Savor the flavors of this SugarFree Apple Crisp - a low carb and diabetic-friendly dessert that's both healthy and delicious.
Enjoy the goodness of fresh apples, warm spices, and a crunchy topping made without the added sugar. Perfect for a guilt-free indulgence!
My favorite apple dessert recipe, this diabetic apple crisp recipe is a comforting and wholesome gluten-free dessert option that is particularly popular in the fall ( September to October ) when apples are in season, making it a cozy and warming treat to enjoy during cooler weather. If you love apple pie you will love this recipe.
This recipe drew inspiration from my Sugar-Free Peach Cobbler, sharing its fruit-based foundation and delightful crumble topping. Also, you might enjoy this Gluten Free Apple Crumble in a Mug recipe or these scrumptious Low Carb Apple Cinnamon Donuts, Low Carb Butterscotch Apple Cookies or this Sugar Free Maple Pumpkin Yogurt Bark recipe.
Want more desserts? Check out our 30 Diabetic Friendly Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth.
Why you'll love this diabetic apple crisp recipe
- Healthier Choice: It's a guilt-free healthy apple recipes option as it's sugar-free, low in carbs, and diabetic-friendly, making it suitable for those watching their sugar intake.
- Seasonal Delight: Perfect for autumn, it lets you savor the wonderful flavors of apples when they are at their peak.
- Warm and Comforting: Sprinkle cinnamon-spiced apples and buttery crumble topping to create a cozy and comforting dessert that's perfect for cooler weather.
- Easy to Make: It's a straightforward gluten free recipe that doesn't require complex techniques or ingredients, making it accessible for both novice and experienced bakers.
- Customizable: You can adjust the sweetness and spice level to suit your taste preferences, making it a versatile and healthy apple crisp that can cater to various palates.
Main Ingredients Used
The components used in this recipe come together harmoniously to create a wholesome and delightful dessert experience.
- Sliced Apples: The star of the dish, apples provide natural sweetness, a hint of tartness, and a delightful fruity flavor, making this dessert a seasonal favorite.
- Almond Flour: Used in both the topping and filling, almond flour adds a nutty richness and helps achieve a desirable crumbly texture while keeping the recipe low in carbs.
- Brown Sweetener: a sugar substitute that is used in recipes as a replacement for traditional brown sugar. Used in this recipe for its ability to provide a rich, caramelized flavor and brown sugar-like appearance, enhancing the overall taste and presentation of the sugar-free apple crisp.
- Cinnamon: This warm spice imparts a comforting aroma and enhances the overall flavor profile, complementing the apples beautifully.
- Unsalted Butter: Essential for the topping and caramelizing the apples, butter lends a rich, buttery taste and contributes to the dessert's satisfying indulgence.
- Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: These gluten free oats are a key component in the topping, providing a hearty and slightly chewy texture and adding fiber and whole-grain goodness to the dessert.
- Lemon Juice: Used in the filling, lemon juice not only adds a tangy brightness to balance the sweetness of the apples but also helps prevent browning and enhances the overall flavor.
See the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
Steps by step instructions
How to make a no sugar added apple crips?
STEP 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F.
In a large mixing bowl add the half cup rolled oats, almond flour, brown sweetener, half teaspoon cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and the unsalted butter.
Use a pastry cutter to cut to evenly incorporate the cold butter into the dry ingredients, creating the desired crumbly texture for the topping. If you don't have a pastry cutter you can cut the butter into cubes before adding them and then mix until a crumbly texture is formed. You can use your hands to form into crumbles. Set it aside.
STEP 2: In a medium bowl mix together the melted butter and almond flour. Then add the lemon juice, vanilla, unsweetened almond milk, brown sweetener, cinnamon and salt, and mix until well combined.
STEP 3: Slice the apples and add them to another large bowl then add the mixture and mix them until the apples are coated evenly.
STEP 4: Prepare a 9" pie dish by greasing it, then evenly spread the apple mixture into the prepared baking dish, and finally, distribute the crumble topping evenly over the apples.
STEP 5: Place in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving.
You can enjoy it as is or serve it with a scoop of sugar-free vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of sugar free maple syrup, whipped cream or this low carb caramel sauce for an extra treat.
