The Best Vegan Apple Crisp Recipe

This is the best Vegan Apple Crisp recipe! Hot and tender sweet apples covered in a crunchy oat-nut topping. Perfect for the fall and winter holidays.

This recipe originally started out as my attempt to make a healthy vegan apple pie. Uh, let’s just say it didn’t work out. Long story short, I dumped everything into one big bowl and it was surprisingly good.

Then end result? One amazing vegan dessert – the BEST apple crisp recipe you’ll ever make or try.

I’m excited to share this “mistake” with you. It’s the perfect dessert for any season and will make you a rock star at any family or holiday gathering.

Apple Pie, who? Yeah, I said it! Oh, and don’t forget to top it with my amazing Vegan Whipped Cream or drizzle of date caramel sauce.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This vegan healthy apple crisp recipe is so easy to make. All you need are simple ingredients, you probably already have on hand, and just 1 bowl. Everything is combined and then baked into a delicious and healthy dessert.

Here’s everything you need for this vegan apple crisp recipe, including ingredient substitutions:

Apple Filling

• Apples: Granny Smith, Gala, Pink Lady, Jonagold, and Honeycrisp apples are my favorite. You could use just one type of apple if you wish, but I like a good blend of both tart apples and sweet apples.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice: can sub with a mix of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, or just use cinnamon.
• Lemon Juice: adds a bright, citrusy flavor to savory and sweet dishes.
• Pure Maple Syrup: the perfect sweetener for the apple mixture.
• Cornstarch: acts as the thickening agent for the filling. You can also use arrowroot or tapioca flour as well.

Streusel Topping

• Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: organic is best. Steel-cut and quick-cooking are not optimal.
• Flour: I used a mixture of almond flour and whole wheat flour. You can use gluten-free baking flour to make this recipe gluten-free.
• Brown Sugar: sugars and sweeteners are full of empty calories. But, they do have a time and a place in a WFPB diet. And, that time and place should be dessert.
• Chopped Nuts: pecan and walnuts are my favorite. But, they can be omitted if you have a nut allergy. Sunflower seeds and pumpkin are good subs.
• Spice: either pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon are great options
• Unsweetened Applesauce: replaces the butter and oil as usually found in this type of recipe.

How To Make Vegan Apple Crisp

(Note – the full printable recipe is at the bottom of the post)

Be prepared. You’re going to want to make this delicious vegan apple crisp at least once a week. Yeah, it’s that good.

1. Peel and cut the apples into small cubes or thin slices if you prefer. Then, add to a large mixing bowl and cover with the remaining apple-filling ingredients. Toss and make sure everything is well combined and covered. Pour into a 9×13 nonstick baking dish or prepared baking dish lined with parchment paper.
2. To a large bowl add the crisp topping ingredients. Stir everything together and use your hands, if necessary, to break apart any large chunks that stick together. If you prefer a finer crispy topping you can throw the topping ingredients into a food processor and pulse several times until everything is mixed together. Just don’t over-blend you still want some texture.
3. Pour the topping over the filling and use your hands or a wooden spoon to evenly spread the mixture. 
4. Bake uncovered in a preheated oven at 350˚F for 50 minutes to 1 hour until the top is golden, the filling is bubbling, and the apples are tender.
5. Remove from the oven and let rest for 15 minutes before serving.

That’s it! This easy vegan apple crisp is great hot but I think it’s even better once it reaches room temperature.

How To Serve Vegan Apple Crisp?

This delicious dessert is great all by itself. But, it pairs perfectly with…

• a huge dollop of my homemade vegan whipped cream
• serve in a bowl and top with some lovely coconut cream
• a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream is amazing with the crumble topping.
• a small scoop of peanut butter is very nice

Questions & Helpful Tips

• What are the best apples for vegan apple crisp? Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Honeycrisp are my favorites. I wouldn’t use a sweeter apple than any one of these. And, these apples hold up really well to baking and won’t turn to mush.
• Can I make a gluten-free apple crisp! Yes! Use organic gluten-free oats and gluten-free baking flour. Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour is excellent. Gluten-free oat flour is also great.
• How do I store it? One of the best things about this delicious apple crisp is how well it keeps. Simple place any leftovers in an airtight container and store them at room temperature or in the fridge for up to a week.
• Can it be frozen? Yes, and you can do it before or after baking it. It will keep for up to 3 months in your freezer. When you’re ready to serve simply place it in a low-temperature oven until it’s warm all the way through.
• Should I remove the apple skin? I say, YES! The texture has just never worked for me in this recipe.
• Is this a good make-ahead dessert? Yes! Vegan apple crisp is great to make ahead of time and store in case of unexpected guests, busy nights, and special gatherings.
• Use fresh apples. If your apples have been sitting for a while they tend to get mushy.
• Try other fruit fillings. Fruit crisps are the perfect way to use up leftover fruit before it goes bad. If apples aren’t your thing try using pears, blueberries, strawberries, or any other topping you desire.

Folks, trust me when I tell you this is the best Vegan Apple Crisp. It’s…

• Easy to prepare and make
• Crunchy & perfectly sweet
• Warm and comforting
• Perfect for winter, spring, summer, or fall holidays
• & SO DELICIOUS!

More Healthy Vegan Dessert Recipes

• Easy Vegan Zucchini Bread
• Easy Baked Cinnamon Apples
• Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
• The Best Vegan Pumpkin Pie
• Pumpkin Pie Dessert Hummus

So, let me wrap this up. There’s no better way to enjoy apples than this amazing vegan apple crumble dessert. The filling is amazing the crunchy oat topping is to die for!

I guess you’ll just have to make, taste, and see for yourself. Trust me, it’s going to be one amazing flavor experience. And, if you like apples be sure and try my Instant Pot Apple Butter and super simple Apple Walnut Salad.

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