Welcome to the coziest dessert of the season! There’s nothing that says “fall” quite like the scent of warm, cinnamon-spiced apples baking in the oven.
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This is the ultimate gluten free apple crisp with oats. It features tender, juicy apples baked to perfection under a crunchy, buttery, and completely irresistible oat topping.
It’s a simple, rustic dessert that delivers huge flavor without any fuss. Every spoonful is a perfect combination of soft, sweet fruit and a crunchy, crumbly topping.
This recipe will quickly become your go-to for an easy and impressive fall dessert.
A Little Story About This Dish
Some of my favorite childhood memories are of going apple picking on a crisp autumn day. We’d come home with a huge basket of apples, and the first thing we’d always make was a bubbling apple crisp. The whole house would fill with the scent of cinnamon.
When I started eating gluten-free, I was worried I’d lose that simple tradition. My first attempts at a gluten-free topping were either too sandy or too soft. I was determined to get it right.
This gluten free apple crisp with oats is the result of that mission. The combination of gluten-free oats and flour creates a topping that is perfectly crunchy and golden. It tastes just like the classic I remember, and it’s a joy to share with everyone I love.
Get Ready to Cook!
What to Expect
This is one of the easiest and most forgiving desserts you can make. From chopping the apples to pulling a bubbling, golden crisp from the oven, you’ll need just under an hour.
The steps are simple: toss the apples, mix the topping, and bake. It’s incredibly straightforward, making it perfect for bakers of any skill level.
You’ll be rewarded with a warm, comforting gluten free apple crisp with oats that is perfect for any fall occasion.
Before You Begin
The secret to a truly “crisp” topping is using very cold butter. The little pieces of cold butter will melt during baking, creating a wonderfully crunchy and crumbly texture. Don’t use softened or melted butter for the topping mixture!
Also, if you are baking for someone with Celiac Disease, it is crucial to use certified gluten-free oats. While oats are naturally gluten-free, they are often contaminated during processing. Using certified oats ensures this gluten free apple crisp with oats is completely safe for everyone to enjoy. You might also like these other gluten-free recipes for more cooking ideas: GFree Peach Cobbler, Gluten Free Cake Recipes: The Only 12 You’ll Ever Need.
The Heart of the Dish: Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Apple Filling:
| Amount | Ingredient |
| 4 | Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (~4 cups) |
| 1 heaping Tablespoon | granulated sugar |
| 1/2 Tablespoon | gluten free flour |
| 1 teaspoon | cinnamon |
For the Crisp Topping:
| Amount | Ingredient |
| 1/2 cup | brown sugar |
| 1/2 cup | gluten free old fashioned oats |
| 4 Tablespoons | cold butter (or vegan butter), cut into 1/4″ cubes |
| 3 Tablespoons | gluten free flour |
| pinch | salt |
| For Serving: | ice cream, whipped cream |
Let’s Get Cooking! Step-by-Step Guide
1. Prepare Your Oven and Dish: First, let’s get everything ready. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a medium-sized baking dish (an 8×8 or similar size works perfectly) with nonstick spray and set it aside.
2. Make the Apple Filling: In a large mixing bowl, add your chopped apples, granulated sugar, gluten-free flour, and cinnamon. Give everything a good stir until the apples are evenly coated in that lovely cinnamon-sugar mixture. Pour this into your prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
3. Create the Crisp Topping: Now for the best part of any gluten free apple crisp with oats—the topping! In the same bowl (no need to wash it), add the brown sugar, gluten-free oats, cold butter cubes, gluten-free flour, and a pinch of salt.
4. Mix Until Crumbly: Using a pastry cutter or just your fingertips, work the cold butter into the dry ingredients. Keep mixing and pressing until the butter is incorporated and the mixture looks like a crumbly, coarse paste. You should still have some small, pea-sized pieces of butter throughout.
5. Assemble and Bake: Evenly sprinkle the topping mixture all over the apples in the baking dish. Place the dish in your preheated oven and bake for 40-50 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the topping is a beautiful golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly and tender.
