The only added sugar in this low sugar apple crisp recipe is a little brown sugar in the crisp topping. The rest of the sweetness comes from the apples themselves. The crumble topping is buttery and crispy, and the apples are sweet, and perfectly spiced.
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If you’re looking for a low sugar apple dessert then this reduced sugar apple crisp with oats is calling your name.
Using apples in low sugar desserts is great, because you get a good amount of natural sweetness from them, making it so you can cut down on added sugar.
Homemade apple crisp is one of our all time favorite desserts especially when served warm with a scoop of healthier vanilla ice cream.
We make this healthier apple crisp year round, but it is the perfect recipe to make in the fall when apples are in season, especially if you can get them out of your own backyard. These apple cinnamon muffins, this whole wheat pumpkin bread and these whole wheat pumpkin muffins are great recipes to make in the fall also.
What's Cool About This Recipe
- Low sugar: This healthy apple crisp is made with reduced sugar. There is no sugar in the apple filling and minimal sugar in the crisp topping (just enough to taste good)
- Whole grain: The crisp topping is made with whole wheat flour which gives it a wonderful nutty flavor.
- Easier than apple pie: This recipe is super simple to make, just peel and dice some apples, toss them with some spices and a couple other things. Mix up the 4 ingredient crisp topping, spread it over the apples and bake.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Flour: Flour that works in this recipe (as always fresh milled is the best for flavor, texture and nutrients)
- Fresh milled flour from these grains: Hard white wheat, Spelt, Soft white wheat, Hard red wheat
- Store bought: Whole white wheat flour, whole wheat pastry flour, whole wheat flour. Find out more about different whole wheat flours.
- Rolled oats: Regular old fashioned rolled oats (not thick cut)
- Brown sugar: We like using organic brown sugar, regular organic cane sugar, panela or sucanat will also work.
- Butter: We use salted butter, but unsalted will work also.
- Apples: We like using a sweeter apple like Fuji or Gala because there is no added sugar in the apple filling.
- Water: This is liquid for helping the apples cook
- Lemon juice: We like adding a touch of lemon juice to offset the sweetness from the apples.
- Cornstarch: This thickens the juices so you don’t have runny apple crisp.
- Spices: We like to flavor our apple crisp with cinnamon and nutmeg but, feel free to use your favorite spices.
See recipe card for quantities.
Variations
- You can switch up the spices with cardamon, cloves, allspice or ginger.
Instruction Photos
Step 1: Peel and cut the apples into roughly ½ inch pieces.
Step 2: Toss the apples with the water, lemon juice, cornstarch and spices.
Step 3: Place the apples into a baking dish.
Step 4: Mix the flour, oats, brown sugar and melted butter in a bowl until combined.
Step 5: Spread evenly over the apples (try to keep the topping in bigger chunks).
Step 6: Bake at 375°F for about 35 minutes or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.
Serving Suggestions
We love serving warm apple crisp with ice cream or whipped cream. Our low sugar ice cream recipe would pair perfectly with this apple crisp.
Storage
Store covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
To reheat, uncover and place in the oven on the warm setting for about 10 minutes or until warmed.
Tips From Our Kitchen
We recommend serving this apple crisp warm.
Use a sweet, crisp apple variety such as Fuji or Gala.
If the topping seems too wet add a tablespoon or two more flour.
FAQ
The best apples for low sugar apple crisp are sweet and crisp apples like Fuji or Gala
4 medium/large or 6 small apples should make enough apple crisp for 6 servings
Related Recipes
📖 Recipe
Low Sugar Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 4 cups peeled and chopped apples (½” pieces) 4 medium apples
- 3 tablespoons (45 g) cool water
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¾ cup (96 g) whole white wheat flour hard white wheat
- ¾ cup (90 g) rolled oats not thick cut
- ⅓ cup packed (70 g) brown sugar
- ½ cup (113 g) butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°
- Place 4 cups peeled and chopped apples (½” pieces), 3 tablespoons (45 g) cool water, 1 tablespoon (15 g) lemon juice, 2 teaspoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg in a large mixing bowl. Toss together until the apples are evenly coated. Pour into a 9x9 inch baking dish.
- Combine ¾ cup (96 g) whole white wheat flour, ¾ cup (90 g) rolled oats, ⅓ cup packed (70 g) brown sugar and ½ cup (113 g) butter, melted in a small mixing bowl.
- Spread evenly over the apples.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
Notes
Nutrition
We calculate these nutritional facts using an estimate and they can vary drastically between ingredients used and measuring technique. So, they are not intended for medical use.
Nicole
I make this recipe at least once a month, I make extra oat topping and add extra cinnamon and nutmeg, and eat it for breakfast, or with icecream for dessert. I don't recommend changing the recipie till you made it as written first, I changed it to suit my preferences. I absolutely love this.
WholeWheatKitchen
I love this so much! Thank you for sharing!