Healthy Apple Oat Crumble Recipe

This Healthy Apple Crumble is a great seasonal dessert that's lower in sugar. With an oat-based crumble, it's wholesome and delicious

Happy apple season! Has anyone gone apple picking? If you have and you're like me, you're stick with huge sacs of apples and wondering what to do with them. While I love a classic apple and peanut butter dip, there's only so many times I can eat that a day. My solution: this healthy apple crumble recipe.

Not only does it use up a ton of apples, but it's super easy to make and you can share it with your loved ones. We start a base of cinnamon apples, then top with a higher fibre oat crumble that's hearty and delicious. This is the share-able version of my air fryer apple crisp, so everyone can enjoy!

Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved

1. Lower in sugar. There's only 3 tablespoons of maple syrup in this whole recipe, making it a wholesome dessert.
2. Easily gluten-free. By using certified gluten-free oat flour, you can quickly make this apple and oat crumble safe for your Celiac friends and family.
3. Perfect for sharing. I love making this for family dinners or holiday parties because it's quick and easy. No one will even know it's a healthy apple crumble recipe because it's so satisfying!

Ingredients

Apples. I recommend using a variety such as cortland, honeycrisp or Jonagold for a sweet apple that holds its flavour while baking. The choice to peel or leave the skin on the apples is up to you.

Spices. Cinnamon, apple pie spice and nutmeg are the warming fall spices we use in this recipe.

Lemon juice. For a touch of acidity. The lemon juice helps bring out the natural sweetness of the apples while creating a fresh and light flavour.

Vanilla extract. For an added touch of flavour. I actually love using the bourbon vanilla bean paste from Trader Joes for a rich vanilla flavour, however any vanilla extract will work great.

Cornstarch. This helps thicken the juices that are released from the apples when baking. By adding cornstarch you will get that thicker more “jelly-like” consistency consistent with traditional pie filling.

Oats. Rolled oats typically work best for a classic crumble topping however quick or minute oats will work too. If you use quick oats, note that the crumble may be a bit more like a cookie dough.

Oat flour. You can purchase pre-bended oat flour or make your own by blending ¾ cups of rolled oats in a high powered blender until a flour consistency forms.

Maple syrup. For a touch of natural sweetness we replace the traditional 1+ cup of sugar with only THREE tablespoons of maple syrup.

Butter. Melted butter is a must for that classic buttery crumble flavor. We cut the butter in half in this recipe to lighten it up, but I do find the butter is necessary for some richness. The butter also acts as a moisture addition, to help the crumble stay together.

The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below. 

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and thoroughly grease a 10 inch round pie dish.

2. In a medium bowl, add diced apples and sprinkle with cinnamon, apple pie spice and corn starch. Drizzle with lemon juice and vanilla extract. Mix to coat. 

3. Once the apples are fully coated in the spices, add the apples to the greased pie dish. Gently press down to ensure they are in an even layer (all of the apples should fit in the dish). 

4. Make the crumble topping- in a medium bowl add oats, oat flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Form a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add maple syrup and melted butter. Use a fork to mix the wet ingredients into the dry, forming a crumble. 

5. Gently press the crumble topping on top of the apples. There should be enough crumble topping to cover all of the apples in a thin layer.

6. Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until the crumble turns golden brown and you can see the apples bubbling on the edges.

7. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Substitutions and Variations

Although this is a healthy apple crumble recipe, you can switch up the fruit. This crumble is delicious with pear, or even a mix of apple and pear.

Equipment

• Pie dish
• Mixing bowl

Storage

This apple crumble recipe is easy to make ahead of time. Once baked and cooled, it can be wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat it in the oven at 300F for about 25 minutes (or until warm). Individual bowls can also be reheated directly in the microwave for about 45 seconds. 

Frequently Asked Questions

More Apple Recipes

Happy apple season! Try these next:

• Apple Oat Breakfast Cake
• Air Fryer Apples
• Air Fryer Apple Crisp
• Apple Baked Oatmeal Cups

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3.50 from 2 votes

Healthy Apple Crumble

This Healthy Apple Crumble is a great seasonal dessert that's lower in sugar. With an oat-based crumble, it's wholesome and delicious

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time50 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fruit dessert

Servings: 8

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

For the filling:

• 5 medium apples about 5 cups, diced to ¼ inch cubes * see notes
• 3 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon apple pie spice or ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ginger, ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoon lemon juice

For the oat crumble:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• ½ cup oat flour can be replaced with an equal amount of whole wheat flour, almond flour, gluten free flour etc.
• 2 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• 3 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoon butter melted

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 F and thoroughly grease a 10 inch round pie dish.
• In a medium bowl, add diced apples and sprinkle with cinnamon, apple pie spice and corn starch. Drizzle with lemon juice and vanilla extract. Mix to coat.
• Once the apples are fully coated in the spices, add the apples to the greased pie dish. Gently press down to ensure they are in an even layer (all of the apples should fit in the dish).
• Make the crumble topping: in a medium bowl add oats, oat flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Form a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add maple syrup and melted butter. Use a fork to mix the wet ingredients into the dry, forming a crumble.
• Gently press the crumble topping on top of the apples. This can get messy so be careful! There should be enough crumble topping to cover all of the apples in a thin layer (this should be almost like a giant oatmeal cookie over the top of the apples). If you are looking for a larger ratio of crumble to apples I recommend doubling the crumble topping.
• Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until the crumble turns golden brown and you can see the apples bubbling on the edges.
• Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Notes

Peeling your apples is fully up to your personal preference. I find since the apples are diced nice and small you really don't notice the peel once the apples are baked (and they add a little extra fiber).

*I have included an estimation of the nutrition information for this recipe below. However, always remember a recipe is so much more than just nutritional content and these numbers do not need to dictate your food choices. Please don't forget that both your body and soul need nourishment! The owner of this website is not liable for this estimation.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 187kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 218mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 154IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

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