This vegan apple crisp no oil is free of animal products such as butter, milk, cream etc. and is so simple to make in just 30 minutes! If you are looking for a dessert that doesn’t require tons of oil, this recipe is for you. I don’t know about you, but I try to avoid oils whenever possible and use it only when it’s completely necessary. This dessert while being vegan also contains no added fats.
VEGAN APPLE CRISP (OIL-FREE)
The ideal autumnal treat is this vegan apple crisp with a hint of sweetness! The oat crumble topping is a healthier variation on the traditional because it is produced without butter or excessive sugar. For a light and delectable treat, serve with a dollop of vegan ice cream or banana lovely cream!
Nothing gets the spot quite like a good, old-fashioned apple crisp if you’re searching for an easy vegan meal that’s ideal for those cool September and October nights. If you’ve never tried one, it’s similar to an apple pie without a crust and has a delicious streusel topping. In essence, the stuff of autumnal fantasies.
This delectable apple crisp is healthier than the traditional comfort food because it doesn’t contain butter, oil, or refined sugar. If you want to make it healthier, cinnamon banana wonderful cream would be ideal. I prefer my to be topped with vegan vanilla ice cream.
You’ll love this Apple Crisp Recipe because it’s:
- A Perfect Fall Treat!
- Simple & Easy
- Vegan / Vegetarian
- Dairy-Free
- Kid-friendly
- Easy to make Gluten-Free
- WFPB
- Made without Butter or Oil
- Made without Refined Sugar
- Healthy & Delicious!
CAN THIS BE GLUTEN-FREE?
Simply swap out the whole wheat flour for gluten-free flour to make this gluten-free. The best flour to use is definitely oat, although coconut flour would also be an excellent option. Although almond flour has a tendency to be a little heavier, it would give the dish a distinctive flavor. (If you give any of these a shot, please share your experience in the comments!)
WHAT TYPES OF APPLES SHOULD I USE?
I combined three Pink Lady apples with three Granny Smith apples to add a little diversity. But you can use any apple that’s suitable for baking. Here is a quick list of apples that are simple to find and will work well in this apple crumble.
APPLES THAT ARE GREAT FOR BAKING:
- Pink Lady
- Braeburn
- Jonagold
- Honey Crisp
- Granny Smith
CAN I MAKE THIS WITHOUT PEELING THE APPLES?
I prefer this crisp with the apples peeled. However, you can leave the peel on to save time if you like. Or you could do a quick partial peel. Whatever you prefer will work!
WHAT SIZED BAKING DISH SHOULD I USE?
I used a dish that was about 11 by 7 inches (28 by 18 cm) in size, but an 8 by 8-inch (20 by 20 cm) square dish would also work.
If the apples initially rise to the top of the dish, don’t be concerned. They will shrink in size after prebaking, allowing you to add the streusel topping.
Easy Vegan Apple Crisp (Gluten and Oil-Free)
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: About 12 small servings
This apple crisp recipe, a vegan take on a Thanksgiving staple, is delicious and easy to prepare. Is it just me, or does the aroma of ooey-gooey baked apples covered in cinnamon sugar and topped with a crispy topping nothing? It’s also devoid of oil and gluten!
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 4 cups (446 g) sliced apples
- 2–3 tablespoons vegan honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
- 1 1/2 tbsp (12g) cornstarch
Crumble Topping
- 1 cup (90g) gluten-free rolled oats
- 1/4 cup (28g) blanched almond flour
- 1/3 cup (42g) finely chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup (50g) coconut sugar (you can also use brown sugar)
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Serve with
- Vegan vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and have a medium-sized baking dish ready. The dish we used was 10″×8″. You can lightly grease the dish if you’d like but we skipped that and it worked just fine.
- In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients for the apple filling except for the cornstarch. Once everything is uniform, sprinkle over the cornstarch and give it another good mix. Transfer all of the filling into the baking dish and spread it out as evenly as you can.
- In the same large bowl, add in all of the ingredients for the crumble topping and mix until well combined. It will be crumbly with a granola-like consistency. Evenly distribute the topping over the apples in the baking dish.
- Place the dish into the oven and bake on the middle rack for 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the filling has thickened.
- Cool for about 10 minutes or until it is easy to handle and serve with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- This can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Fall
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Vegan, Gluten-free, Oil-Free
INGREDIENTS TO MAKE VEGAN APPLE CRISP
- Honeycrisp Apples: I like to use honeycrisp apples because they are naturally sweet, making the need for sugar in the filling to be very minimal. So many crisps call for 1/2 cup or more sweetener, which I find to be so excessive, especially since apples are sweet!
- Cinnamon: Gotta have spice in the filling to enrich the overall flavor.
- Allspice: Allspice further gives that fall vibe and enhances the cinnamon. Gives it that apple pie flavor.
- Lemon juice: I think lemon juice is crucial to an apple crisp, as the acidity helps balance out the sweetness so it’s not just a big blob of sweetness in your mouth. A little does the job perfectly.
- Sugar: I only use 1 tablespoon of sugar in the filling, that is it! And I promise, it’s all it needs because of using honeycrisp apples. I like to use raw sugar, but you could use regular sugar if you like. Also, the topping is sweet, too. The balance is overall perfection.
- Maple syrup: For the topping, I use maple syrup. It crisps up really pretty and gives a wonderful depth of flavor.
- Oats: What makes an apple crisp? The oat topping! Gotta have those oats. Texture galore.
- Almond flour: Almond flour gives moisture and texture to the topping and crisps up so nicely.
- Walnut butter or pecan butter: By using walnut or pecan butter, both which are extremely runny and naturally more oily than other nut butter, it gives this crisp a wonderful crispy topping and buttery flavor.
HOW TO MAKE VEGAN APPLE CRISP
Step 1: Make the filling. Slice the apples into 1/4 inch wedges and add to a large bowl. Add the spices, sugar, lemon juice and pecans. I finely chop these since my husband and daughter aren’t big fans of chunks of nuts. Stir for a good couple of minutes until the apples are evenly coated. Set aside.

