These Apple Crisp Bowls are the perfect fix for your sweet tooth. A healthier alternative to the classic apple pie, it is made without oats! It is gluten-free, grain-free, and paleo.
Table of Contents
- Why this recipe works
- Apple crisp vs. apple pie vs. apple crumble
- What you will need for a paleo apple crisp
- How to make the best apple crisp without oats
- How to store, freeze, and reheat apple crisp
- What to eat with paleo apple crisp
- More fall recipes to try
Why this recipe works
Individual sized so there’s no chance of overindulgence.
A healthier alternative to a traditional apple pie.
No sugar There’s no refined sugar in this recipe and the coconut sugar in the topping is optional.
Apple crisp vs. apple pie vs. apple crumble
While apple pie is what most people consider a classic, it does contain a pie crust which can add to the carb count on the dessert. It has a crust encasing the apple filling, mostly wheat enriched, whereas a crisp doesn’t.
An apple crisp and crumble are essentially the same thing. They have a crumbly, crunchy topping mostly made of oats and nuts and even sometimes, seeds. Because I wanted to keep this healthy apple crisp, Paleo, I omitted the oats and used nuts instead. My nut of choice is the pecan because it is quintessentially fall but other nuts like walnuts and or almonds can be substituted for the pecans as well.
What you will need for a paleo apple crisp
Apples. The best apples to bake are the tart variety. Think Granny Smith, Fuji, and Honey Crisp. You can peel the apples but I don’t find it makes much of a difference plus it’s much quicker to leave the skins on 😜.
Tapioca flour. To thicken the juices once baked. Tapioca flour acts like flour would in a traditional apple pie filling. Use arrowroot powder as a substitute.
Spices. Cinnamon, salt, lemon juice,
Sweetener. Maple syrup is the sweetener of choice for this dessert.
For the topping:
Pecans. Roughly chopped.
Almond flour. for structure.
Butter. Chopped up cold butter to help make the “crisp” topping crunchy.
Coconut sugar. For a hint of sweetness in the topping. You can leave this out.
How to make the best apple crisp without oats
Preheat. Set the oven to 350 /180ºC and let it preheat.
Make the filling. Dice the apples add all the filling ingredients and mix to combine. Fill ramekins and set aside.
Make the crisp topping. Add all the topping ingredients in a separate bowl and, with your hands, break up the butter and mix everything together. Transfer to ramekins.
Bake. Bake the apple crisp bowls for 30 minutes. Once done, let cool down and serve warm with a scoop of ice cream.
How to store, freeze, and reheat apple crisp
Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat in the oven. Do not Microwave it as that will make it soggy.
Cooked apple crisp can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge and then heat in the oven. You can freeze and then bake uncooked apple crisp as well.
What to eat with paleo apple crisp
You can add a scoop of dairy-free vanilla ice cream, eat it on its own, or with coconut yogurt.
More fall recipes to try
If you try this recipe, I’d appreciate it so much if you would rate it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! And let me know in the comments how it worked out for you. I love hearing feedback and the recipe rating helps others find this recipe!
This post was originally published in November 2023. It has been updated with clearer instructions and details.
Apple Crisp Bowls
Equipment
- 4 Small ramekins
Ingredients
For the filling
- 2 apples medium sized. *see notes
- 1 tablespoon tapioca flour
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch sea salt
For the topping
- 1/2 cup pecans roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon butter chopped
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar optional
- pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Set the oven to 350ºF and let it preheat.
- Meanwhile, dice the apples, add all the filling ingredients, and mix to combine. Divide between all four ramekins and set aside.
- Next, add all the topping ingredients in a separate bowl and, with your hands, break up the butter and mix everything together. Divide between the four ramekins.
- Bake the apple crisp bowls for 30 minutes. Once done, let them cool down for ten minutes and serve warm with a scoop of ice cream.
Notes
- The nutrition facts are estimates calculated with an online tool.
- Use Granny Smith or Honey Crisp to get the sweet, tart taste.
- Pecans can be substituted for walnuts or even almonds.
Leave a Reply