This gluten-free apple crisp is made with tender baked apples, warm cinnamon, and a buttery oat topping that’s perfectly crisp and golden. It’s simple, cozy, and full of comforting fall flavors.
I love making this for Thanksgiving because, honestly, making an apple pie from scratch is just too much when you're juggling the rest of the holiday meal. This crisp is way easier—and just as delicious!
Recipe Highlights
- Texture: Juicy, tender apple slices with a satisfyingly crisp oat‑butter topping that stays nice and crunchy.
- Taste: Warm cinnamon and brown sugar balance the tartness of Granny Smith (or Jona Gold) apples for cozy, nostalgic flavors.
- Easy: Just simple prep and about 40 minutes in the oven. It’s effortless enough for weeknight baking yet impressive enough for a holiday table!
- Ingredient tip: Use a measure‑for‑measure gluten‑free flour (with xanthan gum) and certified gluten-free oats for the perfect topping texture.
What You'll Need
Here are notes on some of the simple ingredients you'll need to make this gluten free apple crisp recipe:
Apples. You'll need 6 cups of peeled, sliced apples. I used about 6 Granny Smith apples, but this will depend on the size of your apples.
Cornstarch. Helps to thicken the filling.
Cinnamon. Feel free to swap it out for apple pie spice!
Butter. Although I like salted butter, you can also use unsalted. You can also use vegan butter sticks to make this apple crisp dairy-free.
Gluten-free flour. Use a "measure for measure" flour blend that includes xanthan gum. I used Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 flour.
Gluten-free oats. Although oats themselves don't contain gluten, many are processed in the same factory as wheat, so check to make sure you are using certified gluten-free oats. You can use rolled oats (a.k.a. old fashioned oats) or quick oats.
What Apples are Best for Baking?
When baking with apples, whether you're making my gluten-free apple pie, vegan apple cake, or apple cinnamon muffins, you want to choose apples that can hold their shape as they bake and won't get mushy. I also prefer apples on the tart side.
My go-to apples for baking are Granny Smith and Jona Gold apples. Sometimes I'll also add sweeter apples like Honeycrisp and Pink Lady to add a depth of flavor.
Gluten Free Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
Filling
- 6 cups sliced apples
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Topping
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup gluten-free flour
- ¾ cup gluten-free oats
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Peel and slice the apples, about ¼ to ½ inch thick, and add them to a large mixing bowl. Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch, and ground cinnamon, and toss until all the slices are coated. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine the gluten-free flour, gluten-free oats, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, and ground cinnamon. Add the cold cubed butter and use your fingertips to work the butter into the dry ingredients, and you are left with a crumbly mixture. You can also do this step by pulsing the ingredients in a food processor.
- Add the apple slices to a baking dish and pour any juices in the dish as well. Top the apples with the streusel topping.
- Bake the apple crisp for 40 to 45 minutes, or until golden and bubbly on the edges. Let it cool for at least 20 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Storage Instructions
Storing: Put any leftovers in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Put leftover apple crisp in an airtight container and keep it in the freezer for up to a month. Be sure it's fully cooled before freezing it. Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight before enjoying it.
Can this be made ahead of time?
You can prepare parts of this gluten-free apple crisp recipe separately ahead of time, and assemble and bake it on the day you're serving it.
Make the crisp topping and put it in a freezer bag to store it in your freezer or fridge. You can slice the apples and toss them in some lemon juice to keep them from turning brown and keep them in an airtight container in the fridge. Add the sugars, cornstarch, and cinnamon in a bowl and keep it on the counter.
Add the apples to the bowl of sugars, cinnamon, and cornstarch. Toss the apples, add them to a baking dish, and top with the prepared crisp topping. Bake it in your preheated oven, and voila!
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you can keep the peels on if you like. I prefer to have my apples peeled, but it's not a requirement.
Although it's delicious on its own, I love having a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Cinnamon or caramel ice cream would be delicious too! You can also top it with whipped cream or a drizzle of caramel.
Crisps have oats in their topping, crumbles don't.
Absolutely! I use the same topping for my gluten-free rhubarb crisp recipe.
More Easy Desserts
This peach cobbler is easy to make, thanks to the canned peaches. The buttery topping pairs so well with the jammy peaches!
Gluten-free rhubarb crisp is my go-to early summer treat. It has the same oat crisp topping as this apple crisp recipe, so you know it's good!
This icebox cake recipe is great for any time of year, if you're looking for an easy but impressive dessert! There's no need to turn the oven on, and it's easy enough to make with kids.
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