Salted Caramel Apple Crisp

This easy one skillet healthy caramel apple crisp is gluten-free, nut-free, refined sugar-free, and vegan friendly. Slightly sweetened with maple syrup and topped with a sweet and crunchy oat crisp topping. A classic fall dessert that’s naturally sweet and delicious!

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Nothing can beat a some warm caramel apple crisp topped with vanilla ice cream.

It doesn’t get any better. Except for the fact that it’s pretty quick and easy to make. I guess that does make it better.

This vegan apple crisp uses simple whole food ingredients and can be ready in under 30 minutes.

It’s also a great way to use up any extra apples you have from going apple picking!

Maybe just save a couple for my favorite Healthy Apple Bread with Crumble Toppings as well.

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What makes this Apple Crisp Healthy?

Traditionally, apple crisp is made with various sugars, white flour and butter.

However, I was able to make this recipe healthy and vegan friendly without losing out on any flavor!

All you need to do is make a few simple swaps:

Oats – whole grain oats are used instead of refined flour for the topping, adding fiber and a healthy source of complex carbs.

Maple syrup – this apple crisp is way lower in sugar than traditional recipes since it’s sweetened with maple syrup instead of refined sugars.

Coconut oil – using coconut oil instead of butter keeps this recipe dairy-free and vegan friendly. You could also use vegan butter as well.

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What Apples to use for Caramel Apple Crisp

I prefer to use a mix of pink lady and granny smith apples for a variety of color and flavor.

The granny smith apples bring a crisp texture with a tart bite.

While the pink crisp and pink lady apples are a bit more delicate, slightly breaking down when baked and adding a sweetness to the crisp.

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What’s the Difference Between Apple Crisp and Apple Crumble?

Almost nothing. The two terms are often used interchangeably, however there is a slight variation between the two.

Apple Crisp – according to Google’s Dictionary, a crisp is “a dessert of fruit baked with a crunchy topping of brown sugar, butter, and flour.”

Apple Crumble– using the same source to define a crisp, a crumble is defined as “a mixture of flour and butter that is rubbed to the texture of breadcrumbs and cooked as a topping for fruit.”

So essentially, a crumble is a crisp, but can have a slightly different texture.

These days, however, many crisp recipes also use oats as the base, where a crumble is classically the flour and butter mixture.

Ingredients Needed to Make Vegan Caramel Apple Crisp

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Only a handful of simple ingredients are needed to make this delicious healthy vegan caramel apple crisp!

Ingredients for caramel Apple Crisp Filling:

Apples of choice
Maple syrup
Arrowroot flour
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Sea salt
Half of the homemade caramel sauce

Ingredients for oat Crisp Topping:

Rolled oats
Oat flour
Coconut sugar or brown sugar
Cinnamon
Coconut oil

How to Make Vegan Apple Crisp

I know making a crisp can seem intimidating, but it’s way easier than you think! You basically just mix all the ingredients for the filling and bake it, top with the crisp and bake again.

To make the apple filling:

Preheat oven to 350 F.

First, thinly slice the apples. You can leave skin on or remove it; it’s up to you.

Second, in a small pot, add the maple syrup, coconut sugar, coconut oil, coconut cream and sea salt.

Then, bring all ingredients to a boil then turn the heat down to simmer.
Whisk continuously to create a reduction and prevent burning.

Once the sugar has dissolved completely, turn off the heat, mix in vanilla extract.

Now, mix apples, maple syrup, arrowroot flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, sea salt and caramel sauce in a bowl.

Place apple mixture in a 9” cast iron skillet and bake for 10 minutes while preparing the crisp topping.

To make the oat crisp topping:

Mix rolled oats, oat flour, coconut sugar cinnamon and coconut oil in a bowl.

Once apple filling has baked for 10 minutes, remove from oven and add topping.

Place skillet back in the oven and bake for 25 – 30 more minutes.

To spice it up:

Add chopped pecans and/or walnuts in your crisp topping to add an extra crunch along with a dose of healthy fats and fiber!

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How to Serve Healthy Caramel Apple Crisp

I’m not sure if it’s possible to eat apple crisp without a dollop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on top.

Although this recipe is still perfectly flavorful on its own.

It would also be great some vanilla yogurt! Dessert for breakfast anyone?!

How to Store Caramel Apple Crisp

For best results, I recommend storing your healthy apple crisp in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

To reheat, simply warm it up for 10-15 seconds and serve with your desired topping.

If you wish to make this recipe ahead of time, you can prepare the apple filling a few hours prior and let it sit in the fridge until you are ready to bake.

What’s your favorite way to eat apple crisp? Leave a comment below!

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