6. Cool and Serve: This step is important! Let the finished gluten free apple crisp with oats cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes. This allows the filling to set up so it’s not too runny. Scoop the warm crisp into bowls and serve with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for the ultimate dessert experience.
Mastering the Dish: Pointers for Perfection & How to Store
For the best gluten free apple crisp with oats, choose your apples wisely. A firm, tart apple like Granny Smith is perfect because it holds its shape during baking and balances the sweetness of the topping. Honeycrisp or Braeburn are also excellent choices.
Letting the crisp cool for a full 20 minutes before serving is a crucial step. This allows the delicious, bubbly juices from the apples to thicken into a wonderful syrup. This simple patience transforms it from a soupy mixture into a perfect gluten free apple crisp with oats.
To Store: Let any leftovers cool completely. Cover the baking dish or transfer the crisp to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can enjoy it cold or reheat individual portions in the microwave until warm.
Your Burning Questions Answered!
1. Can you use gluten free flour in apple crisp?
Yes, absolutely! Gluten-free flour works perfectly in apple crisp. It’s used in two ways in this recipe: a small amount is tossed with the apples to help thicken the filling, and it’s a key ingredient in the topping, where it binds with the butter, sugar, and oats to create that classic crumbly texture. An all-purpose gluten-free blend is the ideal choice.
2. Can I make crumble with just oats?
While you can make a topping with just oats, butter, and sugar, adding flour provides a better texture. The flour helps create a more cohesive and tender crumble that holds together better. A topping made only with oats can sometimes be a bit loose and less “clumpy” than a traditional crisp or crumble topping.
3. What can I substitute for flour in apple crisp?
If you want to make an apple crisp without any flour in the topping, a great substitute is almond flour. It creates a rich, slightly denser topping that is delicious and naturally gluten-free. You can typically substitute it 1:1 for the gluten-free all-purpose flour in this gluten free apple crisp with oats topping.
Dig In & Enjoy!
And there you have it – a simple, rustic, and incredibly delicious dessert that perfectly captures the flavors of fall. This gluten free apple crisp with oats is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, beloved by kids and adults alike.
It’s the perfect ending to a family dinner or a cozy treat to enjoy on a chilly afternoon. I hope this recipe brings warmth and happiness to your home. Happy baking.
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The Best Gluten Free Apple Crisp with Oats (Easy Recipe!)
- Total Time: 85
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
This gluten free apple crisp with oats has a crunchy, buttery topping and a warm, gooey apple filling. The perfect easy and cozy fall dessert recipe.
Ingredients
For the Apple Filling:
4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (~4 cups)
1 heaping Tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 Tablespoon gluten free flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
For the Crisp Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup gluten free old fashioned oats
4 Tablespoons cold butter, or vegan butter, cut into 1/4” cubes
3 Tablespoons gluten free flour
pinch salt
For serving: ice cream, whipped cream
Instructions
1. Prepare Oven and Dish: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees then spray a medium-sized baking dish with nonstick spray.
2. Make the Apple Filling: To a large mixing bowl add chopped apples, sugar, gluten free flour, and cinnamon then stir to combine and pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
3. Create the Crisp Topping: To the same mixing bowl, add ingredients for the crisp topping (brown sugar, oats, butter, flour, salt). Use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to incorporate the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture is the consistency of a crumbly paste.
4. Bake: Evenly sprinkle the topping mixture over the apples then bake for 40-50 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
5. Serve: Let the apple crisp cool for 20 minutes before scooping into bowls and serving with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.
Notes
Apple Choice: Feel free to use any firm and tart apple. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Braeburn are great options.
Certified Oats: If you have Celiac Disease, it’s important to use certified gluten free oats that are grown and processed using purity protocols.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 50
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8th of crisp
- Calories: 240 kcal
- Sugar: 31 g
- Sodium: 67 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg