Healthy Vegan Apple Crisp
Easy Vegan Apple Crisp. Healthy apple crisp made with coconut oil, maple syrup, juicy apples, and lots of warm spices. Simple, gluten free, and DELICIOUS.
PREP: 20 mins
COOK: 40 mins
TOTAL: 1 hr
SERVINGS: 8 servings
Ingredients 1x2x3x
For the Apple Filling:
- 4-5 large crisp apples (about 2 pounds; I like a mix of sweet and tart, such as Honeycrisp and Granny Smith)
- 1/2 cup reduced-sugar dried cranberries optional
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey if the crisp does not need to be vegan
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg it’s an amazing flavor upgrade to grate your own nutmeg. I use this zester to do it.
For the Crisp Topping:
- 1 cup rolled oats gluten free if needed
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, untoasted
- 1/2 cup almond meal
- 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup melted virgin coconut oil or very light extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or honey
Instructions
- Place a rack in the center of your oven, then preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Peel and core the apples, then cut them into 1-inch chunks.
- In the bottom of a 9×9-inch baking dish or other 2-quart casserole dish, mix together the apples, cranberries, maple syrup, cornstarch, lemon zest, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, prepare the topping: Stir together the oats, nuts, almond meal, coconut, cinnamon, and salt. Drizzle the oil and maple syrup over the top, then use a spatula to combine until the dry ingredients are evenly moistened. Sprinkle the topping over the filling.
- Bake the crisp for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling and the top is golden. Check at the 30-minute mark—if the crisp starts browning too quickly, lightly tent it with foil, then continue baking as directed. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve warm, topped with vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt (dairy free if needed).
Notes
- I prefer rolled oats over quick oats because they have a better, crunchier texture. Quick oats will lead to a mushier topping.
- To make your own almond meal, pulse whole, raw almonds in the food processor until they form fine crumbs. Do not overprocess or you will have almond butter instead.
- I prefer unsweetened coconut in this recipe to keep it naturally sweet, but the recipe will also work with sweetened flaked coconut (also called baker’s coconut).
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- The crisp can be prepped up until the point where it goes into the oven 1 day ahead. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, let stand at room temperature 30 minutes, uncover, then bake as directed.
Apple Crumble Recipe with Oats

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It is finally autumn and all the fun autumn recipes are back on the table. I hope you love autumn as much as I do because then you can look forward to many delicious recipes. At the moment I’m in an apple fever. It really starts in the beginning/middle of September and then comes the pumpkin fever. Since last year I really appreciate the seasons especially now that I’m creating recipes. Every season is very unique and special. I love about autumn the decoration, the changing colors of leaves and simply experiencing nature in a completely different way. Isn’t it nice when the leaves turn into beautiful autumn colors or when you cuddle up at home with a cup of tea and of course enjoy this with a delicious autumn dessert or dinner! I think this Apple Crumble recipe would go perfectly with it. What could be better than combining apples and cinnamon? Baked, the whole thing gets a super delicious consistency and is not heavy in the stomach.
What do you need for a vegan Apple Crumble recipe?
You only need 6 ingredients for this Apple Crumble recipe. That’s why it’s super quick to make. All you have to do is prepare the crumbles and cut the apples into small pieces. But that’s it. That’ s why I can only recommend to try this delicious dessert. You need the following ingredients:
- Apples
- Cinnamon
- Vegan butter
- Oats
- Flour (I prefer spelt or whole-grain)
- Brown Sugar or Agave Syrup
- EXTRA: ground Walnuts
By the way, you can use other fruits for your crumble. The dish also works well with blueberries, plums, rhubarb or a berry mix.
For a gluten-free alternative simply use a gluten-free flour substitute and gluten-free oats.

Apple Crumble Recipe with Oats – Easy And Delicious
For this Apple Crumble, you need a small casserole dish and a peeler because the most effort is to peel and cut the apples. You’ll also need a mortar or food processor to grind the nuts.
Now just melt the butter and mix it with flour, oats, cinnamon, walnuts, and sugar or agave syrup. Knead the mixture well and form crumbles with your hands. It’s a little bit of a mess but that’s part of the baking process :-))
For an extra kick, add some cinnamon and brown sugar or agave syrup to your apples. Mix the apple pieces well again and add your crumbles. Put it in the oven and your Apple Crumble recipe is ready It’s actually quite quick, isn’t it?!
How to store Apple Crumble?