Other sugar free dessert recipes you might enjoy
Choosing Apples for Your Sugar-Free Apple Crisp
When making a homemade apple crisp, selecting the right type of apples can significantly impact the flavor and carb content of your dessert. Here are some apple varieties that work well and have relatively lower carb counts:
- Granny Smith Apples: These tart and crisp apples are a popular choice for sugar-free apple crisps. They have a lower natural sugar content compared to some other apple varieties, making them an excellent option for those watching their carb intake.
- Cortland Apples: Cortland apples are known for their sweet-tart flavor and firm texture. They are a good choice for a sugar-free recipe and are often used in baking.
- Gala Apples: While slightly sweeter than Granny Smith, Gala apples can still be used in a sugar-free apple crisp. Just be mindful of the overall sweetness balance when adjusting your sweetener.
- Honeycrisp Apples: Honeycrisp apples are known for their sweet and juicy flesh. While they have a bit more natural sugar, their flavor can add a delightful dimension to your dessert without adding refined sugars.
When it comes to the lowest carb content, Granny Smith apples tend to be the best choice among these options. However, you can choose any of the mentioned varieties based on your personal taste preferences and dietary needs.
Remember that the carb content may vary slightly depending on the size of the apples, so it's a good idea to check the nutritional information for accurate carb counts.
Recipe tips
Here are two recipe tips on making this gluten free apple crisp even better:
- Mix Apple Varieties: Combine different types of apples for a more complex and balanced flavor in your filling. Combining sweet and tart varieties, such as Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, can elevate the taste of your apple crisp.
- Precook the Apples: To ensure perfectly tender and caramelized apples, briefly cook them in a skillet with butter and your sugar substitute before assembling the crisp. This step intensifies the apple flavor and ensures a well-cooked filling.
Storage
If you have any leftover apple crisp, heres how to store it:
- Cool to Room Temperature: Allow the apple crisp to cool to room temperature after baking. This prevents condensation from forming when you store it.
- Cover: Cover the entire dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil or story in an airtight container. Ensure it's tightly sealed to prevent air from entering.
- Refrigerate: Store the covered apple crisp in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. The colder temperature will help keep it fresh.
- Reheat: When ready to enjoy, you can reheat individual servings in the microwave or reheat the entire dish in the oven at a low temperature (around 300°F or 150°C) until warmed through.
- Serve Fresh Toppings: Consider adding fresh toppings like a scoop of sugar-free vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped topping just before serving to refresh the dessert.
Remember that while it's safe to eat stored apple crisp for a few days, its texture may change slightly over time. Reheating can help restore some of its original texture and flavor.
Recipe variations
Here are some delicious variations for sugar free apple crisp:
- Keto-Friendly Nut Crisp: Replace the almond flour in the topping with a mixture of crushed pecans and shredded coconut. This adds a delightful nutty flavor and extra crunch to your crisp.
- Berry Apple Crisp: Incorporate a mix of fresh or frozen berries, such as raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries, along with the apples. The combination of fruits adds complexity and natural sweetness while keeping it low in carbs.
- Spiced Apple Crisp: Enhance the flavor by adding a pinch of ground nutmeg or ginger to the apple mixture. These spices complement the apples and create a warm, aromatic twist on the classic recipe.
- Citrus Zest: For a refreshing twist, add the zest of an orange or a a tablespoon lemon juice to the topping or the apple filling. The citrus zest provides a bright, tangy contrast to the sweetness of the apples.
- Coconut Flour Topping: Swap almond flour in the topping with coconut flour to create a more tropical-inspired apple crisp. The coconut flour lends a subtle coconut flavor and keeps the dessert low in carbs.
These variations allow you to explore different flavor profiles and textures while keeping your apple crisp sugar-free and suitable for a low-carb lifestyle.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can experiment with other sugar substitutes like stevia, monk fruit sweetener, allulose or coconut sugar but be mindful of their sweetness levels, as they may vary. Adjust the quantity to taste, keeping in mind that some sweeteners may have a slight aftertaste.
To make a vegan sugar-free apple crisp, replace the butter with a vegan butter substitute or coconut oil in the topping and mixture. Ensure your sugar substitute is also vegan-friendly. You can easily find vegan and dairy free versions of most ingredients used in this recipe.
Yes, you can prepare the apple crisp in advance and freeze it. Assemble the dish but don't bake it. Instead, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and store it in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to enjoy, bake it directly from the freezer, adding a little extra baking time as needed until it's heated through and the topping is golden brown.
Yes, individuals with diabetes can enjoy fruit crumble, but it's important to watch portion sizes and choose ingredients wisely. Opt for sugar substitutes, whole grains, and consider pairing with protein or healthy fats to help manage blood sugar levels. Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalized dietary advice.
A serving of this sugar free apple crisp is 9g net carbs.
Recipe Card
Sugar Free Apple Crisp
Recipe Video
Ingredients
Topping
- ½ cup old fashioned oats
- ½ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup brown sweetener
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup unsalted butter cold
- ½ teaspoon salt
Apple Mixture
- 2 medium apples peeled and sliced
- 3 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
- 2 tablespoon almond flour
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup brown sweetener
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Topping
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Mix the topping ingredients together. Use a pastry cutter to incorporate the cold butter. Alternatively, you can cut the butter before adding it and use your hand to mix the ingredients into a crumble. Set it aside.½ cup old fashioned oats, ½ cup almond flour, ¼ cup brown sweetener, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ cup unsalted butter, ½ teaspoon salt
Apple Mixture
- In a medium bowl mix together the melted butter and almond flour. Then add the remaining ingredients, except the apples. Mix until well combined.3 tablespoon unsalted butter, 2 tablespoon almond flour, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ cup brown sweetener, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon salt
- In another large bowl add the sliced apples and the mixture and mix them together until the apples are coated evenly.2 medium apples
- Prepare a 9" pie dish by greasing it, then evenly spread the apple mixture into the dish, and finally, distribute the crumble topping evenly over the apples.
- Place in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. (See video)
Notes
- Uniform Apple Slicing: When slicing the apples, aim for uniform thickness to ensure even cooking. This helps prevent some apple slices from becoming too soft while others remain firm, resulting in a balanced texture.
- Adjust Sweetness: Taste the apple mixture before assembling the crisp, and adjust the level of sweetness to your preference. Add more Brown Swerve Sweetener if you desire a sweeter filling, or reduce it slightly for a more tart flavor. This way, you can customize the dessert to suit your taste.
Important Information
For more information, tips and variations please review the recipe video and content above and below the recipe card.
Updates and Revisions
If the video and recipe card differ, follow the recipe card for the latest ingredients and instructions.
Nutritional Information
Nutrition info is estimated and varies by ingredients, measurements, and portions.
Nutrition
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooked food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more food guidelines
Dee says
Yum Yum , it taste great, so good I subscribed to the site.
Oscar Chimenti says
Right on, glad you enjoyed it.
Dee says
Yum, Yum, I put them in 3 in Tin Tart Pans
Myra says
Can you substitute turbine sugar for light brown sugar for a diabetic
Oscar Chimenti says
You can but we use brown sweetener in this recipe which is not sugar. Using turbine sugar will increase the amount of sugar in the recipe.
karyn says
Absolutely delicious. Does not spike our sugar. Virtually no diference in taste from standard recipe. Easy to make. I make it into 12 portions using silicone muffin cups. Chefs kiss. This is now a weekly go- to for us.
luvalab says
I am new to diabetic-friendly cooking but am exploring new recipes to support 2 family members with T1D. Thank you for this recipe! I followed it closely the first time and enjoyed it but found it way too buttery. So I adapted the recipe: increased the cinnamon to 3/4 tsp in the topping and in the apples. I omitted the butter from the apples and decreased the butter in the topping to just 2 Tbsp then melted it so I could incorporate it throughout the topping. My husband thought the butter was perfect the second batch, a friend and I thought it may need a tad more so I'll probably increase to 2.5-3 Tbsp for the final run. Used Swerve sweetener, BTW. Cooked it in a crockpot on High for 2 hours and it was perfect texture (Granny Smith and Honeycrisp). Very tasty and easy, thanks again!