Step 2: Make the topping. To a medium bowl, add the syrup, walnut butter and cinnamon and stir until smooth. Add the oats and almond flour and mix for a couple of minutes until very thick and sticky, as pictured.

Step 3: Fill the pie dish. Lightly spray a 9 inch pie dish with nonstick spray and spread out the prepared apples in an even layer.
Top with the topping mixture with your fingers and make sure all the apples are well covered evenly.

Step 4: Bake the apple crisp. Top the crisp with extra raw sugar for crunch, sweetness and shine. Bake for about 25 minutes in a preheated oven at 375°F, until the apples are tender and the top is a nice golden brown.

HOW TO SERVE
Apple crisps are best served immediately while warm. Top with dairy-free whip cream, such as the So Delicious CocoWhip or a vegan ice cream, like this Vegan Vanilla Cheesecake Ice Cream!
HOW TO REHEAT LEFTOVERS
To reheat any leftovers, reheat in the oven at 300°F covered with foil until hot. The topping will get nice and crispy again.
TROUBLESHOOTING
- Why didn’t my apples get soft? You probably needed to cut the apples in thinner slices (or smaller chunks). Make sure to follow the instructions to prebake the apples.
- Why did my apples get so mushy? It’s possible you cut the apples too thin or that your oven is running a little hotter. Next time reduce the cooking time by 5 to 10 minutes.
- Why did my topping overcook? Be sure to place the baking dish on the middle rack of the oven and cover for the first half of the cooking. Next time, try reducing the cooking time by 5 to 10 minutes.
HOW TO SERVE
Serve this apple crisp warm or cold with a scoop of vegan ice cream or banana nice cream!
CAN I MAKE IT AHEAD?
Definitely! In fact, I think this dish tastes better the next day as the spices start to deepen and enhance the flavors of the apples!
HOW TO STORE
- Store any leftovers in an airtight contain in the refrigerator for up to a week.