Cover up the Apple Crumble and keep it in the fridge. You can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just heat your Apple Crumble in the microwave and still enjoy it warm.
You can also prepare your Apple Crumble in advance. Just fry the cinnamon apples in a pan and make the crumble. Then keep them separately in the fridge. All you have to do is build it together and heat it up.
Apple Crumble – Serve and enjoy
I love this combination with crumbles, baked apples, and cinnamon so much and I find it goes perfectly with a delicious cup of coffee. You can also serve this recipe with whipped cream. There are already some vegan whipped cream alternatives and they taste very good! A slightly healthier alternative would be to use coconut whipped cream. Unfortunately, I haven’t tried this yet but it’s definitely on my to-do list Otherwise, the warm Apple Crumble goes well with a delicious vanilla ice cream and with an extra chocolate drizzle it´s heavenly. Perfect for all chocolate lovers (like me :-D).
Apple Crumble Healthy Vegan
This easy vegan apple crumble is the ultimate cosy winter dessert. Full of cinnamon spice, tender pieces of apple and a sweet crumble topping, you’ll want to serve this warm with a big scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream!

My favourite thing about winter is the cosiness. Whether it’s fires, chunky blankets or oversized knits, I love it all. But the ultimate has got to be the desserts.
Warm desserts like sticky date pudding or my family’s favourite chocolate self saucing pudding served with vanilla ice cream is what winter dessert is all about, and today we’re celebrating another classic with my vegan version of apple crumble.
This is such an easy recipe and one that no matter your skill level you can achieve. It’s not a fancy recipe but it’s still perfect to serve to guests at the end of a dinner.
For this recipe I’m using royal gala apples but really, the choice is completely up to you. If you want to use granny smith apples your crumble will be a little bit more tart, and if you wanted to use sweeter pink lady apples, then I’d probably reduce the sugar in the filling to compensate.
Fruit crumbles or crisps are a great option when needing a vegan or dairy free dessert option as the main swap is in the crumble topping where we use melted coconut oil in place of traditional butter. The result is a really light, crumbly topping with a little bit of crunch.
I also prefer to use almond meal in the topping instead of flour as I find the result much lighter and gives a lovely nutty taste.
So whether you call it apple crumble or apple crisp, you’ll love this easy and warming winter dessert. It’s one of my favourite things to enjoy on a cool winter night.

KEY INGREDIENTS
This vegan apple crumble is super easy to make using just 8 ingredients and two components, the apple layer and the crumble layer.
- Apples – you can use any apples you prefer for this recipe. I’m using royal gala, but you could also use granny smith if you prefer a slightly more crisp and tart flavour. Again based on your preference you can either peel the apples or leave the skin on.
- Caster sugar – used to sweeten the apples, you could use regular granulated sugar instead, caster sugar is just a little finer.
- Lemon juice – added to the apples to help prevent them going brown, but also balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavour of the apples.
- Cinnamon – used in both the filling and the topping, cinnamon gives so much warming, spiced flavour and really is the highlight of this dish in my opinion.
- Rolled oats – make sure to use old fashioned rolled oats for the topping of this crumble.
- Almond meal – this is the key to the flavour and texture of this crumble. You could also substitute with a hazelnut meal.
- Brown sugar – used in the topping to create a sweet caramel flavour that oozes into the apples. So good.
- Coconut oil – melted coconut oil is used in the crumble topping instead of butter to create a rich, crispy and light topping.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
You really don’t need anything fancy to make this vegan apple crumble. A couple of bowls, a spatula or a spoon and something to bake it in. I’m using a 24cm square ceramic baking dish, but you could use anything with a similar capacity – a pie dish would work perfectly.
Start by making your apples. As I’ve mentioned, I didn’t peel them for this recipe, but if you don’t love the skin or want a softer texture to the apples, then you can certainly peel them. Chop them up into about 2cm squares. They don’t have to be perfect.
Toss them in a bowl with the caster sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice. Pour the apples into the base of your baking dish and spread around evenly.
Next make the topping by mixing the oats, almond meal, brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl. Add in the melted coconut oil and mix until everything is combined.
Sprinkle the crumble topping over the apples to create an even layer.
Place the baking dish in a preheated oven for 30-40 minutes or until the top is golden brown, the apples are soft, and the edges are rapidly bubbling. You should also have the most incredible, warming smell flooding your home. Way better than any scented candles!
Let it cool for a few minutes before scooping out into bowls and serving still warm with a big scoop of your favourite vegan vanilla ice cream.
Health Benefits of Apples
1.Possibly Considered Good for the Heart
Apples help lower the risk of various other heart ailments, as per a study published in the journal Nutrition. The antioxidant property of apples reduces the oxidation of fats, called lipid peroxidation. It also neutralizes various fats found in blood vessels that can exert dangerous pressure. The flavonoid, quercetin, reduces inflammation in our blood vessels, while the polyphenol, epicatechin, lowers the blood pressure in the body.
Studies have shown that regular apple intake is also associated with a reduced risk of thrombotic strokes in both men and women.
The soluble fiber present in apples helps to lower the level of cholesterol in the body, making it a strong defensive mechanism against cardiovascular diseases. One year-long research study performed on 160 post-menopausal women showed that consuming apples daily resulted in a drastic decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol and a slight increase in HDL (good) cholesterol in just three months.
2.Linked to a Lower Risk of Diabetes
Controlling blood sugar is essential for people suffering from diabetes. The polyphenols in apples have been directly linked to reducing the uptake of carbohydrates by the body. Some research focusing on apple vinegar showed that it can reduce the fluctuation of blood sugar levels that occur in the bloodstream, an important factor for keeping diabetes in check. The polyphenols also lower glucose absorption in our digestive tract and stimulate the release of insulin from our pancreas, which is necessary to keep the blood sugar levels in check.
Finally, the polyphenols stimulate the insulin receptors on cells throughout our body, which speeds up the removal of sugar from our bloodstream. This process gets it to our cells for metabolism, thereby helping manage diabetes.
3.May Be Helpful in Improving Dental Health
Eating apple helps in cleaning both teeth and gums. When you eat apples, the fiber in them cleanses the teeth, and the antibacterial properties thought to come from this fruit keep bacteria and viruses at bay. While they do not reduce dental cavities, they stimulate the secretion of saliva (an alkaline compound), which reduces the ability of bacteria to multiply and grow in your mouth, as per a study published in PLOS One.
4.May Promote Brain Health
A study conducted on rat brain cells by researchers at Cornell University in New York shows that the potent abundant antioxidants in apples protect the brain cells against oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is associated with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders, so reducing it is linked with lessening or hopefully preventing these disorders.
Apples also increase the amount of acetylcholine in the brain, which is linked to improving concentration, problem-solving, and memory.
5.May Relieve Symptoms of Asthma
Apples have shown tremendous anti-inflammatory behavior and in terms of asthma, they have stood out among other natural treatments. Quercetin, a flavonoid present in the apple skin helps reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system.
6.May Improve Bone Health
Compounds like kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin present in apple have been linked to reducing inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis and gout. Thus, people suffering from rheumatism find apples very useful as they aid in the healing process.
7.May Aid in Weight Loss
Both the high water content and fiber in apples increase satiety, thereby reducing appetite and overeating. Meaning, they are burned off quicker, or not absorbed by the body at all, which can be great news for millions of people struggling with obesity.
8.May Aid in Skin and Hair Care
The powerful antioxidants in apples counteract the damaging effects of free radicals, which are directly linked to premature aging, wrinkles, age spots, and other age-related conditions.
Apples also increase blood circulation which keeps the skin looking young and toned. They stimulate the replacement of old cells, repair of the damaged ones, and prevention of acne. Pastes made of apple and honey or apple and milk increase the shine and glow of the skin when topically applied.
According to the USDA Nutrient Database, one large apple provides approximately 17 percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C. This essential vitamin helps to increase immunity against infections and diseases. The ascorbic acid reserves found in apple also help in collagen formation which provides a range of benefits for the skin.
Applying apple juice to the scalp can help prevent dandruff. Washing the hair and finally rinsing it from apple juice gives it a healthy shiny look, as per anecdotal evidence. It also acts as a good conditioner.
FAQS
Is this recipe gluten free?
In Australia, no oats are considered safe for consumption on a gluten free diet. There is some debate about this though and its possible people who are gluten intolerant can eat oats without issue, however it’s not recommended for those who are celiac, therefore I don’t recommend this recipe for those needing a gluten free option.
Can I make this recipe with other fruit?
Yes! This recipe is very similar to my strawberry crumble recipe which is such a good way to use the delicious and abundant winter strawberries. You could also use pears, or stone fruit such as peaches in place of the apples. Just a note to reduce the sugar down in the fruit mix to compensate for the extra sweetness of some fruits.